Freddy's three thoughts (from afar) ...
1. Confidence booster: Chris Van Os Shaw entered the game with just one goal, playing in 11 of MSU's 28 games. The one-time UAA commit joined Minnesota State as a touted goal scorer. The hope is that's still in his future. For now, though, it seems he's still trying to find his game. A multi-point game should give him some good feelings. Perhaps he'll be more of a contributor down the stretch.
2. Bouncing back: No real surprise Mavericks played well coming off their fourth loss of the season last Saturday at home against Bemidji State. It was a nice rebound for goalie Dryden McKay, too. After a couple of uncharacteristic misses against the Beavers, he was sharp when he had to be against the Seawolves. He made a point-blank save early in a scoreless game, and the Mavericks went the other way and got the game's first goal.
3. Look familiar? The win was the 10th in a row for MSU against Anchorage. The Mavericks also defeated the Seawolves 7-1 during the series opener of their set in Mankato back in November. The next night was a little tighter before Minnesota State got some late goals and won 3-0. I'd expect tomorrow to be a bit closer, too, especially as Anchorage tries its best to maintain a playoff spot in the WCHA standings.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Bowling Green 1 ... Northern Michigan 5, Ferris State 2 ... Michigan Tech 4, Alabama Huntsville 1
Friday, January 31, 2020
Friday Morning Skate
Minnesota State is in Anchorage today to begin a series against Alaska Anchorage. The Mavericks are still without Marc Michaelis and Jake Jaremko, who are out with injuries. It's a "next man up" mentality for a deep team, coach Mike Hastings said in this week's College Hockey Gameday.
Among the players back in Mankato with the injured centers is Evan Foss, the Mavericks' new third-string goaltender. When the school year began, Foss was out of hockey. But he's now having a blast with the opportunity to practice with the country's third-ranked team.
Foss' filled a roster spot left when freshman Jaxson Stauber returned to junior hockey in November. Stauber is now committed to play at Providence.
Meanwhile, the Seawolves, who are in eighth place in the WCHA standings with a two-point lead, are still trying to maintain playoff position. They have missed out the last five years.
Going around the WCHA ...
Bowling Green at Bemidji State: The Beavers are back at home after their split in Mankato and take on the Falcons, who are trying to forge ahead after a week off following their two losses at home to MSU. The Bemidji Pioneer takes a look at BSU's two Swedish players, a senior and a freshman.
Ferris State at Northern Michigan: The Bulldogs broke a nine-game losing streak with a win at Michigan Tech last week and will try get another one or two in the UP this weekend against the Wildcats, who have lost just once in their last nine games and are now in third place in the WCHA.
Michigan Tech at Alabama Huntsville: The Huskies have won once in their last six games but have a chance to move up to fourth place in the standings with a pair of road wins this weekend. The Chargers still have just one victory this season.
Among the players back in Mankato with the injured centers is Evan Foss, the Mavericks' new third-string goaltender. When the school year began, Foss was out of hockey. But he's now having a blast with the opportunity to practice with the country's third-ranked team.
Foss' filled a roster spot left when freshman Jaxson Stauber returned to junior hockey in November. Stauber is now committed to play at Providence.
Meanwhile, the Seawolves, who are in eighth place in the WCHA standings with a two-point lead, are still trying to maintain playoff position. They have missed out the last five years.
Going around the WCHA ...
Bowling Green at Bemidji State: The Beavers are back at home after their split in Mankato and take on the Falcons, who are trying to forge ahead after a week off following their two losses at home to MSU. The Bemidji Pioneer takes a look at BSU's two Swedish players, a senior and a freshman.
Ferris State at Northern Michigan: The Bulldogs broke a nine-game losing streak with a win at Michigan Tech last week and will try get another one or two in the UP this weekend against the Wildcats, who have lost just once in their last nine games and are now in third place in the WCHA.
Michigan Tech at Alabama Huntsville: The Huskies have won once in their last six games but have a chance to move up to fourth place in the standings with a pair of road wins this weekend. The Chargers still have just one victory this season.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Beavers 4, Mavericks 2
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Tender, mercy: Bemidji State goaltender Zach Driscoll was outstanding on Saturday night, stopping 48 of 50 shots to upset the Mavericks. The only shots to get by him were a couple of extra-attacker goals after MSU pulled Dryden McKay with 6 1/2 minutes left in the game (read more about the move that nearly worked out in the link below). Driscoll stopped 20 shots in the second period alone to maintain a 2-0 lead. The Beavers extended it to 3-0 before Minnesota State's late charge.
2. Streaks end: Minnesota State came into the game with eight straight wins overall and eight straight wins at home, only to have those snapped. On Friday, the Mavericks ended Bemidji State's six-game unbeaten streak. One streak that continued was the one in which MSU has allowed its opponent to score first, now at three games and all without Marc Michaelis and Jake Jaremko. They came from behind in two of those but couldn't pull off a rally on Saturday.
3. Happy homecoming: Classy move by Beavers coach Tom Serratore to start freshman defenseman Kyle Looft on Saturday. Looft, is the former Mankato West standout, who has played in 22 games this season. There seemed to be quite a few people around the arena from Mankato wearing Bemidji green over the weekend. Looft was minus-1 with a blocked shot on Saturday. I'll have more on Looft, including quotes from him and Serratore in my Monday review/notebook feature.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 2, Michigan Tech 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Lake Superior State 3 (OT, Lakers score 3x3) ... Northern Michigan 4, Alaska 2
1. Tender, mercy: Bemidji State goaltender Zach Driscoll was outstanding on Saturday night, stopping 48 of 50 shots to upset the Mavericks. The only shots to get by him were a couple of extra-attacker goals after MSU pulled Dryden McKay with 6 1/2 minutes left in the game (read more about the move that nearly worked out in the link below). Driscoll stopped 20 shots in the second period alone to maintain a 2-0 lead. The Beavers extended it to 3-0 before Minnesota State's late charge.
2. Streaks end: Minnesota State came into the game with eight straight wins overall and eight straight wins at home, only to have those snapped. On Friday, the Mavericks ended Bemidji State's six-game unbeaten streak. One streak that continued was the one in which MSU has allowed its opponent to score first, now at three games and all without Marc Michaelis and Jake Jaremko. They came from behind in two of those but couldn't pull off a rally on Saturday.
3. Happy homecoming: Classy move by Beavers coach Tom Serratore to start freshman defenseman Kyle Looft on Saturday. Looft, is the former Mankato West standout, who has played in 22 games this season. There seemed to be quite a few people around the arena from Mankato wearing Bemidji green over the weekend. Looft was minus-1 with a blocked shot on Saturday. I'll have more on Looft, including quotes from him and Serratore in my Monday review/notebook feature.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 2, Michigan Tech 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Lake Superior State 3 (OT, Lakers score 3x3) ... Northern Michigan 4, Alaska 2
Minnesota State vs. Bemidji State, Game 2
The Mavericks will go for their ninth win in a row and a series sweep over the Beavers tonight. Here are tonight's lines (no changes for either team from Friday night):
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 8-Smith, 21-Sowder
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
16-Lutz, 28-Borchardt, 15-Napravnik
14-Sandelin
2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson
29-McKay
31-Berger
1-Foss
Scratches: Aamodt, Bukes, Jaremko, Malinowski, McMahan, Michaelis, Van Os-Shaw
BEMIDJI STATE
19-Brady, 17-Armour, 26-Cardelli
9-Somoza, 27-Kirkup, 16-Miller
14-Ierullo, 12-Sillinger, 11-Combs
23-Sjodahl, 13-Jones, 6-Solensky
15-Jubenvill
3-Muck, 22-Vold
2-Zmolek, 28-Rosen
7-Looft, 18-Johnson
23-Driscoll
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 8-Smith, 21-Sowder
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
16-Lutz, 28-Borchardt, 15-Napravnik
14-Sandelin
2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson
29-McKay
31-Berger
1-Foss
Scratches: Aamodt, Bukes, Jaremko, Malinowski, McMahan, Michaelis, Van Os-Shaw
BEMIDJI STATE
19-Brady, 17-Armour, 26-Cardelli
9-Somoza, 27-Kirkup, 16-Miller
14-Ierullo, 12-Sillinger, 11-Combs
23-Sjodahl, 13-Jones, 6-Solensky
15-Jubenvill
3-Muck, 22-Vold
2-Zmolek, 28-Rosen
7-Looft, 18-Johnson
23-Driscoll
29-Johnson
Friday, January 24, 2020
Mavericks 3, Beavers 2
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Still streaking: Playing for the second game in a row without Marc Michaelis and Jake Jaremko, the Mavericks found a way to grind out a win and keep their winning streak going. They're up to eight games in a row now. They also ended Bemidji State's unbeaten streak, which began after it lost to MSU at the Mariucci Classic at the end of December. Andy Carroll scored a beautiful diving, tip-in goal off a pass from Ryan Sandelin to tie the game at 1-1 (read more about that in the link below), and Nathan Smith and Dallas Gerads added goals.
2. League leader: The Mavericks increased their lead over the Beavers atop the WCHA standings to nine points, so they can really take command of the MacNaughton Cup race with a win on Saturday. Bemidji State certainly will try to do what they did on Friday: score early, defend and take the crowd out of the game for as long as possible. They do that well. especially with a good goalie like Zach Driscoll, who made some sweet saves. If not for Carroll's highlight goal, the Beavers might have found a way to tighten up the standings in Game 1 of the series.
3. Coffee's for closers: With just under 3 minutes remaining in the game, the Beavers pulled Driscoll for an extra attacker. They made a good push over that time, but the Mavericks defended well and held on, despite a couple near misses at the empty net. "Anytime a team decides to pull the goalie with that much time left, it's not the proverbial 30 seconds, get it out once and the game's over. We had to earn that one," coach Mike Hastings said. "I just liked the way the guys stuck with it."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Lake Superior State 3, Alaska Anchorage 2 ... Michigan Tech 2, Ferris State 1 ... Northern Michigan at Alaska (late)
1. Still streaking: Playing for the second game in a row without Marc Michaelis and Jake Jaremko, the Mavericks found a way to grind out a win and keep their winning streak going. They're up to eight games in a row now. They also ended Bemidji State's unbeaten streak, which began after it lost to MSU at the Mariucci Classic at the end of December. Andy Carroll scored a beautiful diving, tip-in goal off a pass from Ryan Sandelin to tie the game at 1-1 (read more about that in the link below), and Nathan Smith and Dallas Gerads added goals.
2. League leader: The Mavericks increased their lead over the Beavers atop the WCHA standings to nine points, so they can really take command of the MacNaughton Cup race with a win on Saturday. Bemidji State certainly will try to do what they did on Friday: score early, defend and take the crowd out of the game for as long as possible. They do that well. especially with a good goalie like Zach Driscoll, who made some sweet saves. If not for Carroll's highlight goal, the Beavers might have found a way to tighten up the standings in Game 1 of the series.
3. Coffee's for closers: With just under 3 minutes remaining in the game, the Beavers pulled Driscoll for an extra attacker. They made a good push over that time, but the Mavericks defended well and held on, despite a couple near misses at the empty net. "Anytime a team decides to pull the goalie with that much time left, it's not the proverbial 30 seconds, get it out once and the game's over. We had to earn that one," coach Mike Hastings said. "I just liked the way the guys stuck with it."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Lake Superior State 3, Alaska Anchorage 2 ... Michigan Tech 2, Ferris State 1 ... Northern Michigan at Alaska (late)
Minnesota State vs. Bemidji State
The Mavericks and Beavers are set to square off in downtown Mankato. It's a battle of the top two teams the WCHA, but the No. 3 Mavericks are without their top two centers. Should be an interesting series.
Here are the lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 8-Smith, 21-Sowder
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
16-Lutz, 28-Borchardt, 15-Napravnik
14-Sandelin
2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson
29-McKay
31-Berger
1-Foss
Scratches: Aamodt, Bukes, Jaremko, Malinowski, McMahan, Michaelis, Van Os-Shaw
BEMIDJI STATE
19-Brady, 17-Armour, 26-Cardelli
9-Somoza, 27-Kirkup, 16-Milelr
14-Ierullo, 12-Sillinger, 11-Combs
23-Sjodahl, 13-Jones, 6-Solensky
15-Jubenvill
3-Muck, 22-Vold
2-Zmolek, 28-Rosen
7-Looft, 18-Johnson
23-Driscoll
29-Johnson
Here are the lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 8-Smith, 21-Sowder
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
16-Lutz, 28-Borchardt, 15-Napravnik
14-Sandelin
2-Mackey, 3-McNeely
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Carroll, 24-Hookenson
29-McKay
31-Berger
1-Foss
Scratches: Aamodt, Bukes, Jaremko, Malinowski, McMahan, Michaelis, Van Os-Shaw
BEMIDJI STATE
19-Brady, 17-Armour, 26-Cardelli
9-Somoza, 27-Kirkup, 16-Milelr
14-Ierullo, 12-Sillinger, 11-Combs
23-Sjodahl, 13-Jones, 6-Solensky
15-Jubenvill
3-Muck, 22-Vold
2-Zmolek, 28-Rosen
7-Looft, 18-Johnson
23-Driscoll
29-Johnson
Friday Morning Skate
Minnesota State is back home after two weeks away and will take on Bemidji State in a series between the top two teams in the WCHA.
The Mavericks will again be without Marc Michaelis, who is dealing with a lower-body injury, and possibly Jake Jaremko, who is doubtful with an upper-body injury.
Without the top centers around, coach Mike Hastings has been impressed with the play and leadership shown by co-captain Nick Rivera and fellow senior Josh French. The two have been playing together for six seasons now, going back to their junior hockey days.
There are several story lines to this series, besides the injuries and the play of Rivera and French. Bemidji State's Kyle Looft, a Mankato West grad, will be returning to his hometown to play for the first time. And another BSU freshman defenseman, Will Zmolek, will be facing his big brother, MSU junior Riese Zmolek, again.
Read more about the series from the Bemidji Pioneer here.
Going around the WCHA ...
Alaska Anchorage at Lake Superior State: The Seawolves moved into playoff position last week and now sit one point behind the seventh-place Lakers. A sweep by either team this weekend could keep it off the playoff bubble.
Ferris State at Michigan Tech: The Bulldogs, losers of eight straight, are on the outside looking in, four points behind UAA and face a sixth-place Huskies team that's hoping to get back into contention for a top-four finish. Tech has scored just one point in each of its last two league series.
Northern Michigan at Alaska: Minnesota State and Bemidji State are 1-2 in the conference, and here's a matchup of 3-4. The host Nanooks have a one-point lead over the Wildcats, although Northern has two games in hand. The Wildcats were in up-state New York last to play No. 1 Cornell and now will be in Fairbanks, Alaska. Quite the week of travel!
The Mavericks will again be without Marc Michaelis, who is dealing with a lower-body injury, and possibly Jake Jaremko, who is doubtful with an upper-body injury.
Without the top centers around, coach Mike Hastings has been impressed with the play and leadership shown by co-captain Nick Rivera and fellow senior Josh French. The two have been playing together for six seasons now, going back to their junior hockey days.
There are several story lines to this series, besides the injuries and the play of Rivera and French. Bemidji State's Kyle Looft, a Mankato West grad, will be returning to his hometown to play for the first time. And another BSU freshman defenseman, Will Zmolek, will be facing his big brother, MSU junior Riese Zmolek, again.
Read more about the series from the Bemidji Pioneer here.
Going around the WCHA ...
Alaska Anchorage at Lake Superior State: The Seawolves moved into playoff position last week and now sit one point behind the seventh-place Lakers. A sweep by either team this weekend could keep it off the playoff bubble.
Ferris State at Michigan Tech: The Bulldogs, losers of eight straight, are on the outside looking in, four points behind UAA and face a sixth-place Huskies team that's hoping to get back into contention for a top-four finish. Tech has scored just one point in each of its last two league series.
Northern Michigan at Alaska: Minnesota State and Bemidji State are 1-2 in the conference, and here's a matchup of 3-4. The host Nanooks have a one-point lead over the Wildcats, although Northern has two games in hand. The Wildcats were in up-state New York last to play No. 1 Cornell and now will be in Fairbanks, Alaska. Quite the week of travel!
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