On Tap:    Minnesota State (9-8-1 overall, 5-8-1 WCHA) is scheduled for a pair of nonconference contests this weekend with a home-and-home series with Nebraska-Omaha (8-7-3 overall, 5-7-2 CCHA) on the docket.  The Mavericks and the Mavericks square-off at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832) in downtown Mankato, Friday at 7:37 p.m. and Saturday in Omaha at Qwest Center (14,700) at 7:05 p.m.. 

About the MSU-UNO Series:  MSU carries an all-time record vs. UNO of 14-6-4 into this weekend. Senior forwards Geoff Irwin (2-2--4 in 6 GP) and Zach Harrison (2-2--4 in 6 GP) are MSU’s active leading scorers vs. the Mavericks and head coach Troy Jutting is 10-3-3 all-time vs. UNO.
      Between 2001-02 and 2006-07 MSU went  9-2-1  against their southern rivals.  The schools compete annually for the Maverick Cup - symbolic of the rivalry between the institutions. UNO joined the CCHA the same year MSU joined the WCHA.  MSU and UNO were both longtime members of the North Central Conference (a NCAA Division II league with championships for football, volleyball, soccer cross country, track, basketball, wrestling,  baseball, softball, swimming, tennis and golf) that went defunct following the 2007-08 school year.  MSU now owns membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and UNO belongs to the Midwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).

Mavericks Most Recently:  Minnesota State stands 9-8-1 overall and is 5-8-1 in WCHA action after winning twice in a pair of nonconference contests at then-rated #4 Bemidji State last weekend.  The Mavericks, which earned 5-1 and 3-2 victories at Bemidji State in handing the Beavers their first losses at home this year, have won five of their last six contests and earned votes in this week’s USCHO.com poll.

Game Promotions:   Friday’s corporate sponsor is Sports Pix and the first 500 fans receive a MSU NHL Players Poster.
    Friday is also Mankato Area Hockey Association night and tickets have been distributed to every youth player in the association.

The entire pdf-version of this release is available here.