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Hayes returns to practice

Just a quick note that MSU freshman forward Eriah Hayes was back skating in practice after missing more than half of Saturday's game at Bemidji State after taking a stick to his throat. He was hit on the follow-through of a shot, apparently, and was checked out at a Bemidji hospital. Hayes is practicing but is quite hoarse.

Mavericks in eighth

While Minnesota State was sweeping a nonconference series against Bemidji State over the weekend, eight other WCHA teams were in action against each other to finish up the first half of the league schedule (14 games). When all was said and done, the Mavericks ended up in eighth place, two points behind Minnesota, three points behind North Dakota and five points out of a top-five spot.

Here's where things stand through the first half:

1. Denver 9-3-2 (11-5-2) 20 points

2. Colorado College 8-3-3 (11-4-3) 19

3. Wisconsin 8-4-2 (11-5-2) 18

4. Minnesota Duluth 8-5-1 (11-6-1) 17

5. St. Cloud State 7-5-2 (8-7-3) 16

6. North Dakota 6-6-2 (9-6-3) 14

7. Minnesota 6-7-1 (8-9-1) 13

8. Minnesota State 5-8-1 (9-8-1) 11

9. Anchorage 4-10-0 (6-12-0) 8

10. Michigan Tech 2-12-0 (3-13-0) 4

Mavs 3, Beavers 2

Minnesota State had just one shot on goal in the third period, but it was a big one -- a goal by Michael Dorr -- and the Mavericks hung on to defeat the fourth-ranked Beavers 3-2 in their final game at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse.

Kael Mouillierat and Eriah Hayes also scored goals for the Mavericks. Dorr and Mouillierat had assists, too, and goalie Austin Lee stopped 29 shots for the series sweep.

Dorr a transfer from Minnesota became eligible to play for the Mavericks after sitting out for one academic year. He said once his finals were completed on Friday and his grades were turned in, the NCAA cleared him to play. He became eligible around 4 p.m. on Saturday, he said.

Perfect timing for the Mavericks.

MSU at Bemidji State, Game 2 live blog

Tonight's lines (starters in bold):

MINNESOTA STATE

Irwin-Harrison-Thompson

Mouillierat-Stewart-Hayes

Louwerse-Galiardi-Pitlick

Dorr-Zuck-Jokinen

Youds-Elbrecht

Boe-Davis

Canzanello-Cooper

Lee

Cook

BEMIDJI STATE

George-Read-Lowe

Kinne-Walters-Cramer

MacQueen-McKelvie-Lehrke

Billberg-McLeod-Hartmann

MacIntyre-Hunt

Peluso-Wacker

Hardwick-Adams

Dugas

Bakala

Bosch

Mavs 5, Beavers 1

Photo courtesy of Eric Stromgren/Bemidji Pioneer

Another good Friday night for the Mavericks ...

They break a 1-1 tie by scoring three times during a five-minute major in the third period and add a power-play goal to help freshman goalie Phil Cook (30 saves) get a win in his first career start.

Jerad Stewart scored two goals and assisted on another and Ben Youds had three assists. Tyler Thompson, Kael Mouillierat and Tyler Pitlick also had goals for Minnesota State.

With the game tied 1-1, Bemidi's Matt Read was called for elbowing Eli Zuck in the head, and Stewart, Mouillierat and Pitlick all scored during a two-minute stretch of the major. Cook stopped a short-handed breakaway (photo above) in that stretch as well.

Now, can the Mavericks put back-to-back games together?

"We've already had that conversation," coach Troy Jutting said.

The Free Press story can be found here.

MSU at Bemidji State, Game 1 live blog

Tonight's lines (starters in bold):

MINNESOTA STATE
Irwin-Harrison-Thompson
Mouillierat-Stewart-Hayes
Louwerse-Galiardi-Pitlick
Mueller-Zuck-Jokinen

Youds-Elbrecht
Boe-Davis
Canzanello-Cooper

Cook
Lee

BEMIDJI STATE
George-Read-Lowe
Kinne-Walters-Cramer
MacQueen-McKelvie-Lehrke
Billberg-McLeod-Findlay

Areshenko-Hunt
Peluso-Wacker
Hardwick-Adams

Bakala
Dugas
Bosch