Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Big crowd, big win: Last season, Minnesota State flopped in front of its biggest home crowds, getting shut out at home three times against Omaha, Minnesota and Bemidji State. On Friday, with 5,048 in the Verizon Center, the Mavericks put on a good show for their home fans. "That was in the back of our heads," said Brad McClure, who scored two goals. "Last year we didn't perform as well as we could in front of big crowds. It was a learning experience. But this was good for our team inside that locker room, too." Indeed, the Mavericks looked like the team that started out so strong at home in October with wins over Michigan Tech and St. Cloud State, scoring four times including two power-play goals.
2. Leaders lead: Coach Mike Hastings said his team needed a good effort from its older players, and the Mavericks got that. McClure, who was moved to Michael Huntebrinker's line, scored both of his goals in 5-on-5 play. Huntebrinker assisted on both. C.J. Franklin had a goal and an assist and could have had so much more, with eight shots on goal, including some high-quality chances. "I think it all starts with us playing hard and getting on their D right away," Franklin said. "We weren't panicking. We were possessing pucks, getting pucks behind their D and forechecking. That's always big.
3. Youngsters, too: Parker Tuomie had perhaps his best game of the season so far. The freshman forward, playing with McClure and Huntebrinker, had a goal and two assists. His power-play goal, which gave MSU a 3-1 lead, came after he was elbowed in the head at center ice. The penalty was just a 2-minute one, but Tuomie got the last laugh, blasting a shot through traffic from the high slot. Freshman defenseman Ian Scheid and two assists, and sophomore goaltender Jason Pawloski was outstanding with 25 saves, only allowing a point-blank power-play shot to get past him.
Read my game story here. Check out Pat Christman's photo gallery here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 3, Lake Superior State 0 ... Bemidji State 2, Northern Michigan 1 ... Bowling Green 4, Alabama Huntsville 1
Friday, November 18, 2016
Live coverage: MSU vs. Minnesota
The No. 15 Mavericks will host the No. 7 Gophers at the Verizon Center in the first game of a home-and-home series. Follow along or join the conversation below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Franklin, 10-Knutson
6-Tuomie, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
11-Flanagan, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 5-Foguth
14-Bigelbach, 27-Schwalbe
39-Pawloski
34-Huggins
29-Nelson
Scratches: Brickley, Cooper, Hookenson, Madry, Vanko
6-Tuomie, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
11-Flanagan, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 5-Foguth
14-Bigelbach, 27-Schwalbe
39-Pawloski
34-Huggins
29-Nelson
Scratches: Brickley, Cooper, Hookenson, Madry, Vanko
MINNESOTA
9-Szmatula, 25-Kloos, 13-Cammarata
21-Reilly, 17-Novak, 22-Sheehy
10-Gates, 19-Lettieri, 18-Bristedt
23-Norman, 26-Romanko, 16-Ramsey
5-Lindgren, 28-Bischoff
4-Johnson, 2-Sadek
20-Zuhlsdorf, 6-Collins
37-Schierhorn
34-Lehr
1-Kautz
21-Reilly, 17-Novak, 22-Sheehy
10-Gates, 19-Lettieri, 18-Bristedt
23-Norman, 26-Romanko, 16-Ramsey
5-Lindgren, 28-Bischoff
4-Johnson, 2-Sadek
20-Zuhlsdorf, 6-Collins
37-Schierhorn
34-Lehr
1-Kautz
Friday Morning Skate
It's Gopher Weekend! The No. 15 Mavericks will host No. 7 Minnesota at the Verizon Center on Friday night, and the series will move to Mariucci Arena on Saturday. Folks in Mankato are expecting a full house tonight; hopefully the weather doesn't keep ticket-holders away.
These are always games that fans circle on the calendar. Possibly players and coaches, too. In-state bragging rights are always on the line when the Minnesota teams play each other. All five Division I teams currently are ranked in the top 15, something, The New York Times even noted this week.
Tonight's game will be on both Fox Sports North, with former MSU defenseman Andy Hedlund helping with the broadcast, and Charter. Unfortunately, Saturday's game will not be televised but available on the Big Ten Network's streaming service.
For more on the series, see The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday.
Going around the WCHA ...
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State: The Beavers return home with their undefeated conference record to host the Wildcats. The Bemidji Pioneer profiles the player whose overtime goal on Saturday kept their streak alive. Northern Michigan, meanwhile, enters the series having won just once in its last six games.
Bowling Green at Alabama Huntsville: The Falcons appear to have righted their ship after starting the season 0-6-1. They are 4-1-0 in their last five and getting good play from upperclassmen such as Brett D'Andrea, according to bgsuhockey.com. The Chargers, like Minnesota State, are hoping to bounce back from a one-point home weekend.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State: The Lakers were the surprise team of the WCHA early but have lost three games in a row. They head to Big Rapids where the Bulldogs are playing better hockey after their eight-game winless start.
Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage: The Huskies have won five of their last six games and are embarking on a two-weekend Alaska trip. Last Friday, Tech coach Mel Pearson won his 100th game since returning to his alma mater. Anchorage, meanwhile has won just once this season, and the beat-up Seawolves enter the weekend on a six-game losing streak.
Read more about the WCHA in this week's USCHO column.
These are always games that fans circle on the calendar. Possibly players and coaches, too. In-state bragging rights are always on the line when the Minnesota teams play each other. All five Division I teams currently are ranked in the top 15, something, The New York Times even noted this week.
Tonight's game will be on both Fox Sports North, with former MSU defenseman Andy Hedlund helping with the broadcast, and Charter. Unfortunately, Saturday's game will not be televised but available on the Big Ten Network's streaming service.
For more on the series, see The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday.
Going around the WCHA ...
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State: The Beavers return home with their undefeated conference record to host the Wildcats. The Bemidji Pioneer profiles the player whose overtime goal on Saturday kept their streak alive. Northern Michigan, meanwhile, enters the series having won just once in its last six games.
Bowling Green at Alabama Huntsville: The Falcons appear to have righted their ship after starting the season 0-6-1. They are 4-1-0 in their last five and getting good play from upperclassmen such as Brett D'Andrea, according to bgsuhockey.com. The Chargers, like Minnesota State, are hoping to bounce back from a one-point home weekend.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State: The Lakers were the surprise team of the WCHA early but have lost three games in a row. They head to Big Rapids where the Bulldogs are playing better hockey after their eight-game winless start.
Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage: The Huskies have won five of their last six games and are embarking on a two-weekend Alaska trip. Last Friday, Tech coach Mel Pearson won his 100th game since returning to his alma mater. Anchorage, meanwhile has won just once this season, and the beat-up Seawolves enter the weekend on a six-game losing streak.
Read more about the WCHA in this week's USCHO column.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Tickets going fast for Mavericks-Gophers
Tickets for Friday night’s men’s hockey game at the Verizon Center between the Minnesota State and Minnesota have been selling fast.
As of Thursday morning, according to a Ticketmaster search, less than 100 actual seats were still available for the game, the first of a home-and-home series. Standing-room-only tickets are also available.
“The atmosphere, it’s always a lot more fun to play with a lot more people in the stands,” Mavericks co-captain C.J. Franklin said. “It’s just that little extra push that we might need in the third period or something to get us going. So it’s always nice to have some extra fans in the seats.”
The Verizon Center seats 4,832 for hockey, but, with standing room, the record attendance is 5,446, set Feb. 28, 2015 for a game against Michigan Tech. The Mavericks have been averaging 3,819 fans per game in eight home games this season.
On its Twitter feed, Minnesota State athletics said that students lined up on campus beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday to get their allotment of tickets. Those were all gobbled up by noon.
“I heard about that,” Franklin said. “I heard (the line) was out to the gym. Expecting a good crowd from the students here, and hopefully they can bring some energy along with it.”
The second game of the series will be played at 8 p.m. at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
As of Thursday morning, according to a Ticketmaster search, less than 100 actual seats were still available for the game, the first of a home-and-home series. Standing-room-only tickets are also available.
“The atmosphere, it’s always a lot more fun to play with a lot more people in the stands,” Mavericks co-captain C.J. Franklin said. “It’s just that little extra push that we might need in the third period or something to get us going. So it’s always nice to have some extra fans in the seats.”
The Verizon Center seats 4,832 for hockey, but, with standing room, the record attendance is 5,446, set Feb. 28, 2015 for a game against Michigan Tech. The Mavericks have been averaging 3,819 fans per game in eight home games this season.
On its Twitter feed, Minnesota State athletics said that students lined up on campus beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday to get their allotment of tickets. Those were all gobbled up by noon.
“I heard about that,” Franklin said. “I heard (the line) was out to the gym. Expecting a good crowd from the students here, and hopefully they can bring some energy along with it.”
The second game of the series will be played at 8 p.m. at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Beavers 2, Mavericks 1 (OT)
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Drought continues: Minnesota State started the season 6-1-0 but has since one just once in five games. The Mavericks have scored eight goals in those last five games, five in the last four, including two in two games against Bemidji State. Lots of credit has to go to Michael Bitzer, the Beavers' outstanding goaltender, who has a save percentage of .944 right now, .963 against conference opponents. But MSU's goal-output has to be a concern. With the way the Mavericks scored goals early in the year, it appeared those issues were behind them this season. Not so right now. Coach Mike Hastings said the team's effort and attitude are fine right now, but scoring is the puzzle. "That’s the job, I think, of the staff," he said. "It’s our job to provide them with some answers and how-to."
2. Catch them if you can: Bemidji State is 9-0-1 in league play with a 3-on-3 OT win on Friday, giving it 29 points. With the three-point system, it seems the Beavers are running away with the WCHA. They have a 12-point lead over second-place Michigan Tech and a 13-point lead over third-place MSU. There's a lot of season left, of course, but they're rolling right now. They're a confident team that plays a disciplined style (although one that has more offense that previous versions, making it quite dangerous). Minnesota State will play at Bemidji on Feb. 24-25, the final weekend of the regular season. It will be interesting to see where those teams are at.
3. Foguth out: Mavericks senior defenseman, co-captain and minutes-muncher Carter Foguth was on the line chart an hour before the game but ended up being scratched. Hastings wouldn't detail his injury, only saying that Foguth woke up Saturday not feeling right. Hastings said he wanted to be cautious and not risk anything by playing him. Alec Vanko, who was a scratch on Friday, got in the lineup, but it was converted forward Ryan Schwalbe, who logged a lot of minutes, along with Clint Lewis. Foguth's injury left MSU without their top two defensemen, as Daniel Brickley remains out with his injury. "You have 5 not in the lineup; you have 8 not in the lineup," Hastings said, referring to Foguth and Brickley, respectively, by their numbers. "We’ve got to collectively find a way. We might not be as gifted offensively with those guy out of the lineup so you better find ways."
Read my game story here.
Deep thought
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 4, Lake Superior State 2 ... Bowling Green 5, Northern Michigan 3 ... Alaska 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Penn State 3, Alaska Anchorage 1 ... Michigan State 4, Ferris State 3
1. Drought continues: Minnesota State started the season 6-1-0 but has since one just once in five games. The Mavericks have scored eight goals in those last five games, five in the last four, including two in two games against Bemidji State. Lots of credit has to go to Michael Bitzer, the Beavers' outstanding goaltender, who has a save percentage of .944 right now, .963 against conference opponents. But MSU's goal-output has to be a concern. With the way the Mavericks scored goals early in the year, it appeared those issues were behind them this season. Not so right now. Coach Mike Hastings said the team's effort and attitude are fine right now, but scoring is the puzzle. "That’s the job, I think, of the staff," he said. "It’s our job to provide them with some answers and how-to."
2. Catch them if you can: Bemidji State is 9-0-1 in league play with a 3-on-3 OT win on Friday, giving it 29 points. With the three-point system, it seems the Beavers are running away with the WCHA. They have a 12-point lead over second-place Michigan Tech and a 13-point lead over third-place MSU. There's a lot of season left, of course, but they're rolling right now. They're a confident team that plays a disciplined style (although one that has more offense that previous versions, making it quite dangerous). Minnesota State will play at Bemidji on Feb. 24-25, the final weekend of the regular season. It will be interesting to see where those teams are at.
3. Foguth out: Mavericks senior defenseman, co-captain and minutes-muncher Carter Foguth was on the line chart an hour before the game but ended up being scratched. Hastings wouldn't detail his injury, only saying that Foguth woke up Saturday not feeling right. Hastings said he wanted to be cautious and not risk anything by playing him. Alec Vanko, who was a scratch on Friday, got in the lineup, but it was converted forward Ryan Schwalbe, who logged a lot of minutes, along with Clint Lewis. Foguth's injury left MSU without their top two defensemen, as Daniel Brickley remains out with his injury. "You have 5 not in the lineup; you have 8 not in the lineup," Hastings said, referring to Foguth and Brickley, respectively, by their numbers. "We’ve got to collectively find a way. We might not be as gifted offensively with those guy out of the lineup so you better find ways."
Read my game story here.
Deep thought
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 4, Lake Superior State 2 ... Bowling Green 5, Northern Michigan 3 ... Alaska 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Penn State 3, Alaska Anchorage 1 ... Michigan State 4, Ferris State 3
Live coverage: MSU vs. Bemidji State, Game 2
Minnesota State and Bemidji State will wrap up their series, following Friday night's 3-on-3 overtime win for the Beavers. Follow along or join the live chat, located below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
15-Franklin, 20-Michaelis, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 16-Nelson, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 17-Huntebrinker, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
4-Lewis, 27-Schwalbe
11-Flanagan, 18-Scheid
14-Bigelbach, 21-Vanko
34-Huggins
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Brickley, Cooper, Foguth, Hookenson, Madry
6-Tuomie, 16-Nelson, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 17-Huntebrinker, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
4-Lewis, 27-Schwalbe
11-Flanagan, 18-Scheid
14-Bigelbach, 21-Vanko
34-Huggins
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Brickley, Cooper, Foguth, Hookenson, Madry
BEMIDJI STATE
19-L. Fitzgerald, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 18-Harms
9-Marinaccio, 14-Bauman, 22-O'Connor
6-Dickman, 23-Sjodahl, 11-Arentz
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 15-Heller
28-Beauvais, 2-Bilett
29-Baudry, 32-Whitecloud
20-Eichstad, 3-Muck
1-Bitzer
35-Wilkins
9-Marinaccio, 14-Bauman, 22-O'Connor
6-Dickman, 23-Sjodahl, 11-Arentz
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 15-Heller
28-Beauvais, 2-Bilett
29-Baudry, 32-Whitecloud
20-Eichstad, 3-Muck
1-Bitzer
35-Wilkins
Friday, November 11, 2016
Mavericks 1, Beavers 1 (BSU wins in 3x3)
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. New rules: Fans in Mankato, as well as both teams, got to experience the WCHA's new tiebreaking format on Friday night. Bemidji State came away with the 3-on-3 victory. Although the game officially went down as a tie after the first five-minute overtime, the Beavers got the extra point for the WCHA standings thanks to Charlie O'Connor's goal in the second session. Had no one scored in that five-minute, open-ice period, there would have been a shootout. "It was fun," BSU coach Tom Serratore said, "for the players and the fans."
2. What happened to the scoring? With one goal on Friday, the Mavericks have just four total over their last three games. Freshman forward Charlie Gerard scored his first career goal to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead, which they clung to until the Beavers tied it midway through the third period. Freshman Parker Tuomie had four shots on goal and also hit a post during a dominant first period in which MSU needed to get a second goal. Credit Bemidji State goalie Michael Bitzer, too, though as he came up big in the first period and in overtime when MSU had a 5-1 shot advantage.
3. All even: Both Bitzer and Mavericks goalie Jason Pawloski finished the game with 23 saves. It was a hard-ice game between the first- and second-place teams in the WCHA. “You know it’s going to be a real close game when you play these guys,” Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said. “It’s playoff-type hockey.” Said Serratore: “That was a game for the ages. It was an epic battle with no easy ice. It was like a heavyweight fight — punch and counterpunch.”
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 6, Lake Superior State 1 ... Bowling Green 5, Northern Michigan 1 ... Alaska 3, Alabama Huntsville 3 (Alaska wins in 3x3) ... Penn State 6, Alaska Anchorage 3
Deep thought:
1. New rules: Fans in Mankato, as well as both teams, got to experience the WCHA's new tiebreaking format on Friday night. Bemidji State came away with the 3-on-3 victory. Although the game officially went down as a tie after the first five-minute overtime, the Beavers got the extra point for the WCHA standings thanks to Charlie O'Connor's goal in the second session. Had no one scored in that five-minute, open-ice period, there would have been a shootout. "It was fun," BSU coach Tom Serratore said, "for the players and the fans."
2. What happened to the scoring? With one goal on Friday, the Mavericks have just four total over their last three games. Freshman forward Charlie Gerard scored his first career goal to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead, which they clung to until the Beavers tied it midway through the third period. Freshman Parker Tuomie had four shots on goal and also hit a post during a dominant first period in which MSU needed to get a second goal. Credit Bemidji State goalie Michael Bitzer, too, though as he came up big in the first period and in overtime when MSU had a 5-1 shot advantage.
3. All even: Both Bitzer and Mavericks goalie Jason Pawloski finished the game with 23 saves. It was a hard-ice game between the first- and second-place teams in the WCHA. “You know it’s going to be a real close game when you play these guys,” Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said. “It’s playoff-type hockey.” Said Serratore: “That was a game for the ages. It was an epic battle with no easy ice. It was like a heavyweight fight — punch and counterpunch.”
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 6, Lake Superior State 1 ... Bowling Green 5, Northern Michigan 1 ... Alaska 3, Alabama Huntsville 3 (Alaska wins in 3x3) ... Penn State 6, Alaska Anchorage 3
Deep thought:
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