A few changes to Minnesota State's lineup, most notably Riese Zmolek being out. He blocked a shot late in the game last night and didn't return. Not sure how serious that is. Wyatt Aamodt goes in his place, and freshman D Colby Bukes will make his debut. Julian Napravnik is back in the lineup, and freshmen Lucas Sowder and Ryan Sandelin are out. Once again, just two goalies are dressed.
Here are tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 20-Michaelis, 9-Gerard
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 8-Smith
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
23-Rivera, 26-French, 15-Napravnik
2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
7-Aamodt, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson
12-Bukes
29-McKay
31-Berger
Scratches: Borchardt, Malinowski, McMahan, Sandelin, Sowder, Stauber, Van Os-Shaw, Zmolek
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
40-Camrud, 9-Wicks, 15-Lantz
10-Schachle, 25-Mitchell, 13-Frye
28-St. Onge, 14-Nash, 29-DeGraaf
19-Glover, 20-Renwick, 17-Masson
3-Lane
18-Hiekkavirta, 26-McPheters
22-Buono, 23-Sinclair
7-Nicholas, 4-Robillard
30-Carlson
39-Stead
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Friday, November 22, 2019
Mavericks 7, Seawolves 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game (edited after some late-night scoring changes) ...
1. Top line shines: There have been some tweaks to the top line this season, but eventually, Marc Michaelis, Parker Tuomie and Charlie Gerard end up back together. The all-senior line was as good as its been all season, racking up seven eight points in the rout of the Alaska Anchorage. The trio made nifty plays throughout the game, and Tuomie finished with a goal and two assists two goals and an assist, Michaelis had three assists and Gerard had a goal and an assist. Going into its second season together, doesn't this line need a nickname? Run-T.M.G., perhaps?
2. Early action: The Mavericks jumped all over the Seawolves each period, scoring within the first two minutes of each. Tuomie's power-play goal came at 1:42 of the first period, Gerard's goal came 41 seconds into the second, and Tuomie scored again 1:57 of the third. Anchorage looked like an improved team overall compared to the last couple of years, but it simply couldn't withstand those early blows in each period.
3. Making plays: There was some impressive playmaking around the rink as the Mavericks reached a season-high for goals. Mike Hastings talked earlier in the year about trying to make more plays, in general, and that was the case. The Run-T.M.G. line (it has nice ring to it, no?) made some beauties, especially on Gerard's goal, on which Michaelis went cross-ice to Tuomie, who went right back to the goal scorer streaking down the middle of the ice. But add in Andy Carroll's stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1 for Nathan Smith and Jake Jaremko (read more about Jaremko's return in the link below), and Smith's nice set-up to Jaremko for the finish.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 3, Northern Michigan 2 ... Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 0 ... Bemidji State 5, Alabama Huntsville 3 ... Ferris State at Alaska (late)
2. Early action: The Mavericks jumped all over the Seawolves each period, scoring within the first two minutes of each. Tuomie's power-play goal came at 1:42 of the first period, Gerard's goal came 41 seconds into the second, and Tuomie scored again 1:57 of the third. Anchorage looked like an improved team overall compared to the last couple of years, but it simply couldn't withstand those early blows in each period.
3. Making plays: There was some impressive playmaking around the rink as the Mavericks reached a season-high for goals. Mike Hastings talked earlier in the year about trying to make more plays, in general, and that was the case. The Run-T.M.G. line (it has nice ring to it, no?) made some beauties, especially on Gerard's goal, on which Michaelis went cross-ice to Tuomie, who went right back to the goal scorer streaking down the middle of the ice. But add in Andy Carroll's stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1 for Nathan Smith and Jake Jaremko (read more about Jaremko's return in the link below), and Smith's nice set-up to Jaremko for the finish.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 3, Northern Michigan 2 ... Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 0 ... Bemidji State 5, Alabama Huntsville 3 ... Ferris State at Alaska (late)
Minnesota State vs. Alaska Anchorage
Here are tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 20-Michaelis, 9-Gerard
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 8-Smith
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
23-Rivera, 26-French, 14-Sandelin
21-Sowder
2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson
29-McKay
31-Berger
Scratches: Aamodt, Borchardt, Bukes, Malinowski, McMahan, Napravnik, Stauber, Van Os-Shaw
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
13-Frye, 9-Wicks, 40-Camrud
10-Schachle, 25-Mitchell, 15-Lantz
28-St. Onge, 14-Nash, 29-DeGraaf
19-Glover, 20-Renwick, 17-Masson
26-McPheters
22-Buono, 23-Sinclair
18-Hiekkavirta, 27-Trinkberger
7-Nicholas, 4-RObillard
39-Stead
30-Carlson
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 20-Michaelis, 9-Gerard
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 8-Smith
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
23-Rivera, 26-French, 14-Sandelin
21-Sowder
2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson
29-McKay
31-Berger
Scratches: Aamodt, Borchardt, Bukes, Malinowski, McMahan, Napravnik, Stauber, Van Os-Shaw
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
13-Frye, 9-Wicks, 40-Camrud
10-Schachle, 25-Mitchell, 15-Lantz
28-St. Onge, 14-Nash, 29-DeGraaf
19-Glover, 20-Renwick, 17-Masson
26-McPheters
22-Buono, 23-Sinclair
18-Hiekkavirta, 27-Trinkberger
7-Nicholas, 4-RObillard
39-Stead
30-Carlson
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks are back in action after a weekend off and will host Alaska Anchorage in a WCHA series. The break came at a good time for No. 1 MSU as it used the time off to get healthy and work on a few things, such as its power play, Mike Hastings said.
Indeed, Jake Jaremko should be back in the lineup this weekend, and the Mavericks had all of their players on the ice for practice this week for the first time since the season started. Kind of amazing that they're 8-1-1 while missing Jaremko for eight games, Dallas Gerads for four, Chris Van Os-Shaw for four, Nathan Smith for two and Parker Tuomie for one.
Their depth clearly has carried them, as has their defense and goaltending. In goal, sophomore Dryden McKay is off to a great start to the year. While you could say he picked up where he left off last year, he used the offseason to commit himself to eating right and getting fit.
As for Anchorage, it appears to be improved from last year, so the Mavericks need to take this weekend seriously with some big series looming on the schedule after this weekend.
The Seawolves are thinking about their future, too — long-term. According to the Anchorage Daily News, UAA and Alaska Fairbanks are in talks with Alabama Huntsville about preserving the WCHA beyond 2021 after Minnesota State and six other depart, even with Huntsville giving its notice to the league recently.
Going around the WCHA ...
Northern Michigan at/vs. Michigan Tech: The UP rivalry renews with a home-and-home weekend between the Wildcats and the Huskies. After a 6-1-1 start, No. 19 NMU has one once in its last four games and hopes to get back on track this weekend. Tech, meanwhile, got a much-needed sweep against Lake Superior State last week after losing six of its previous seven games.
Lake Superior State at Bowling Green: The aforementioned Lakers have lost four in a row and surprisingly have just four wins this season — albeit amid a tough schedule. That slate gets no easier this weekend with a road trip to face the No. 17 Falcons, who have won three of four and six of their last eight.
Alabama Huntsville at Bemidji State: The Chargers, winless in 10 games this season, go on the road after a week off to face the Beavers, who have won three of four and four of six. The Bemidji Pioneer features BSU's Aaron Miller, who is a gamer on and off the ice.
Ferris State at Alaska: The Bulldogs snapped a six-game losing streak last weekend in the first game of a split with Bemidji State, getting a win in goal from Princeton transfer Austin Shaw, and now head north to face the Nanooks, who are tied with Minnesota State and Northern Michigan for first place in the league standings. The Daily News-Miner features a story on UAF sophomore Caleb Hite, who also played junior hockey in Fairbanks.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota State women's team returns home to face Bemidji State this weekend. On Thursday, Mavericks goaltender Abigail Levy was named to USA Hockey's women's winter training camp next month.
Indeed, Jake Jaremko should be back in the lineup this weekend, and the Mavericks had all of their players on the ice for practice this week for the first time since the season started. Kind of amazing that they're 8-1-1 while missing Jaremko for eight games, Dallas Gerads for four, Chris Van Os-Shaw for four, Nathan Smith for two and Parker Tuomie for one.
Their depth clearly has carried them, as has their defense and goaltending. In goal, sophomore Dryden McKay is off to a great start to the year. While you could say he picked up where he left off last year, he used the offseason to commit himself to eating right and getting fit.
As for Anchorage, it appears to be improved from last year, so the Mavericks need to take this weekend seriously with some big series looming on the schedule after this weekend.
The Seawolves are thinking about their future, too — long-term. According to the Anchorage Daily News, UAA and Alaska Fairbanks are in talks with Alabama Huntsville about preserving the WCHA beyond 2021 after Minnesota State and six other depart, even with Huntsville giving its notice to the league recently.
Going around the WCHA ...
Northern Michigan at/vs. Michigan Tech: The UP rivalry renews with a home-and-home weekend between the Wildcats and the Huskies. After a 6-1-1 start, No. 19 NMU has one once in its last four games and hopes to get back on track this weekend. Tech, meanwhile, got a much-needed sweep against Lake Superior State last week after losing six of its previous seven games.
Lake Superior State at Bowling Green: The aforementioned Lakers have lost four in a row and surprisingly have just four wins this season — albeit amid a tough schedule. That slate gets no easier this weekend with a road trip to face the No. 17 Falcons, who have won three of four and six of their last eight.
Alabama Huntsville at Bemidji State: The Chargers, winless in 10 games this season, go on the road after a week off to face the Beavers, who have won three of four and four of six. The Bemidji Pioneer features BSU's Aaron Miller, who is a gamer on and off the ice.
Ferris State at Alaska: The Bulldogs snapped a six-game losing streak last weekend in the first game of a split with Bemidji State, getting a win in goal from Princeton transfer Austin Shaw, and now head north to face the Nanooks, who are tied with Minnesota State and Northern Michigan for first place in the league standings. The Daily News-Miner features a story on UAF sophomore Caleb Hite, who also played junior hockey in Fairbanks.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota State women's team returns home to face Bemidji State this weekend. On Thursday, Mavericks goaltender Abigail Levy was named to USA Hockey's women's winter training camp next month.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Friday morning skate
The No. 1 Mavericks are idle this weekend, using the week to get healthy — Jake Jaremko is back on the ice practice after an illness has kept him out for about a month — and sign their recruiting class for next year, or at least a good chunk of it.
Four players signed their NLIs on Wednesday and another player, Brendan Furry, was also mentioned in the MSU release. Furry is at Minnesota State but sitting out this season due to signing previously with Niagara before re-opening his recruitment. He can practice with the Mavericks but hasn't due to offseason surgery. By the way, I recently stumbled across a Q&A with Furry from September in which he talks about going to Minnesota State and how he almost ended up going to Bowling Green to play club hockey.
So who is playing this weekend? Let's look around the WCHA ...
Bemidji State at Ferris State: After getting win No. 300 for coach Tom Serratore, the Beavers will try to keep pace in the top half of the league when they take on the Bulldogs. BSU's freshmen defensemen, with names familiar to southern Minnesota, are off to good starts, too. Ferris State is looking for its first win in conference play.
Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State: The Huskies, who were swept by Minnesota State last weekend, are in unfamiliar territory at 1-5-0 in league play, but, perhaps, they're ready to break out after a tough schedule. The Lakers were outscored 12-2 at Bemidji last weekend and are hoping to rebound at home, where they're 4-2 with the two close losses coming against Denver.
Alaska at Northern Michigan: The host Wildcats are looking to bounce back after a tie and overtime loss at home to St. Cloud State last weekend. The Nanooks, meanwhile, are 6-6-0 and hoping to do what they did last time they were in the UP and sweep a conference series (they took two games at Tech on Oct. 11-12).
Bowling Green at Alaska Anchorage: The Falcons had last weekend off following their split in Mankato on Nov. 1-2. They'll go to Anchorage to play the Seawolves (next week's MSU opponent), who already have matched their league win total of last year (two), are on a three-game unbeaten streak (1-0-2) and are 2-1-2 in their last five games. Beth Bragg of the Anchorage Daily News has the story on a UAA player who is a survivor of the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash from April of 2018. Brayden Camrud is one of 13 survivors, one of three still playing hockey and the only one playing Division I hockey. Bragg also wrote last week that college sports at the Alaska schools, including hockey, are safe for at least another year.
Four players signed their NLIs on Wednesday and another player, Brendan Furry, was also mentioned in the MSU release. Furry is at Minnesota State but sitting out this season due to signing previously with Niagara before re-opening his recruitment. He can practice with the Mavericks but hasn't due to offseason surgery. By the way, I recently stumbled across a Q&A with Furry from September in which he talks about going to Minnesota State and how he almost ended up going to Bowling Green to play club hockey.
So who is playing this weekend? Let's look around the WCHA ...
Bemidji State at Ferris State: After getting win No. 300 for coach Tom Serratore, the Beavers will try to keep pace in the top half of the league when they take on the Bulldogs. BSU's freshmen defensemen, with names familiar to southern Minnesota, are off to good starts, too. Ferris State is looking for its first win in conference play.
Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State: The Huskies, who were swept by Minnesota State last weekend, are in unfamiliar territory at 1-5-0 in league play, but, perhaps, they're ready to break out after a tough schedule. The Lakers were outscored 12-2 at Bemidji last weekend and are hoping to rebound at home, where they're 4-2 with the two close losses coming against Denver.
Alaska at Northern Michigan: The host Wildcats are looking to bounce back after a tie and overtime loss at home to St. Cloud State last weekend. The Nanooks, meanwhile, are 6-6-0 and hoping to do what they did last time they were in the UP and sweep a conference series (they took two games at Tech on Oct. 11-12).
Bowling Green at Alaska Anchorage: The Falcons had last weekend off following their split in Mankato on Nov. 1-2. They'll go to Anchorage to play the Seawolves (next week's MSU opponent), who already have matched their league win total of last year (two), are on a three-game unbeaten streak (1-0-2) and are 2-1-2 in their last five games. Beth Bragg of the Anchorage Daily News has the story on a UAA player who is a survivor of the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash from April of 2018. Brayden Camrud is one of 13 survivors, one of three still playing hockey and the only one playing Division I hockey. Bragg also wrote last week that college sports at the Alaska schools, including hockey, are safe for at least another year.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Mavs No. 1; McKay, Looft honored
Minnesota State moved up to No. 1 in the nation in the USCHO rankings, following their sweep at Michigan Tech (and Denver's tie and loss at Minnesota Duluth. Denver is a close second, and the Mavericks and Pioneers are actually tied top the USA Today/USA Hockey poll (although DU got more first-place votes in that one).
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./November 11, 2019 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 Minnesota State (25) 8- 1-1 961 3 2 Denver (15) 8- 1-1 913 1 3 Cornell ( 5) 4- 0-0 890 4 4 Notre Dame ( 4) 7- 0-1 882 5 5 Massachusetts ( 1) 6- 2-0 774 2 6 Minnesota Duluth 4- 3-1 734 7 7 Clarkson 7- 2-1 671 8 8 Penn State 7- 2-0 639 6 9 North Dakota 7- 1-1 620 10 10 Providence 5- 3-2 473 11 11 Ohio State 6- 3-1 470 9 12 UMass Lowell 7- 2-3 406 14 13 Harvard 3- 0-0 389 18 14 Northeastern 5- 3-2 359 13 15 Wisconsin 5- 5-0 307 12 16 Boston College 5- 4-0 193 19 17 Bowling Green 5- 4-0 166 17 18 Northern Michigan 6- 2-2 160 16 19 Omaha 5- 2-1 127 20 20 Western Michigan 5- 3-2 87 NR Others receiving votes: RIT 77, Quinnipiac 75, New Hampshire 42, St. Cloud 33, Maine 24, Boston University 11, Arizona State 7, Alaska 5, Brown 5.
Meanwhile, the WCHA weekly awards came out on Monday, too, and Mavericks goaltender Dryden McKay was named the league's goaltender of the week after allowing one goal on 49 shots in the sweep over the Huskies. McKay stopped 31 shots for his second shutout of the season and sixth of his career on Friday. McKay ranks third in the nation in save percentage (.946) and second in goals-against average (1.32).
Among the other WCHA award winners was Mankato native and former Mankato West player Kyle Looft. The Bemidji State freshman was the league's defenseman of the week. He recorded his first college points, assisting on two goals, and was plus-3 in Friday's 7-1 victory over visiting Lake Superior State. The Beavers won 5-1 on Saturday. Looft has played in four games this season. He's plus-3 with seven shots on goal.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Mavericks 2, Huskies 1
Freddy's three thoughts (from afar) ...
1. Clean sweep: Minnesota State finished off the series sweep of the Huskies, winning a low-scoring game against a team desperate to win at home. Michigan Tech is now 0-4 in Houghton this year, while the Mavericks improved to 4-0 on the road. Charlie Gerard and Parker Tuomie scored goals, and Dryden McKay made 17 saves the night after a 31-save shutout.
2. Line sheet shakeup: Coach Mike Hastings shuffled the lines again, making life tough for radio announcers by putting Charlie Gerard and Dallas Gerads on the same line (with Marc Michaelis). Lucas Sowder was a scratch, and Ryan Sandelin was put in. Hastings said Sandelin had one of his best games so far this season "at both ends of the rink."
3. Break time: The Mavericks went 8-1-1 in their first 10 games. A darn good star that deserves a bit of a break. Minnesota State will be off next week before returning to play the following weekend with a home series against Alaska Anchorage. Hastings said he hopes that Jake Jaremko and Chris Van Os-Shaw will be healthy by then.
Read more here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 5, Lake Superior State 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... St. Cloud State 5, Northern Michigan 4 (OT) ... Western Michigan 8, Ferris State 2 ... Arizona State at Alaska (late)
1. Clean sweep: Minnesota State finished off the series sweep of the Huskies, winning a low-scoring game against a team desperate to win at home. Michigan Tech is now 0-4 in Houghton this year, while the Mavericks improved to 4-0 on the road. Charlie Gerard and Parker Tuomie scored goals, and Dryden McKay made 17 saves the night after a 31-save shutout.
2. Line sheet shakeup: Coach Mike Hastings shuffled the lines again, making life tough for radio announcers by putting Charlie Gerard and Dallas Gerads on the same line (with Marc Michaelis). Lucas Sowder was a scratch, and Ryan Sandelin was put in. Hastings said Sandelin had one of his best games so far this season "at both ends of the rink."
3. Break time: The Mavericks went 8-1-1 in their first 10 games. A darn good star that deserves a bit of a break. Minnesota State will be off next week before returning to play the following weekend with a home series against Alaska Anchorage. Hastings said he hopes that Jake Jaremko and Chris Van Os-Shaw will be healthy by then.
Read more here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 5, Lake Superior State 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... St. Cloud State 5, Northern Michigan 4 (OT) ... Western Michigan 8, Ferris State 2 ... Arizona State at Alaska (late)
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