As expected, Minnesota State sophomore forward Marc Michaelis earned the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week Award after his six-point weekend at Bemidji State. Teammate Daniel Brickley was also honored by the league, as the junior defenseman was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Michaelis had five goals and an assist in the series, including a hat trick on Friday. He had two short-handed goals and both game-winners. His six points doubled his total from MSU's first nine games. He now has 12 points (7-5).
Brickley had a goal and two assists and was plus-4 on Saturday. On Friday his plus-minus was even and he had no points. In the series he had six shots on goal and blocked four shots. He now has 11 points this season.
The WCHA's other players of the week were Ferris State goalie Justin Kapelmaster (goaltender of the week), who won two games against Alaska, stopping 53 of 57 shots, and Bowling Green freshman forward Max Johnson (rookie of the week), who had two goals and an assist in a five-point weekend over Lake Superior State.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Mavericks move up to 5th
Following its sweep at Bemidji State over the weekend, a series in which it scored 13 goals (and gave up eight), Minnesota State moved up to No. 5 in the newest U.S. College Hockey Online poll. The Mavericks had been No. 10. They will host unranked-but-receiving-votes Bowling Green on Friday and Saturday. In the USA Today/USA Hockey rankings, Minnesota State moved up to No. 8 from No. 11.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./November 13, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 Denver (43) 6- 2-2 992 3 2 St. Cloud State ( 1) 7- 2-0 914 1 3 North Dakota ( 2) 7- 2-3 913 2 4 Notre Dame 8- 3-1 809 6 5 Minnesota State 8- 3-0 710 10 6 Cornell ( 4) 6- 0-0 709 14 7 Minnesota 7- 4-1 699 4 8 Clarkson 8- 3-1 670 11 9 Wisconsin 7- 5-1 542 7 10 Providence 6- 4-0 507 8 11 New Hampshire 6- 3-1 434 9 12 Northeastern 6- 3-1 432 13 13 Harvard 2- 3-0 422 5 14 Minnesota Duluth 5- 5-2 327 12 15 Western Michigan 6- 4-1 259 18 16 Ohio State 6- 3-3 256 17 17 Michigan 6- 3-1 230 NR 18 Boston University 5- 6-1 208 15 19 Colgate 6- 2-4 165 NR 20 Northern Michigan 6- 4-0 74 20 Others receiving votes: Boston College 61, Colorado College 49, Omaha 28, UMass Lowell 19, Bowling Green 17, Army 12, Penn State 10, Quinnipiac 10, Union 7, Yale 6, Niagara 4, Bemidji State 2, RIT 2, Princeton 1.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Mavericks 8, Beavers 6
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Fourteen goals?!?!? Minnesota State and Bemidji State played each other four times last year and scored a total of 11 goals in those games, which included a 1-1 tie and three 2-1 finals. On Saturday night, the rivals scored and scored and scored, compiling 14 goals. "Fourteen goals? We're in anear era where the first to three goals usually wins," Beavers coach Tom Serratore said. The teams combined for six goals in the second period alone. Minnesota State had two stretches where it scored three goals in a row (including three unanswered in the third period), and Bemidji State had one. "It was a fun game for the fans and a fun game for the players," Serratore said.
2. Many hats: Each team had a hat trick in the game, as MSU's Max Coatta got his first three-goal game, and BSU's Jay Dickman had three. On Friday, Marc Michaelis had a hat trick for the Mavericks; he had two goals and an assist on Saturday for a six-point weekend, doubling his total points going into the weekend. The WCHA might as well send him its Offensive Player of the Week Award now. The Mavericks' Daniel Brickley (1G, 2A) and C.J. Suess (3A) also had three-point games, as did the Beavers' Kyle Bauman (3A).
3. Down but not out: Minnesota State was up 4-2 in the second period and then allowed three goals to fall behind 5-4 and have starting goalie Jason Pawloski chased from the game. Zeb Knutson's goal with 2.2 seconds left in the second salvaged the period (BSU iced the puck with 6 seconds left, putting the faceoff in MSU's offensive zone. Suess won the draw cleanly back to Brickley who fired a shot that Knutson tipped in.) The Beavers got momentum back with Dickman's hat trick goal early in the third, but that didn't knock out the Mavericks, who then got goals from Coatta, Michaelis and Jaremko to close out the game. "Proud that the guys found a way to get it done in a very difficult building," Hastings said.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 2 ... Ferris State 5, Alaska 3 ... Northern Michigan 4, Michigan Tech 0 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Alabama Huntsville 3 (UAA wins shootout)
1. Fourteen goals?!?!? Minnesota State and Bemidji State played each other four times last year and scored a total of 11 goals in those games, which included a 1-1 tie and three 2-1 finals. On Saturday night, the rivals scored and scored and scored, compiling 14 goals. "Fourteen goals? We're in an
2. Many hats: Each team had a hat trick in the game, as MSU's Max Coatta got his first three-goal game, and BSU's Jay Dickman had three. On Friday, Marc Michaelis had a hat trick for the Mavericks; he had two goals and an assist on Saturday for a six-point weekend, doubling his total points going into the weekend. The WCHA might as well send him its Offensive Player of the Week Award now. The Mavericks' Daniel Brickley (1G, 2A) and C.J. Suess (3A) also had three-point games, as did the Beavers' Kyle Bauman (3A).
3. Down but not out: Minnesota State was up 4-2 in the second period and then allowed three goals to fall behind 5-4 and have starting goalie Jason Pawloski chased from the game. Zeb Knutson's goal with 2.2 seconds left in the second salvaged the period (BSU iced the puck with 6 seconds left, putting the faceoff in MSU's offensive zone. Suess won the draw cleanly back to Brickley who fired a shot that Knutson tipped in.) The Beavers got momentum back with Dickman's hat trick goal early in the third, but that didn't knock out the Mavericks, who then got goals from Coatta, Michaelis and Jaremko to close out the game. "Proud that the guys found a way to get it done in a very difficult building," Hastings said.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 2 ... Ferris State 5, Alaska 3 ... Northern Michigan 4, Michigan Tech 0 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Alabama Huntsville 3 (UAA wins shootout)
Live: Minnesota State at Bemidji State
The No. 10 Mavericks will go for the series sweep against the Beavers starting at 7:07 p.m. at the Sanford Center. Follow along on the live chat below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 2-Mackey
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 2-Mackey
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, McNeely*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
27-Brady, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 11-Combs
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 23-Sjodahl
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 15-Heller
9-Somoza, 28-Brown-Maloski, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
4-Struthers, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, McNeely*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
27-Brady, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 11-Combs
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 23-Sjodahl
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 15-Heller
9-Somoza, 28-Brown-Maloski, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
4-Struthers, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
Friday, November 10, 2017
Mavericks 5, Beavers 2
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Friday night's all right: Minnesota State stayed perfect in series openers (5-0-0) with the victory over the Beavers. Marc Michaelis' second career hat trick (read more about him in the game story linked below), along with Connor LaCouvee's 30-save effort in goal made the difference against the tough-at-home Beavers. "We've got to be ready for their push tomorrow night," Michaelis said as MSU will seek its first road sweep since taking two games from Boston University a month ago. They lost their last two Saturday night games on the road, last weekend at Northern Michigan and Oct. 21 at Bowling Green.
2. The Hook brings you back: Sophomore defenseman Edwin Hookenson scored his first career goal to give MSU a 1-0 lead. Hookenson has played in six of 10 games this season and even got the nod over senior Clint Lewis on Friday with the return of freshman Riese Zmolek to the lineup. "Hook’s been playing well for us; it was good to see him get rewarded," coach Mike Hastings said. He was plus-2 in the game and also helped the Mavericks kill off three Bemidji State power plays. "I've been playing some penalty kill more," Hookenson said. "Our penalty kill's been getting better. I'm happy to be playing this much; I hope they keep letting me."
3. Welcome to Bemidji: The Mavericks had seven freshmen in the lineup, including three defensemen (Zmolek, Connor Mackey and Jack McNeely). Up front, Jake Jaremko had an assist, his fifth of the season, and Reggie Lutz, Jared Spooner and Walker Duehr also played. “We had some young defensemen back there learning what it’s like to have to play in this building," Hastings said. "At times they were good and at times they struggled a little bit. Hopefully we can look at that and learn from it and be better tomorrow." Mackey had an assist, making up for a couple tough plays early. Zmolek, who took a late penalty, ended up plus-3. McNeely was minus-1.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 3, Alaska 1 ... Michigan Tech 4, Northern Michigan 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Lake Superior State 2 (BG wins shootout) ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Alaska Anchorage 1
1. Friday night's all right: Minnesota State stayed perfect in series openers (5-0-0) with the victory over the Beavers. Marc Michaelis' second career hat trick (read more about him in the game story linked below), along with Connor LaCouvee's 30-save effort in goal made the difference against the tough-at-home Beavers. "We've got to be ready for their push tomorrow night," Michaelis said as MSU will seek its first road sweep since taking two games from Boston University a month ago. They lost their last two Saturday night games on the road, last weekend at Northern Michigan and Oct. 21 at Bowling Green.
2. The Hook brings you back: Sophomore defenseman Edwin Hookenson scored his first career goal to give MSU a 1-0 lead. Hookenson has played in six of 10 games this season and even got the nod over senior Clint Lewis on Friday with the return of freshman Riese Zmolek to the lineup. "Hook’s been playing well for us; it was good to see him get rewarded," coach Mike Hastings said. He was plus-2 in the game and also helped the Mavericks kill off three Bemidji State power plays. "I've been playing some penalty kill more," Hookenson said. "Our penalty kill's been getting better. I'm happy to be playing this much; I hope they keep letting me."
3. Welcome to Bemidji: The Mavericks had seven freshmen in the lineup, including three defensemen (Zmolek, Connor Mackey and Jack McNeely). Up front, Jake Jaremko had an assist, his fifth of the season, and Reggie Lutz, Jared Spooner and Walker Duehr also played. “We had some young defensemen back there learning what it’s like to have to play in this building," Hastings said. "At times they were good and at times they struggled a little bit. Hopefully we can look at that and learn from it and be better tomorrow." Mackey had an assist, making up for a couple tough plays early. Zmolek, who took a late penalty, ended up plus-3. McNeely was minus-1.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 3, Alaska 1 ... Michigan Tech 4, Northern Michigan 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Lake Superior State 2 (BG wins shootout) ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Alaska Anchorage 1
Live: Minnesota State at Bemidji State
The WCHA's two Minnesota teams will play each other at 7:07 p.m. tonight at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. Should be a good series. Join the conversation below the lineups:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suss, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, Lewis*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
23-Sjodahl, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 26-M. Fitzgerald
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 15-Heller
27-Brady, 8-Harris, 11-Combs
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
22-Vold, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer,
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suss, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, Lewis*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
23-Sjodahl, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 26-M. Fitzgerald
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 15-Heller
27-Brady, 8-Harris, 11-Combs
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
22-Vold, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer,
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks are on the road — again — as they face their biggest WCHA rival, Bemidji State. This will be the fourth time in five weeks that Minnesota State is playing on the road, and the team has really racked up the miles already this season. And that's before it's gone to Lake Superior State, Alaska Anchorage, Alaska and Alabama Huntsville.
And the stops so far haven't been easy. Minnesota State has played the country's sixth toughest schedule.
They'll be playing a Beavers team that is just getting back from Alaska. However, they've also played most of their games at home so far this season.
Read more about the matchup in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday feature.
The Beavers will be without sophomore defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who is competing for Team Canada in the Karjala Cup tournament in Switzerland and Finland.
All 10 WCHA teams are in action against each other this weekend. The other matchups are:
Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech: Another big rivalry will take place in the UP with this home-and-home series. The crowds weren't very big in Marquette last weekend when MSU was there, but it's expected to be packed on Saturday when this series moves there.
Alaska at Ferris State: The Bulldogs got a nice overtime win last week against Michigan but are still looking for their first WCHA victory, starting 0-3-1 in league play. The Nanooks are making their third trip to the Lower 48 already.
Lake Superior State at Bowling Green: The Falcons are tied with the Mavericks for first place in the WCHA and will host the Lakers, their oldest rival. LSSU has one win in its last nine games.
Alaska Anchorage at Alabama Huntsville: The Chargers are making their home debut after starting the season with eight games on the road. They're 2-6-0 and will play their next six games at home. The Seawolves won their first game of the season last Saturday at Lake Superior State.
In the post below this you can read about Minnesota State's early recruiting signees. The MSU women announced a class of six on Wednesday.
ICYMI: my column from earlier this week on how, so far, seniors have ruled in the WCHA.
More on the WCHA from USCHO.
And the stops so far haven't been easy. Minnesota State has played the country's sixth toughest schedule.
They'll be playing a Beavers team that is just getting back from Alaska. However, they've also played most of their games at home so far this season.
Read more about the matchup in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday feature.
The Beavers will be without sophomore defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who is competing for Team Canada in the Karjala Cup tournament in Switzerland and Finland.
All 10 WCHA teams are in action against each other this weekend. The other matchups are:
Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech: Another big rivalry will take place in the UP with this home-and-home series. The crowds weren't very big in Marquette last weekend when MSU was there, but it's expected to be packed on Saturday when this series moves there.
Alaska at Ferris State: The Bulldogs got a nice overtime win last week against Michigan but are still looking for their first WCHA victory, starting 0-3-1 in league play. The Nanooks are making their third trip to the Lower 48 already.
Lake Superior State at Bowling Green: The Falcons are tied with the Mavericks for first place in the WCHA and will host the Lakers, their oldest rival. LSSU has one win in its last nine games.
Alaska Anchorage at Alabama Huntsville: The Chargers are making their home debut after starting the season with eight games on the road. They're 2-6-0 and will play their next six games at home. The Seawolves won their first game of the season last Saturday at Lake Superior State.
In the post below this you can read about Minnesota State's early recruiting signees. The MSU women announced a class of six on Wednesday.
ICYMI: my column from earlier this week on how, so far, seniors have ruled in the WCHA.
More on the WCHA from USCHO.
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