Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Patience pays off: Minnesota State's fans saw no goals in the season-opener and just one through nearly 2 3/4 periods on Friday against Michigan Tech. But the crowd of 3,569 was rewarded with two late goals for an MSU win. The red-hot Zeb Knutson (see my game story below) and Brad McClure — both seniors — scored the goals in the final 5:12 to secure the win. Marc Michaelis scored the other goal, which came just 1:59 into the game. "I think we did a good job getting pucks up top and getting pucks to the net," Knutson said.
2. Turning point No. 1: Midway through the game defenseman Ian Scheid was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for checking from behind. The Mavericks led 1-0 at the time, and it could have been a time for Tech to take control. Instead, MSU's PK did the job, allowing just two pucks to get to goalie Connor LaCouvee (one on a 3-on-1 rush) and clearing the puck down the ice 6-7 times, including a short-handed rush and shot by Jake Jaremko. The Huskies finished 0 for 5 on the power play with six shots on goal. The Mavericks were 0 for 3 with four shots.
3. Turning point No. 2: The Mavericks had an earlier chance to take a 2-1 lead on a third-period power play, but C.J. Suess' tap-in try into an open net somehow went wide. Moments later, Michigan Tech's Justin Misiak, who was in the penalty box, scored to tie the game at 3:29. The Mavericks didn't seem to let that bother them too much and they controlled the rest of the period, finally getting Knutson's go-ahead goal. "That's a tough break, but I think we have a lot of character in the locker room and on the bench. There's not much panic. We stayed composed and stayed positive and got back to work to try and get the next one."
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Cornell 5, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Michigan State 4, Lake Superior State 3 ... Bowling Green 2, Alaska 1 ... Bemidji State 2, Ferris State 2 (BSU wins in shootout)
Friday, October 27, 2017
Live: Minnesota State vs. Michigan Tech
The No. 12 Mavericks and No. 16 Huskies square off at 7:07 p.m. today in the first game of a WCHA series at the Verizon Center. It will be the team's first meeting since last year's conference playoffs when Michigan Tech knocked out MSU in a semifinals series. Follow along with the action below the lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 9-Gerard
23-Rivera, 5-Jaremko, 19-McClure
16-Lutz, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads, Schwalbe, Vanko, Zmolek
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 9-Gerard
23-Rivera, 5-Jaremko, 19-McClure
16-Lutz, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads, Schwalbe, Vanko, Zmolek
MICHIGAN TECH
14-Gould, 15-Lucchini, 11-L'Esperance
16-Blacklock, 18-Reitmeier, 10-Jackson
23-Brice, 8-Steman, 17-Misiak
28-Baltus, 20-Smith, 13-Beretta
12-Auk, 4-Birks
2-Donohue, 5-Reinke
7-Ford, 27-Meek
30-Munson
31-Kero
16-Blacklock, 18-Reitmeier, 10-Jackson
23-Brice, 8-Steman, 17-Misiak
28-Baltus, 20-Smith, 13-Beretta
12-Auk, 4-Birks
2-Donohue, 5-Reinke
7-Ford, 27-Meek
30-Munson
31-Kero
Friday Morning Skate
Minnesota State returns to Mankato tonight to begin a WCHA series against Michigan Tech. The two teams have been among the conference's best teams in this era and have played in some memorable matchups, including last year's three-game playoff series in Houghton in which the Huskies eliminated the Mavericks.
The Mavericks had a good road stretch, going 3-1 at Boston University and Bowling Green. They scored seven power-play goals in those games, which is good, but they'd like to find more consistency 5 on 5. Other than the usual suspects, one player they believe can give them a boost is junior forward Max Coatta. I featured him in today's Free Press. It covers not only his on-the-ice abilities but his connection to Mankato that goes back two generations.
Read more about the series in the Freep's College Hockey Gameday.
If you're going to the game tonight, note that MSU and the Verizon Center are making some changes to security protocol with the hopes of avoiding the problems (long lines, long waits) that took place three weeks ago. One measure is that the doors will open at 5:45 p.m. The hope is that everybody (who wants to be) is seated in time for the opening faceoff.
One person expected to attend tonight's game is Will Sterrett of Kansas City, who is "chasing MacNaughton" by planning to attend a game in each of the WCHA's 10 rinks this season. Mankato is the first stop. According to a note from the league office, Sterrett expects it to be a "fun trip, full of the competitive hockey that has made the WCHA one of the deepest-rooted conferences in sports."
As for Michigan Tech, the Huskies come in with a new coach and a few new faces. But they also return a good collection of talent, including defenseman Mark Auk, a senior who made the coaches preseason All-WCHA team. Tech is coming off a home split with Alabama Huntsville.
Going around the WCHA ...
Ferris State at Bemidji State: The Bulldogs and Beavers square off in what should be another good league series. Ferris State has struggled a bit out of the gates, while Bemidji State has had a couple of quality wins. The Beavers in a couple of years will have a Mankato connection with West grad Kyle Looft committing to play there recently.
Alaska at Bowling Green: The Falcons are looking for more consistency following their home split against Minnesota State. Now they bring in the Nanooks, who actually enjoy their long road trips.
Alabama Huntsville at Cornell and Lake Superior State at Michigan State: The Chargers and the Lakers can give the WCHA some added boost with success in a pair of nonconference series. For Huntsville, the weekend is part of an eight-game road stretch to start the season. They'll then have six straight at home before playing 12 on the road closing the season with eight at home.
The Mavericks had a good road stretch, going 3-1 at Boston University and Bowling Green. They scored seven power-play goals in those games, which is good, but they'd like to find more consistency 5 on 5. Other than the usual suspects, one player they believe can give them a boost is junior forward Max Coatta. I featured him in today's Free Press. It covers not only his on-the-ice abilities but his connection to Mankato that goes back two generations.
Read more about the series in the Freep's College Hockey Gameday.
If you're going to the game tonight, note that MSU and the Verizon Center are making some changes to security protocol with the hopes of avoiding the problems (long lines, long waits) that took place three weeks ago. One measure is that the doors will open at 5:45 p.m. The hope is that everybody (who wants to be) is seated in time for the opening faceoff.
One person expected to attend tonight's game is Will Sterrett of Kansas City, who is "chasing MacNaughton" by planning to attend a game in each of the WCHA's 10 rinks this season. Mankato is the first stop. According to a note from the league office, Sterrett expects it to be a "fun trip, full of the competitive hockey that has made the WCHA one of the deepest-rooted conferences in sports."
As for Michigan Tech, the Huskies come in with a new coach and a few new faces. But they also return a good collection of talent, including defenseman Mark Auk, a senior who made the coaches preseason All-WCHA team. Tech is coming off a home split with Alabama Huntsville.
Going around the WCHA ...
Ferris State at Bemidji State: The Bulldogs and Beavers square off in what should be another good league series. Ferris State has struggled a bit out of the gates, while Bemidji State has had a couple of quality wins. The Beavers in a couple of years will have a Mankato connection with West grad Kyle Looft committing to play there recently.
Alaska at Bowling Green: The Falcons are looking for more consistency following their home split against Minnesota State. Now they bring in the Nanooks, who actually enjoy their long road trips.
Alabama Huntsville at Cornell and Lake Superior State at Michigan State: The Chargers and the Lakers can give the WCHA some added boost with success in a pair of nonconference series. For Huntsville, the weekend is part of an eight-game road stretch to start the season. They'll then have six straight at home before playing 12 on the road closing the season with eight at home.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Mavericks move up to No. 12
Minnesota State split in its WCHA-opening series at Bowling Green over the weekend. Despite Saturday's loss, the Mavericks moved up to No. 12 in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online poll. The 3-1 road trip at Boston College and Bowling Green must have impressed the voters who bumped them up from No. 14. Here's the poll:
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./October 23, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 Denver (33) 2- 0-2 980 1 2 St. Cloud State (16) 5- 0-0 955 3 3 Harvard ( 1) 0- 0-0 903 2 4 North Dakota 4- 1-1 840 4 5 Wisconsin 5- 2-0 719 6 6 Boston University 3- 2-1 682 7 7 Minnesota 3- 3-0 659 8 8 Notre Dame 3- 2-1 615 5 9 Clarkson 4- 1-1 532 12 10 Minnesota Duluth 2- 2-2 526 9 11 Providence 3- 2-0 493 10 12 Minnesota State 3- 2-0 404 14 13 Quinnipiac 3- 1-1 381 18 14 New Hampshire 5- 1-0 338 17 15 Penn State 3- 3-0 322 11 16 Michigan Tech 4- 2-1 240 15 17 UMass Lowell 3- 3-0 222 19 18 Air Force 4- 1-1 149 20 19 Boston College 1- 3-1 131 13 20 Northeastern 2- 2-1 105 16 Others receiving votes: Ohio State 97, Michigan 67, Cornell 65, Bemidji State 45, Colorado College 11, Omaha 10, Northern Michigan 4, Vermont 3, Army 2.
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Falcons 5, Mavericks 2
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| Todd Pavlack, BGSUHockey.com |
1. Opposite night: Minnesota State and Bowling Green are a couple of Even Stevens when they play each other. Since the Falcons joined MSU in the "new" WCHA in 2013, the two teams have split every series but one, and that one ended in a pair of ties. No one's getting out of a weekend with more than two points when these two teams meet, it seems. That was the case on Saturday as BG bounced back from Friday's loss. The Falcons kept MSU off the board on its first six power plays while scoring four goals of their own over that same stretch to take a 4-0 lead. Minnesota State got two back but that was all.
2. How about a 5-on-5 goal? Minnesota State did score one power-play goal on Saturday, finishing 1 for 8 after going 3 for 6 on Friday. Nick Rivera scored the goal, just after assisting on Zeb Knutson's goal, which came with an extra attacker on during a delayed penalty. On Friday, the Mavericks scored the three PPGs as well as a 4-on-4 goal. That being said, Bowling Green goalie Ryan Bednard was on his game Saturday after sitting out Friday's game. He finished with 26 saves and made two big-time saves on Knutson, who led MSU with four shots on goal along with Daniel Brickley.
3. Lineup changes: Coach Mike Hastings made a few changes to his lineup on Saturday. Most notably, he went with Jason Pawloski in goal, as he did a week earlier at Boston University. Pawloski stopped 24 shots, including a pair of short-handed breakaways, but he didn't out-duel Bednard. Other changes included Dallas Gerads for Walker Duehr, a freshman-for-freshman move that included some other line shuffling. On defense, Riese Zmolek was a scratch. Hastings said he's day-to-day with an injury. Edwin Hookenson took his place in the D-corps.
Read more here.
Around the WCHA: Mercyhurst 4, Ferris State 1 ... Wisconsin 4, Northern Michigan 0 ... Alabama Huntsville 4, Michigan Tech 2 ... Air Force 5, Bemidji State 1 ... Denver 5, Lake Superior State 1 ... Alaska Anchorage at Alaska
Friday, October 20, 2017
Mavericks 4, Falcons 1
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| Photo courtesy Todd Pavlack, BGSUHockey.com |
1. Powering through: Minnesota State went 3 for 6 on the power play to defeat the Falcons and are 6 for 14 (42.9 percent) over its last three games, all wins. Parker Tuomie, Zeb Knutson and C.J. Suess scored the man-advantage goals. In-zone faceoff wins were key on the first and third PPGs, as well as on the Mavericks' third goal of the game, a 4-on-4 tally by freshman defenseman Connor Mackey.
2. Share the wealth: The Mavericks have 13 goals this season, and they've come from 11 different players. Mackey's goal was his first of the season, same with Tuomie. Knutson became the first player to score multiple goals, and Suess got his second of the season later. Knutson and Suess lead MSU with five points in four games. Tuomie and Max Coatta led MSU with five shots on goal each.
3. Defense wins: Minnesota State put 34 shots on goal and held Bowling Green to 17, while allowing one goal, the game's only 5-on-5 goal. The Mavericks held the Falcons scoreless on six power-play attempts. Life wasn't terribly difficult for goaltender Connor LaCouvee, as he faced single-digit shot totals in each period. However, the senior came up big when he needed to to earn his second win of the season and second as a Maverick.
Read more here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 3, Mercyhurst 2 ... Michigan Tech 5, Alabama Huntsville 4 ... Bemidji State 4, Air Force 1 ... Northern Michigan 5, Wisconsin 4 (OT) ... Lake Superior State 2, Denver 2 ... Alaska 6 Alaska Anchorage 2.
Friday Morning Skate
No. 14 Minnesota State will open its WCHA schedule today at Bowling Green, and if you think this means things are getting easier for the Mavericks, who started the season against St. Cloud State and Boston University, "we don't," says coach Mike Hastings. Indeed, the grind of the conference schedule is real, as are the rivalries. Hastings says Bowling Green is one of MSU's biggest rivals, and why not? The two teams have split every series they've played as WCHA opponents over the last four years.
Read more about the series in my College Hockey Gameday. And get some reaction from MSU goalie Connor LaCouvee's return to (and win in) Boston here.
As for Bowling Green, it believes this will be an important, challenging weekend, too. But the Falcons have shown their own flashes of strong play to start the year, too. Read another weekend preview from BGSUHockey.com here (includes video of Falcons coach Chris Bergeron).
The Mavericks made many people stand up and take notice of them last weekend. Here's some more coverage of them from USCHO and College Hockey News.
Going around the WCHA ...
Alabama Huntsville at Michigan Tech: In the only other league series of the weekend, the Chargers travel to the U.P. to take on the No. 15 Huskies. These will be the first home games for Tech since it won the Broadmoor Trophy championship last march.
Alaska vs. Alaska Anchorage: The Alaska rivals will begin their Governor's Cup series tonight in Anchorage and move to Fairbanks on Saturday. This weekend's games are not for league points. The Nanooks are coming off two disappointing losses at St. Cloud State.
Air Force at Bemidji State: It's the Serratore Bowl, as brothers Tom and Frank renew their rivalry for the first time since the 2009-10 season when the Beavers host the Falcons. But it won't just be brother vs. brother. One of Air Force's players is junior Matt Serratore, son of the BSU coach and nephew of the Air Force coach.
Northern Michigan vs. Wisconsin: The Wildcats and No. 6 Badgers will meet in the middle and play a pair of games in Green Bay. New NMU coach Grant Potulny is off to a good start with a 3-1-0 record that includes a sweep at Ferris State.
Ferris State at Mercyurst: The Bulldogs, which opened WCHA play with two losses to Northern Michigan will hit the road for a nonconference series against the Lakers.
Lake Superior State at Denver: The WCHA's Lakers are leaving the U.P. for the first time this season. After a league loss and tie/shootout loss at home to Michigan Tech, they will go west to take on the nation's No. 1 team and defending national champions, the Pioneers.
Read more about the series in my College Hockey Gameday. And get some reaction from MSU goalie Connor LaCouvee's return to (and win in) Boston here.
As for Bowling Green, it believes this will be an important, challenging weekend, too. But the Falcons have shown their own flashes of strong play to start the year, too. Read another weekend preview from BGSUHockey.com here (includes video of Falcons coach Chris Bergeron).
The Mavericks made many people stand up and take notice of them last weekend. Here's some more coverage of them from USCHO and College Hockey News.
Going around the WCHA ...
Alabama Huntsville at Michigan Tech: In the only other league series of the weekend, the Chargers travel to the U.P. to take on the No. 15 Huskies. These will be the first home games for Tech since it won the Broadmoor Trophy championship last march.
Alaska vs. Alaska Anchorage: The Alaska rivals will begin their Governor's Cup series tonight in Anchorage and move to Fairbanks on Saturday. This weekend's games are not for league points. The Nanooks are coming off two disappointing losses at St. Cloud State.
Air Force at Bemidji State: It's the Serratore Bowl, as brothers Tom and Frank renew their rivalry for the first time since the 2009-10 season when the Beavers host the Falcons. But it won't just be brother vs. brother. One of Air Force's players is junior Matt Serratore, son of the BSU coach and nephew of the Air Force coach.
Northern Michigan vs. Wisconsin: The Wildcats and No. 6 Badgers will meet in the middle and play a pair of games in Green Bay. New NMU coach Grant Potulny is off to a good start with a 3-1-0 record that includes a sweep at Ferris State.
Ferris State at Mercyurst: The Bulldogs, which opened WCHA play with two losses to Northern Michigan will hit the road for a nonconference series against the Lakers.
Lake Superior State at Denver: The WCHA's Lakers are leaving the U.P. for the first time this season. After a league loss and tie/shootout loss at home to Michigan Tech, they will go west to take on the nation's No. 1 team and defending national champions, the Pioneers.
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