Mavs in the NHL

Minnesota Wild photo

The Minnesota Wild open their season tonight (Thursday), and former Minnesota State player Ryan Carter is expected to be in the lineup for his new team. Carter spent parts of the last three seasons with the New Jersey Devils and has been in the NHL since 2007.

Meanwhile, Eriah Hayes made the opening-day roster of the San Jose Sharks. Hayes was a healthy scratch for the Sharks' first game on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Other Mavericks in the NHL, of course, are David Backes in St. Louis and Tim Jackman in Anaheim.

Travis Morin (Dallas), Kael Mouillierat (NY Islanders), Ben Youds (Boston) and Tyler Pitlick (Edmonton) spent training camp with big clubs before being assigned to AHL teams.

Mavericks 12, Spartans 1 (exhibition)

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. Quick start: Bryce Gervais scored 20 seconds in, and Michael Huntebrinker added two goals at 1:13 and 1:42 to give the Mavericks a 3-0 in the blowout victory. The Mavericks wanted a fast start, and they got it. Then they rolled from there, scoring five times in the first period and five more times in the second. They also outshot Trinity Western 53-5. There's a lot of offensive talent on this MSU team, and it put on a show on Sunday. Gervais finished with two goals and two assists, Jean-Paul LaFontaine and a goal and two assists. Matt Leitner and Teddy Blueger each had a goal and an assist. Even senior defenseman Brett Stern got into the act with two goals and an assist.

2. Sophomores can't slump: Huntebrinker also led the Mavericks with six shots on a goal, a great sign for the second-year forward. Remember: He missed the first half of the season with an injury and it was tough to get into the lineup as a regular after that. Although he scored just two goals, one came in the Final Five championship game. Coach Mike Hastings talked about the sophomores taking a step and how their impact is more important than the freshmen's. Think Gervais last season and Teddy Blueger. This year's sophomores also include forwards Zach Stepan (1G on Sunday) and Jordan Nelson; defensemen Sean Flanagan (1G) and Casey Nelson (3A) and Carter Foguth (an alternate captain); and goalie Cole Huggins.

3. What good can come? It's hard to fathom what a team can get out of a game like this. It certainly doesn't come close to the competition the Mavericks will be facing in five days when they go to Nebraska Omaha. They got a lot of offensive-zone work, some power-play time, things on video that coaches and players can go over. But there was very little time spent in the defensive zone. Five shots on goal? None in the third period. Freshman goalie Aaron Nelson didn't touch the puck. Hastings talked about just getting down little things like how the bench is run, what's expected on game day, things like that. And that's all good. But these games are and should be quickly forgotten.

Deep thought: Hockey's back!

Around the WCHA: In a game that counted, Michigan Tech defeated Lake Superior State 5-1 to sweep that series.

MSU vs. Trinity Western live chat

The live chat for tonight's game can be found here.

MSU's lines tonight ...

21-Grant ... 18-Leitner ... 9-Gervais
25-Stepan ... 23-Blueger ... 10-Knutson
12-LaFontaine ... 26-Margonari ... 17-Huntebrinker
15-Franklin ... 16-J. Nelson ... 8-Gaede
19-McClure

5-Foguth ... 7-Palmquist
27-Stern ... 3-Thompson
11-Flanagan ... 6-C. Nelson
4-Buchanan ... 22-Schmeisser

34-Huggins
35-Williams
29-Nelson

Scratches: Knowles

Sunday morning skate

Photo by Pat Christman

It's gameday already. Minnesota State hits the ice at 5 p.m. today when it plays Trinity Western in an exhibition game at the Verizon Wireless Center.

For the Mavericks, high expectations are the new normal after two years of 20+ wins and NCAA appearances.

"Since (coach Mike Hastings) got here, it's amazing how much things have changed," senior co-captain Chase Grant said. "The intensity. The expectations. The entire mindset is different. It makes it exciting to be part of."

Besides being picked to win the WCHA by the league coaches and media, being picked 13th in the national polls and getting several individual accolades, Minnesota State was picked sixth by College Hockey News, Matt Leitner was named one of 10 forwards to watch by U.S. College Hockey Online and Cole Huggins was named one of 20 to watch for the Mike Richter Award, which goes to college hockey's top goalie at the end of the season.

Trinity Western, a Canadian college team from Langely, B.C., played St. Cloud State on Saturday night and lost 8-0.

In some non-exhibition action, Michigan Tech defeated Lake Superior State 5-3 in a WCHA game in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Those two teams will play the second game of the series tonight. Meanwhile, Ferris State pulled off a 4-3 victory over Michigan before a sellout crowd of 2,532 in Big Rapids.

Mavs get two commitments

Minnesota State received verbal commitments this week from two recruits.

Forward Marc Michaelis of the Minnesota Magicians of the North American Hockey League announced his commitment. The Mannheim, Germany native played in his home country last year in the German Development League. He scored 31 goals and set up 41 others last season. This year, through six game, he leads the Magicians with four goals and four assists.

The Mavericks also got a commitment from Elk River High School senior forward Jake Jaremko. Jaremko, who announced his decision on Twitter, currently leads the Upper Midwest High School Elite League in scoring with 28 points, including nine goals. His United States Hockey League rights are owned by the Chicago Steel. He was named to the NHL Central Scouting Service's Preliminary 2015 Players to Watch List.

Minnesota State ranked 13th

The first college hockey rankings were released on Monday, and Minnesota State came in at No. 13 in both the USCHO poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey rankings.

Here are the rankings:

USCHO
1. Minnesota (36 first-place votes)
2. North Dakota (2)
3. Providence (2)
4. Boston College
5. Union (9)
6. Colgate
7. St. Cloud State
8. Michigan
9. Ferris State
10. Wisconsin
11. Miami
12. Notre Dame
13. Minnesota State
14. Cornell
15. Quinnipiac
16. Northeastern
17. UMass-Lowell
18. Denver
19. New Hampshire
20. Boston University

20 others receiving votes including WCHA teams Michigan Tech, Bowling Green and Alaska

USA Today/USA Hockey
1. Minnesota (32)
2. North Dakota (1)
3. Providence
4. Boston College
5. Colgate
6. St. Cloud State
7. Michigan
8. Union
9. Miami
T-10. Ferris State
T-10. Notre Dame
12. Wisconsin
13. Minnesota State
14. Cornell
15. Denver

12 others receiving votes including Michigan Tech

WCHA coaches, media pick Minnesota State

The Free Press' second annual WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Monday, and Minnesota State is the overwhelming choice to win the MacNaughton Cup.

The media who cover the league agreed, voting the Mavericks first in the Bemidji Pioneer media poll.

The coaches gave MSU nine of 10 first-place votes and also picked freshman forwards C.J. Franklin and Brad McClure as Co-Preseason Rookies of the Year.

Ferris State goaltender C.J. Motte was tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year, edging out MSU forward Matt Leitner. Leitner was the media's pick for Preseason Player of the Year.

Here's a look at both polls:

2014-15 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rk           Team (1^st place votes)          Points

1.            Minnesota State (9)                       81          
2.            Ferris State (1)                                  67
3.            Michigan Tech                                  64
4.            Bowling Green                                 57
5.            Alaska                                                  44
6.            Northern Michigan                         40
7.            Alaska Anchorage                           38
8.            Bemidji State                                    33
9.            Lake Superior State                        17
10.          Alabama Huntsville                           9

Predicted order of finish. Based on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.

Preseason WCHA Player of the Year: C.J. Motte, Sr., G, Ferris State (4 votes)

Others receiving votes: Matt Leitner, Sr., F, Minnesota State (3); Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., F, Minnesota State (1); Scott Allen, Sr., F, Alaska Anchorage (1), Colton Parayko, Jr. D, Alaska (1)

Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: C.J. Franklin, F, Minnesota State and Brad McClure, F, Minnesota State (4 votes each)

Others receiving votes: Brett Beauvais, D, Bemidji State (1), Oliver Mantha, G, Alaska Anchorage (1)

Preseason All-WCHA Team

Forwards: Tyler Morley, Jr., Alaska; Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., Minnesota State; Matt Leitner, Sr., Minnesota State

Defensemen: Colton Parayko, Jr., Alaska; Zach Palmquist, Sr., Minnesota State

Goaltender: C.J. Motte, Sr., Ferris State

Others receiving votes: Forwards—Scott Allen, Sr., Alaska Anchorage; Blake Tatchell, Jr., Alaska Anchorage; Justin Buzzeo, Sr., Ferris State; David Johnstone, Sr., Michigan Tech; Tanner Kero, Sr., Michigan Tech; Alex Petan, Jr., Michigan Tech; Blake Pietila, Sr., Michigan Tech. Defensemen—Austin Coldwell, Sr., Alaska Anchorage; Matt Prapavessis, Sr., Bemidji State; Jason Binkley, Sr., Ferris State; Shane Hanna, So., Michigan Tech. Goaltenders—Cole Huggins, So., Minnesota State.

2014-15 Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Media Poll Rk           Team (1st place votes)          Points 1.            Minnesota State (23)                  256           2.            Ferris State (4)                               226 3.            Bowling Green                               180 4.            Michigan Tech                                178 5.            Alaska                                                163 6.            Alaska Anchorage                         128 7.            Northern Michigan                       112 8.            Bemidji State                                  101 9.            Lake Superior State                        60 10.          Alabama Huntsville                         26 Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Preseason WCHA Player of the Year: Matt Leitner, Sr., F, Minnesota State Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: Mark Friedman, D, Bowling Green Preseason All-WCHA Team Forwards: Tyler Morley, Jr., Alaska; Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., Minnesota State; Matt Leitner, Sr., Minnesota State Defensemen: Colton Parayko, Jr., Alaska; Shane Hanna, So., Michigan Tech Goaltender: C.J. Motte, Sr., Ferris State Participants Jack Hittinger, Bemidji Pioneer; Shane Frederick, Mankato Free Press; Tim O’Donnell, Fairbanks News-Miner; Jerry Taylor, ABC 10 UP sports director; Geof Morris, UAH Hockey.com; Michael Napier, UAH Hockey.com; Drew Evans, BGSU Hockey.com; Bruce Cech, Alaska Nanooks radio play-by-play; Chris Dilks, SBN College Hockey; Kevin Kurtt, Let’s Play Hockey Magazine; George Sipple, Detroit Free Press; Kurt Haider, Alaska-Anchorage radio play-by-play; Kevin Gordon, BGSU Hockey.com; Ryan Steig, Marquette Daily Mining Journal; Mike Sullivan, Minnesota State radio play by play; Greg Buckner, Big Rapids Pioneer; Scott Williams, Lakeland Sports & KBUN Bemidji; Ryan Satkowiak, Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune; Justin Bradford, Penalty Box Radio Nashville; John Wagner, Toledo Blade; Dave Danis, Northern Michigan radio play by play; Brian Halverson, Minnesota Hockey Magazine; Lee Benson, Lakeland Public TV sports director; David Tuttle, Alaska-Anchorage color commentator; Rob Roos, Sault Ste. Marie Evening News; Brandon Veale, The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton)