River Hawks 4, Mavericks 1

Freddy's three thoughts of the game:

1. Trouble in River City: This was hardly a way to not only open a home schedule but to get ready to go to league-favorite and third-ranked Denver next weekend. Minnesota State was swept by a team that won just five games a season ago. The Mavericks have scored just five goals in four games and they're 0 for 17 on the power play for the season. Coach Troy Jutting said his team worked harder Saturday than it did on Friday, but it still had trouble creating scoring chances or even getting its offense going at all at times. Like Friday's game Saturday's hinged on a five-minute major penalty. On Friday, MSU failed to score when it had the unlimited power play. Saturday, Lowell scored twice when it had the advantage.

2. M*A*S*H unit: Eriah Hayes was called for cross-checking in the final seconds of the second period and when the third started he was replaced in the penalty box by Charlie Thauwald. Hayes was taken out of the game with an upper body injury, so add his name to the quickly growing list of banged-up players. J.P. Burkemper, Tyler Elbrecht, Max Gaede, Danny Heath, Zach Lehrke and Josh Nelson all were scratched Saturday with various ailments. "That's well over a quarter of a roster not playing now," Jutting said. The Mavericks were also missing Mike Louwerse, who was called for checking from behind — a major and a game misconduct with about five minutes left in the first period. "It's so frustrating because of all the injuries," Jutting said. "You still gotta go out and compete, but when it rains it pours right now.

3. Hello? Veterans? Justin Jokinen scored the Mavericks' lone goal but the other seniors on the team have been invisible through four games this season. Forwards Mike Dorr, Joe Schiller, Mike Louwerse and Adam Mueller have no points. Defenseman Cameron Cooper has one goal. Juniors? Hayes, Eli Zuck and Evan Mosey each have one assist.

Deep thought: Thauwald, a freshman from Rochester, had a good game. The 6-foot-3, 225 pound right wing threw his body around and looks like a player who can wow the crowd with some big hits for the next four years.

Quote of the night: "We know never to underestimate another team. We know we have to come out and play Maverick hockey." – MSU senior forward Justin Jokinen

Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 3, Wisconsin 2 (ot) ... Colorado College 6, Bemidji State 4 ... Minnesota 5, Minnesota Duluth 4 ... Boston University 4, Denver 3 ... Northern Michigan 3, St. Cloud State 2 ... Alaska-Anchorage 6, Mercyhurst 2 ... North Dakota 3, Maine 3 (ot) ... Nebraska-Omaha at Alaska

Mavs add another forward

PucKato is back from vacation, and, of course, there was MSU hockey news while I was gone.

The Mavericks added Rochester native Charlie Thauwald to the roster. Thauwald, 20, is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound forward who played at Rochester Mayo through 2007-08. The following year was his senior year but he opted to play junior hockey.

During '08-09, he played 23 games with the USHL's Chicago Steel, totaling one goal and two assists. A year later, he played 28 games in Chicago (one assist) and 14 in Owatonna with the NAHL's Express where he had four goals and four assists. Last year, he went to Alaska and joined the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL where he had 12 goals, 21 assists and 140 penalty minutes and helped the team win the Robertson Cup as the league's playoff champion.

Thauwald is the younger brother of former Colorado College player Scott Thauwald (2003-2008).

The addition of Thauwald brings MSU's roster to 27 players, including 16 forwards. He will wear No. 20 (Chase Grant is switching to No. 21 — not sure if I had that change on my post about new players and new numbers).