Mavericks move to No. 2; WCHA honors

Minnesota State moved up to No. 2 in the latest USCHO poll after their season-opening sweep over Arizona State over the weekend. The bump was also aided by Minnesota Duluth's split with UMass-Lowell. The Mavericks are also No. 3 in the USA Today/USA Hockey rankings. Denver is No. 1 in both polls.

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
Minneapolis, Minn./October 14, 2019

   Team             (First Place)    Record   Pts  Last Week
 1 Denver                    (38)    4- 0-0   979     2
 2 Minnesota State           ( 8)    2- 0-0   918     3
 3 Minnesota Duluth          ( 3)    1- 1-0   882     1
 4 Massachusetts                     1- 0-0   784     4
 5 Cornell                           0- 0-0   715     5
 6 Boston College                    2- 0-0   649    10
 7 Notre Dame                        2- 0-0   608     8
 8 Quinnipiac                        2- 0-0   598     9
 9 Penn State                ( 1)    2- 0-0   509    13
10 Clarkson                          1- 0-1   506    11
11 St. Cloud                         0- 0-2   499     7
12 Ohio State                        1- 0-1   477    12
13 Providence                        1- 1-0   453     6
14 Western Michigan                  1- 0-1   401    14
15 Northeastern                      2- 0-0   349    15
16 North Dakota                      2- 0-0   278    18
17 Wisconsin                         1- 1-0   273    16
18 UMass Lowell                      3- 1-0   204    NR
19 Harvard                           0- 0-0   130    19
20 Boston University                 1- 0-0   119    20

Others receiving votes: Bowling Green 71, Minnesota 33,
Brown 11, Colorado College 11, Northern Michigan 8, Michigan
7, Omaha 6, Dartmouth 5, AIC 4, RIT 4, Arizona State 2,
Mercyhurst 2, Robert Morris 2, Alaska 1, Bemidji State 1,
Lake Superior 1.

Meanwhile, two MSU players were cited by the WCHA for their play over the weekend. Dryden McKay was named the league's goaltender of the week, and Lucas Sowder was named rookie of the week.

Mavericks 5, Sun Devils 0

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. Major victory: The Mavericks led 1-0 in the first period, but things didn't turn until the beginning of the third period when they had a five-minute major penalty to work with after Steenn Pasichnuk's high hit on Dallas Gerads at center ice. Marc Michaelis and Reggie Lutz scored goals 34 seconds apart during the major, and the rout was on from there. Minnesota State tacked on two more goals after that to get the series sweep and start the season 2-0. Sun Devils coach Greg Powers didn't agree with the major call:

Postgame comments from @asucoachpowers to the media. pic.twitter.com/v73L1KPJym

— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 13, 2019

2. Fresh faces: The Mavericks had two freshmen in the lineup on Saturday, as Parker Tuomie returned to the lineup. Tuomie was listed as the extra skater, so Lucas Sowder stayed on the top line with Marc Michaelis and Charlie Gerard. Sowder had a goal for a three-point weekend. Ryan Sandelin also scored a goal. "There's some pressure (playing on the top line)," Sowder said. "But I just have to take a deep breath and look at it as just another hockey game."

3. McKay keeps rolling: Goaltender Dryden McKay picked up his fifth career shutout, stopping 14 shots. On Friday he made a few breakaway saves, but he had probably one tough stop on Saturday. The sophomore continues to get praise from his teammates for his calm demeanor, but certainly he has a good group playing defense in front of him. ASU's lone goal scorer from the weekend, Johnny Walker, was held to just one shot on goal on Saturday. He had four on Friday.

Read my game story here.

Around the WCHA: Alaska 2, Michigan 1 ... Northern Michigan 2, Michigan State 0 ... Maine 2, Alaska Anchorage 1 (OT) ... Bemidji State 2, St. Cloud State 2 (OT) ... Denver 4, Lake Superior State 1 ... Omaha 5, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... Western Michigan 5, Bowling Green 2

Minnesota State vs. Arizona State, Game 2

The Mavericks will go for the series sweep against the Sun Devils

MINNESOTA STATE
21-Sowder, 20-Michaelis, 9-Gerard
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 17-Duehr
19-Van Os-Shaw, 11-Spooner, 14-Sandelin
22-Gerads, 26-French, 15-Napravnik
6-Tuomie

2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson

29-McKay
1-Stauber
31-Berger

Scratches: Aamodt, Bukes, Borchardt, Rivera, Malinowski, McMahan, Smith

ARIZONA STATE
8-Jenuwine, 61-Sanchez, 7-Walker
23-Koumontzis, 19-Sandhu, 16-Lemieux
10-Busch, 27-Gruber, 28-Pasichnuk
21-Zhong, 20-Buncis, 29-Knierim

39-B. Pasichnuk, 24-Maniscalco
60-Gourley, 4-Wilson
17-Semik, 22-Judson
2-Stuart

30-Debrouwer
31-Robbins
45-Prawdzik

For in-game updates, be sure to follow me on Twitter.

Mavericks 4, Sun Devils 1

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. What are you doing here? Who had Riese Zmolek scoring the first goal of the season for Minnesota State? Not many, probably. The junior defenseman entered the season with just three career goals, but he got things going on Friday, jumping into the rush, taking D partner Ian Scheid's pass and going right to the net with it in the first period. Marc Michaelis said he wasn't surprised to see Zmolek around the goal mouth: "He's more known for his dirty work, but he doesn't get enough credit for other things he does. To get rewarded for it is nice." Zmolek still did the dirty work, blocking four shots. Said coach Mike Hastings: "He was good tonight. Offensively, defensively, blocking shots. He has a warrior-type mentality, and I thought he was really good tonight."

2. Good in goal: Dryden McKay stopped 25 of 26 shots, including a couple of breakaways, showing no rust after the offseason. McKay, who won 24 games as a rookie, allowed a lone goal to talented ASU junior Johnny Walker during 4-on-4 play in the first period. "I like seeing a young man be rewarded for his work," Hastings said. "He had a great summer. He came in in better shape than when he left. You want to see him have some success, not only for our team but for the work that he’s put in. … I thought he was sharp when we needed him to be."

3. Hey, rookie! Freshman forward Lucas Sowder had two assists in the game, his first two collegiate points. The Florida native played left wing on the top line with Michaelis (two goals) and Charlie Gerard, filling the spot normally occupied by Parker Tuomie, who was out with an injury. Tuomie, who did not practice most of the week, said he's feeling better and probably could have played if it was a late-season game or playoff game. First-year forwards Ryan Sandelin and Cade Borchardt also played, and Jaxson Stauber dressed as a backup goalie.

Read my game story here.

Highlights from tonight’s 4-1 victory over the Sun Devils 😈 pic.twitter.com/NvmHby7sN0

— Minnesota State Hockey (@MavHockey) October 12, 2019

Around the WCHA: Alaska 3, Michigan Tech 2 ... Bemidji State 4, St. Cloud State 4 (OT) ... Michigan State 5, Northern Michigan 3 ... Maine 7, Alaska Anchorage 1 ... Denver 3, Lake Superior State 1 ... Omaha 6, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... RIT 3, Bowling Green 2 (OT)

Minnesota State vs. Arizona State

Tonight's lines:

MINNESOTA STATE
21-Sowder, 20-Michaelis, 9-Gerard
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 17-Duehr
19-Van Os-Shaw, 11-Spooner, 14-Sandelin
22-Gerads, 26-French, 15-Napravnik
28-Borchardt

2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson

29-McKay
1-Stauber
31-Berger

Scratches: Aamodt, Bukes, Rivera, Malinowski, McMahan, Smith, Tuomie

Notes: Rivera and Smith were also scratches during the exhibition game and are still dealing with injuries. Tuomie did not practice late in the week due to an injury.

ARIZONA STATE
23-Koumontzis, 61-Sanchez, 7-Walker
8-Jenuwine, 19-Sandhu, 16-Lemieux
10-Busch, 27-Gruber, 29-Knierim
37-Garcia, 28-S. Pasichnuk, 25-Marrocco
20-Buncis

39-B. Pasichnuk, 24-Maniscalco
17-Semik, 22-Judson
60-Gourley, 4-Wilson

30-Debrouwer
31-Robbins
45-Prawdzik


Be sure to check out Twitter for updates from tonight's game.

Friday Morning Skate

Happy opening day!

The No. 3 Mavericks start the regular season tonight with the first of two games against Arizona State at the Mankato Civic Center. The two teams have played each other just once, tying last December in Arizona (the Sun Devils won the shootout).

Among Minnesota State's seniors is Ian Scheid, who has been the mark of consistency over his first three seasons. He's racked up 75 points, scoring 24, 26 and 25 points. He believes that offensive production comes from some advice his late father gave him when he was a young player.

On Wednesday, the Mavericks named their captains for the season. Marc Michaelis and Nick Rivera will wear C's, while Edwin Hookenson will wear an A.

The Sun Devils already have a series under their belts, splitting at home against Mercyhurst last weekend. They know they have a tough task ahead of them on this long road trip to Mankato.

Going around the WCHA ...

Alaska at Michigan Tech: The first and only conference series takes place in Houghton where the Huskies (2-0) take on the Nanooks (0-2).

Alaska Anchorage at Maine: This is quite the road trip for the Seawolves, going cross-continent to take on the Black Bears (0-1)

Michigan State at Northern Michigan: The Wildcats are going to find out quickly what life is like without Atte Tolvanen in goal when they host the Spartans to kick off the season.

Denver at Lake Superior State: A pair of 2-0 teams will go at it this weekend in Sault Ste. Marie. The No. 2 Pioneers swept at Alaska last week and now go the U.P. to take on the Lakers, who swept Merrimack at home last week.

St. Cloud State at Bemidji State: The Beavers will host the No. 7 Huskies for an in-state showdown to start the season. It will be St. Cloud State's first trip to Bemidji since 2014-15.

Alabama Huntsville at Omaha: The 0-2 Chargers will continue a tough start to the season when they go on the road to face the Mavericks. UAH dropped two games at UMass-Lowell last weekend.

Bowling Green in IceBreaker vs. RIT, Ohio State/Western Michigan: The No. 17 Falcons got a win in new coach Ty Eigner's debut against his old boss, Chris Bergeron, and Miami last Sunday. Now they're in Toledo, Ohio, for what should be a competitive tournament.

Previewing the season

The Minnesota State men's hockey season kicked off on Saturday night with an exhibition victory over Mount Royal. It gets real next weekend, though, when Arizona State comes to Mankato for a pair of games (ASU opened regular-season play this weekend, falling to Mercyhurst 3-2 on Saturday; the two teams play again today).

Today's Free Press has a couple of MSU hockey preview stories to check out:

• First, there's a feature on Marc Michaels and how the senior center is approaching a final college season with so much riding on it, both team-wise and personally.

• Then there's a general, position-by-position story, looking at a Mavericks team stacked with returning players throughout the line chart.

• It will be a tough lineup to crack, to be sure, but some of the newcomers sure made a case for themselves on Saturday night.