For the first time in more than a month, the Minnesota State men's hockey team lost on a Friday night.
Ferris State goaltender Darren Smith spoiled their run, stopping 36 shots to shut out the 16th-ranked Mavericks 3-0 in the first game of a WCHA series.
The Bulldogs scored all three of their goals in the second period.
After a scoreless first period in which Minnesota State outshot Ferris State 13-6, the Bulldogs came out of the first intermission charging hard.
Corey Mackin put them up 1-0 just 34 seconds into middle frame, and at 2:28, Chad McDonald made it 2-0 on the power play. Gerald Mayhew added a power-play goal with 4:54 remaining in the period.
Ferris State finished 2 for 6 on the power play. Minnesota State was 0 for 5.
Mayhew's goal prompted an MSU goalie change, as starter Jason Pawloski was pulled after making just 11 saves. Cole Huggins finished the game and stopped all nine shots he faced.
Mayhew also had an assist for a two-point game. Jared VanWormer had two assists.
MSU's C.J. Franklin and Michael Huntebrinker were each turned away five times by Smith.
The shutout loss was the second in four games for the Mavericks (9-6-2, 6-5-2 in WCHA), who also lost 1-0 at Minnesota on Nov. 19. In between, Minnesota State scored 12 goals in two home games against Alaska.
Ferris State and Alabama Huntsville, which won 4-1 at Northern Michigan, moved into a three-way tie with Minnesota State for fourth place in the WCHA standings. They are three points behind Bowling Green, which lost 3-1 at home to second-place Michigan Tech. First-place Bemidji State tied Lake Superior 1-1 and got the extra point with a shootout win.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Friday Morning Skate
The No. 16 Mavericks are on the road to Michigan, set to play WCHA-rival Ferris State on Friday and Saturday. The key is Friday and Saturday, as MSU is looking to put together a full weekend, something it hasn't done — in terms of sweeping a series — since the first weeks of the season.
Some good news for Minnesota State is that senior defenseman and team leader Carter Foguth is expected to be back in the lineup. He was missed on the back end in last week's win and tie with Alaska. If he's in, along with Daniel Brickley, who returned from injury last week, the Mavericks appear to be fully healthy on the blue line for the first time since the third weekend of the season. For more, read the Freep's College Hockey Gameday.
The Bulldogs are coming off a split at Alabama Huntsville but also split at Mankato in late October. They trail MSU by three points in the WCHA standings, while the Mavericks trail Bowling Green by three as well.
In an occurrence seemingly as rare as the planets aligning, all 10 WCHA teams are in action against each other this weekend (although it still won't even out the games-played column in the standings).
Michigan Tech at Bowling Green: This is a matchup of the league's second- and third-place teams and should be a good one. Even Falcons coach Chris Bergeron is putting a little extra emphasis on the importance of the series. The games will take place at the BGSU Ice Arena, which will soon get a name change and with it, an influx of cash. For the Huskies, after a slow start to the season, they appear to be back on track, thanks to a freshman goaltender.
Alabama Huntsville at Northern Michigan: The Chargers have moved up to the middle of the pack in the WCHA and have made themselves a team to be reckoned with. Three of their four wins have come against Ferris State. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have had a rocky first half and are still looking for their first home victory.
Lake Superior State at Bemidji State: The Beavers finally lost a WCHA game last week but still sit comfortably atop the WCHA standings. As well as they have played over the first half of the season, they still believe there's room for improvement, namely with their offense. They will host the Lakers, who split at home with Bowling Green last weekend and did the same at Michigan a week earlier.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska: The Governor's Cup battle begins this weekend in Fairbanks as the two Alaska teams square off. The host Nanooks, coming off a two-point weekend in Mankato, would like to create some separation between themselves and the bottom of the league. No matter how the games come out, they're going to look good doing it. The Seawolves haven't won the Governor's Cup since 2009.
This week's USCHO column focuses on Lake Superior State.
Some good news for Minnesota State is that senior defenseman and team leader Carter Foguth is expected to be back in the lineup. He was missed on the back end in last week's win and tie with Alaska. If he's in, along with Daniel Brickley, who returned from injury last week, the Mavericks appear to be fully healthy on the blue line for the first time since the third weekend of the season. For more, read the Freep's College Hockey Gameday.
The Bulldogs are coming off a split at Alabama Huntsville but also split at Mankato in late October. They trail MSU by three points in the WCHA standings, while the Mavericks trail Bowling Green by three as well.
In an occurrence seemingly as rare as the planets aligning, all 10 WCHA teams are in action against each other this weekend (although it still won't even out the games-played column in the standings).
Michigan Tech at Bowling Green: This is a matchup of the league's second- and third-place teams and should be a good one. Even Falcons coach Chris Bergeron is putting a little extra emphasis on the importance of the series. The games will take place at the BGSU Ice Arena, which will soon get a name change and with it, an influx of cash. For the Huskies, after a slow start to the season, they appear to be back on track, thanks to a freshman goaltender.
Alabama Huntsville at Northern Michigan: The Chargers have moved up to the middle of the pack in the WCHA and have made themselves a team to be reckoned with. Three of their four wins have come against Ferris State. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have had a rocky first half and are still looking for their first home victory.
Lake Superior State at Bemidji State: The Beavers finally lost a WCHA game last week but still sit comfortably atop the WCHA standings. As well as they have played over the first half of the season, they still believe there's room for improvement, namely with their offense. They will host the Lakers, who split at home with Bowling Green last weekend and did the same at Michigan a week earlier.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska: The Governor's Cup battle begins this weekend in Fairbanks as the two Alaska teams square off. The host Nanooks, coming off a two-point weekend in Mankato, would like to create some separation between themselves and the bottom of the league. No matter how the games come out, they're going to look good doing it. The Seawolves haven't won the Governor's Cup since 2009.
This week's USCHO column focuses on Lake Superior State.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Mavericks 5, Nanooks 5 (Alaska wins in SO)
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Are you not entertained? After the Mavericks won 7-3 on Friday, they and Alaska combined for 10 more goals on Saturday in a wild games that saw the Nanooks go up 3-0 after one period, the Mavericks score four times to take a 4-3 lead after two and Alaska score two quick ones early in the second to jump back ahead 5-4. C.J. Franklin tied the game at 9:33 of the third period, and the Mavericks got a point out of the night and four for the weekend. Franklin's line with Brad McClure and Marc Michaelis finished with three goals and six points. The group had 15 points for the series with the freshman Michaelis getting seven (four goals, three assists).
2. Defense struggles: Coach Mike Hastings admitted that it was a rough night for some of his defensemen, as Alaska's first three goals came on a partial breakaway, a wide-open player in front and a short-handed breakaway. They were chasing early in the third period, too, when the Nanooks scored took back the lead. Sean Flanagan and Ryan Schwalbe were minus-2. As good as it was to have Daniel Brickley (1G, 1A) back in the lineup, it clearly hurt that Carter Foguth was out again with his injury. He is the Mavericks' rock back there.
3. Introducing the shootout: After an entertaining, but scoreless, 3-on-3 overtime in which Mavs goalie Jason Pawloski made good saves early and Nanooks netminder Davis Jones robbed McClure and Michael Huntebrinker in the final minute, Mankato saw the shootout tiebreaker for the first time. It's a sudden-death situation, so it can end after one shooter for each team. Each team's first four shooters missed or were stopped. That included the surprise choice of freshman defenseman Edwin Hookenson as MSU's second shooter. Hastings said "he's been lights out in practice," and gave him a shot to win it. Later, Parker Tuomie matched Tyler Cline in the fifth round, but Zach Stepan was unable to do the same after Ross Heidt scored.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 2, Bemidji State 1 ... Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 2 .. Alabama Huntsville 5, Ferris State 3 ... Northern Michigan at Alaska Anchorage (late)
1. Are you not entertained? After the Mavericks won 7-3 on Friday, they and Alaska combined for 10 more goals on Saturday in a wild games that saw the Nanooks go up 3-0 after one period, the Mavericks score four times to take a 4-3 lead after two and Alaska score two quick ones early in the second to jump back ahead 5-4. C.J. Franklin tied the game at 9:33 of the third period, and the Mavericks got a point out of the night and four for the weekend. Franklin's line with Brad McClure and Marc Michaelis finished with three goals and six points. The group had 15 points for the series with the freshman Michaelis getting seven (four goals, three assists).
2. Defense struggles: Coach Mike Hastings admitted that it was a rough night for some of his defensemen, as Alaska's first three goals came on a partial breakaway, a wide-open player in front and a short-handed breakaway. They were chasing early in the third period, too, when the Nanooks scored took back the lead. Sean Flanagan and Ryan Schwalbe were minus-2. As good as it was to have Daniel Brickley (1G, 1A) back in the lineup, it clearly hurt that Carter Foguth was out again with his injury. He is the Mavericks' rock back there.
3. Introducing the shootout: After an entertaining, but scoreless, 3-on-3 overtime in which Mavs goalie Jason Pawloski made good saves early and Nanooks netminder Davis Jones robbed McClure and Michael Huntebrinker in the final minute, Mankato saw the shootout tiebreaker for the first time. It's a sudden-death situation, so it can end after one shooter for each team. Each team's first four shooters missed or were stopped. That included the surprise choice of freshman defenseman Edwin Hookenson as MSU's second shooter. Hastings said "he's been lights out in practice," and gave him a shot to win it. Later, Parker Tuomie matched Tyler Cline in the fifth round, but Zach Stepan was unable to do the same after Ross Heidt scored.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 2, Bemidji State 1 ... Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 2 .. Alabama Huntsville 5, Ferris State 3 ... Northern Michigan at Alaska Anchorage (late)
Live coverage: MSU vs. Alaska, Game 2
The Mavericks will go for the series sweep against the Nanooks at 7:07 p.m. Saturday at the Verizon Center. The live chat can be found below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Franklin, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 17-Huntebrinker, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
11-Flanagan, 27-Schwalbe
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
34-Huggins
39-Pawlowski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Foguth, Madry, Vanko
ALASKA
14-Morley, 27-Leiter, 22-Staley
26-Cline, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Basara
18-Mullally, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
23-Leer, 39-Heidt
6-Frye, 24-Ladouce
12-Hinz, 32-Thompson
2-Weiss, 10-Kiraly
5-Koberstein
30-Jones
29-Jenks
20-Michaelis, 15-Franklin, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 17-Huntebrinker, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
11-Flanagan, 27-Schwalbe
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
34-Huggins
39-Pawlowski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Foguth, Madry, Vanko
ALASKA
14-Morley, 27-Leiter, 22-Staley
26-Cline, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Basara
18-Mullally, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
23-Leer, 39-Heidt
6-Frye, 24-Ladouce
12-Hinz, 32-Thompson
2-Weiss, 10-Kiraly
5-Koberstein
30-Jones
29-Jenks
Friday, December 2, 2016
Mavericks 7, Nanooks 3
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Rookie sensation: Marc Michaelis was the star of the show on Friday night, scoring four points, including his first collegiate hat trick, in the win over Alaska. His third goal was the prettiest, as I describe in the gamer (link below), but it was also very important as it gave MSU a 5-3 lead midway through the third period. The floodgates opened after that, and the final score was a rout. "We definitely talked about (extending the lead) in the locker room," Michaelis said. "The next goal would decide the game."
2. Brickley's back: Sophomore defenseman Daniel Brickley (pictured) picked up right where he left off, despite being out for eight games with an injury. He had a goal and an assist and made the Mavericks' power play look like a whole different unit. The Mavericks were 2 for 3 with the man advantage. His goal came on one, and he was running things on the second despite not getting an assist. "He didn’t come back and force the game," coach Mike Hastings said. I think he took what was there — made simple plays, smart plays. … Thought he played a real heady game, didn’t put himself in bad spots. And that’s what you want a good player to do."
3. Foguth's out: The Mavericks gave up three goals, two on the power play, and could have used their captain, senior defenseman Carter Foguth, to calm things down on the back end. He's out with a lower-body injury. Hastings said he's day-to-day but "has made significant strides in the last 48 hours." It's unlikely he'll play in Saturday's rematch with Alaska, though. With Foguth out, freshman Edwin Hookenson got his first collegiate action. He was +1 with no shots on goal. His defensive partner, Clint Lewis, had a goal and an assist.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Michigan Tech 1 ... Lake Superior State 4, Bowling Green 2 ... Northern Michigan at Alaska Anchorage (late)
Live coverage: MSU vs. Alaska
Minnesota State is back home to start a WCHA series against Alaska. Live coverage and chat below tonight's lines ...
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Franklin, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 17-Huntebrinker, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
11-Flanagan, 27-Schwalbe
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawlowski
34-Huggins
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Foguth, Madry, Vanko
ALASKA
14-Morley, 16-Munson, 22-Staley
26-Cline, 15-Van Tetering, 39-Heidt
25-Herdt, 27-Leiter, 9-Basara
18-Mullally, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
6-Frye, 24-Ladouce
12-Hinz, 32-Thompson
10-Kiraly, 5-Koberstein
29-Jenks
30-Jones
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Franklin, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 17-Huntebrinker, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
25-Stepan, 26-French, 9-Gerard
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
11-Flanagan, 27-Schwalbe
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawlowski
34-Huggins
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Foguth, Madry, Vanko
ALASKA
14-Morley, 16-Munson, 22-Staley
26-Cline, 15-Van Tetering, 39-Heidt
25-Herdt, 27-Leiter, 9-Basara
18-Mullally, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
6-Frye, 24-Ladouce
12-Hinz, 32-Thompson
10-Kiraly, 5-Koberstein
29-Jenks
30-Jones
Friday Morning Skate
 |
| Pat Christman/The Free Press |
Minnesota State is led in scoring by freshman forward Marc Michaelis (pictured). In some ways, his path from Germany to college hockey actually started in Mankato, although he didn't really know it at the time. Once the recruiting process started, he signed on very quickly.
A few more nuggets about Michaelis that didn't make the story:
• He was surprised early on that he was able to score so much (although his coaches weren't) but not any more, mainly because of who he's playing with. If you play a lot, you should expect a lot, he said. "You get used to playing with C.J. and Luresy," he said about skating on a line with juniors C.J. Franklin and Brad McClure. "They make plays where you don't even expect to make plays. ... I'd call it a little bit lucky, playing with those guys, getting some bounces that went in my favor."
• Michaelis recognizes that nine of his points have come on the power play. That can be good and bad. "We need to score a 5-on-5 goal," he said.
• Coach Mike Hastings said Michaelis made a good impression on him in the preseason and has kept that up. Others have taken notice, too. "I think he's a really good hockey player," Hastings said. "I think if you ask the other 13 forwards who they'd like to play with, I think he'd be at the top of the list, maybe top two."
• One player who stood out to Michaelis in that game he watched in 2012 was Matt Leitner, who was a sophomore at the time. "He was one of those guys I remember watching," he said. With his rink vision and history of being a good puck distributor who can also score, could Michaelis be the next Leitner for MSU? "I hope so," he said.
For more about the weekend series, see The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday feature.
Read more about the Nanooks in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
Going around the WCHA ...
Bemidji State at Michigan Tech: This is the league's marquee matchup of the weekend as the first-place Beavers travel to the U.P. Bemidji State still hasn't lost in WCHA play but may be reeling a bit after getting swept at home by previously winless Princeton last weekend. The Huskies, meanwhile, are on a seven-game unbeaten streak, including a sweep last weekend at Alaska.
Bowling Green at Lake Superior State: The Falcons are rolling, too, with a six-game unbeaten streak and only one loss in their last nine. They will play the Lakers, who have just one win in their last seven following their 6-1 start. Bowling Green has the WCHA's leading scorer in junior forward Mitch McLain, who has 17 points.
Northern Michigan at Alaska Anchorage: The Seawolves host the Wildcats with the hope of leapfrogging them in the standings. Anchorage is last in the WCHA and on a 10-game winless streak and sits one point behind Northern Michigan, which is winless in its last seven, although it did tie Omaha and win the 3-on-3 overtime session last Friday. The Wildcats, too, hope this is a weekend in which they can make a move in the standings.
Ferris State at Alabama Huntsville: The Bulldogs travel to the Hockey Capital of the South for a Saturday-Sunday series. They are tied with the Chargers for fifth place in the WCHA. Ferris State has won four of five games. Huntsville has dropped three in a row, four with a 3-on-3 OT loss.
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