Sabers select Jokinen

Minnesota State incoming freshman forward Justin Jokinen was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round of Saturday's NHL Entry Draft. Jokinen, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton high school standout was taken 101st overall and is the highest-drafted MSU-affiliated player since David Backes was taken with the 62nd overall choice (second round) in 2003.

Feeling a draft (UPDATED)

The NHL draft starts tonight with a prime-time first round, but Saturday should see at least one Minnesota State player, incoming freshman Justin Jokinen, selected. The Carlton, Minn., native and Cloquet-Esko-Carleton high school standout was ranked 54th in the last Central Scouting Rankings of North American skaters. Throw in European players and goaltenders and who knows where he will land.

One thing's for sure, he seems to be getting some decent publicity along the way. Here is his official scouting report.

Other possibile (late-round) draft picks could be incoming freshman Tyler Thompson, who has also appeared on the CSS rankings, most recently at No. 183. Mavericks defenseman Ben Youds, who is coming off a solid rookie season, could get a sniff, too.

UPDATE: Thanks to Grand Forks hockey scribe Brad Schlossman for tracking down this gem, a seven-round mock draft. Whoever this is has Jokinen going in the third round, No. 90 overall, to the Phoenix Coytoes.

Jackman stays with Islanders

Former Minnesota State forward Tim Jackman inked a one-year contract extension with the New York Islanders, the team announced on Monday.

Jackman played in 36 games with the Islanders this season, scoring a goal and assisting on three others and had 57 penalty minutes.

“Tim proved to be a versatile player for our organization last season," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a press release. “He provided toughness and leadership in Bridgeport and served as a great role player with the Islanders when called upon."

The 26-year old Jackman split time between the Islanders and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League last season. In 44 games with Bridgeport, Jackman had 15 goals and 21 assists and 67 penalty minutes.

Since leaving MSU following his sophomore season in 2002, Jackman has appeared in 68 NHL games, tallying two goals and five assists for seven points to go along with 104 penalty minutes. In addition to his NHL career, Jackman has played in 395 AHL games, scoring 89 goals with 92 assists for 181 points along with 577 penalty minutes.

2008-09 schedule released

Remember last season, when the Mavericks played nine of their first 10 games on the road? That's not going to happen this year. MSU's schedule was released on Tuesday.

The Mavericks will play six of their first 10 games in Mankato, including their first two series -- Oct. 10-11 vs. Bemidji State and Oct. 17-18 vs. North Dakota. After that, MSU will play Minnesota in a home-and-home series, although the Mavericks' home game will be played at Xcel Energy Center as part of a WCHA doubleheader (St. Cloud and Duluth will play the early game on Nov. 1).

The Gophers will play in Mankato on Jan. 30.

MSU will not play Duluth or Michigan Tech at home and will not travel to Denver or Wisconsin. The Mavericks will also host Nebraska-Omaha and play nonconference road games at Bowling Green, Princeton and Omaha.

Here is the schedule with home games in bold:

Oct. 10, Bemidji State
Oct. 11, Bemidji State
Oct. 17, North Dakota
Oct. 18, North Dakota
Oct. 31, Minnesota
Nov. 1, Minnesota (at Xcel Energy Center
Nov. 7 , Alaska-Anchorage
Nov. 8, Alaska-Anchorage
Nov. 14, Colorado College
Nov. 15, Colorado College
Nov. 21, Michigan Tech
Nov. 22, Michigan Tech
Nov. 28, Bowling Green
Nov. 29, Bowling Green
Dec. 5, St. Cloud State
Dec. 6, St. Cloud State
Dec. 12, Denver
Dec. 13, Denver
Dec. 29, Princeton
Dec. 30, Yale
Jan. 3, Nebraska-Omaha
Jan. 9, Colorado College
Jan. 10, Colorado College
Jan. 16, Alaska-Anchorage
Jan. 17, Alaska-Anchorage
Jan. 23, Minnesota Duluth
Jan. 24, Minnesota Duluth
Jan. 30, Minnesota
Jan. 31, Minnesota
Feb. 13, North Dakota
Feb. 14, North Dakota
Feb. 24, Nebraska-Omaha
Feb. 27, Wisconsin
Feb. 28, Wisconsin
March 6, St. Cloud State
March 7, St. Cloud State

NAHL selects Litchfield, Anderson

Two more Mankato West players were drafted by junior teams on Wednedsay, as Ricky Litchfield and Ryan Anderson were taken in the North American Hockey League draft. Litchfield, Minnesota high school's top scorer during the regular season, was taken by Michigan's Marquette Rangers. Anderson, meanwhile, will get a chance to play for former Minnesota State captain Ryan McKelvie, who is an associate coach with Washington's Wenatchee Wild, an NAHL expansion team. Litchfield and Anderson join Scarlets teammate and MSU recruit Corey Leivermann, who was taken in the USHL draft last week. For more, see the story in Thursday's Free Press.

McKelvie lands coaching gig

Former MSU forward Ryan McKelvie has been hired as associate head coach of an expansion team in the North American Hockey League in Wenatchee, Wash. The junior-hockey league also has teams in Owatonna and Albert Lea. McKelive, a three-year assistant captain for the Mavericks, spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Bemidji State.

Fargo selects Leivermann

Mankato West High School forward and Minnesota State recruit Corey Leivermann was drafted by the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League (Junior A) entry draft on Wednesday. Fargo, a USHL expansion team coached and managed by former North Dakota coach Dean Blais, took Leivermann in the eighth round with the 70th overall pick. Another MSU rercuit, forward Eli Zuck of Shattuck-St. Mary's, was taken by the Tri-City Storm in the second round, No. 14 overall.

Here is some more information on how the USHL draft works and what it means to selected players.