On Tap:    Minnesota State (0-0-2 overall, 0-0-2 WCHA) starts Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this week with a pair of games at Michigan Tech (2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) this weekend.  The Mavericks and the Huskies play in Houghton, Mich., at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena (4,128) Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.).

About the MSU-MTU Series:   The Mavericks went 3-1-0 in games with the Huskies last year and lead in the all-time series with MTU by a 23-13-3 margin.  MSU’s active leading scorer vs. Michigan Tech is senior defenseman Kurt Davis (0-9--9 in ten games).  Senior forward Rylan Galiardi is next with 4-4--8 in eight contests and head coach Troy Jutting is 19-10-3 all-time in games vs. MTU.

Most Recently: Minnesota State is 0-0-2 for 2010-11 after a season-opening nonconference home series vs. St. Lawrence last weekend.  The Mavericks, got a goal and an assist each from junior forwards Michael Dorr and Justin Jokinen and sophomore forward Eli Zuck and two assists from senior defenseman Kurt Davis en route to a 5-5 tie vs. the Saints Friday.  Jokinen scored MSU’s only goal in a 1-1 draw the next night and junior netminder Austin Lee was credited with 23 saves.

About Michigan Tech:  Tech, which returns 22 letterwinners from last year’s team which went 5-30-1 overall and was 1-24-0 WCHA, stands 2-0-0 overall for the year after winning twice in a pair of season-opening nonconference road games at Northern Michigan (4-3 overtime win) and Lake Superior State (6-2 win).  The Huskies hosts Northern Michigan in another nonconference tilt Tuesday before taking on MSU Firday and Saturday.

Tech is led by senior forward Bennett Royer (2-2--4), sophomore center Milos Gordic (2-1--3) and sophomore defenseman Steven Seigo (1-2--3).

Jamie Russell (Michigan Tech ‘89) is in his eighth year at the MTU helm and has forged a 68-165-33 mark with the Bulldogs.

Leading The Way:  Senior forward Rylan Galiardi is serving as MSU team  captain in 2010-11.   Serving as assistant captains for this year are senior defensemen Channing Boe and Ben Youds.

MSU All-Time:  The Minnesota State men’s hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 41st year of competition last year.  The Mavericks are in their 15th year as members of NCAA Division I and in their 12th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. With a total of 1,369 games played, the Mavericks sport an all-time record of 710-731-128 (.565).

The rest of this release, in pdf format, is located here.

Also, here's the MSU men's hockey highlight video from the series with St. Lawrence.