Lowell, Mass.  --- Minnesota State got three goals from junior forward Justin Jokinen in routing UMass Lowell, 8-3, in nonconference men’s college hockey action in Lowell, Mass., Friday.

The River Hawks drew first blood on a power play goal at the 2:42 mark by Chad Ruhwedel, whose shot from the point got past a screened Austin Lee. The Mavericks responded at 13:20 on a shot from the slot by senior defenseman Ben Youds that beat UML netminder Marc Boulanger high on the glove side.

The two teams exploded for five goals in the middle frame and when it was all said and done, MSU held a 6-2 lead. UML took a 2-1 lead on a power play marker by Maury Edwards at 0:59 before the Mavericks struck for five straight tallies including three tallies off the stick of junior forward Justin Jokinen.

Jokinen one-timed a pass from Eli Zuck past Boulanger at 1:14 to tie the game and then gave MSU the lead with an unassisted slap shot goal from 30 feet out at 3:31. Boulanger, who mishandled Michael Dorr’s wrist shot at 5:01 to give MSU a 4-2 edge, was replaced by Doug Carr. Senior forward Rylan Galiardi’s first goal of the year came at the 16:31 mark and Jokinen got his first career hat trick (and MSU’s first hat trick since Jerad Stewart scored four times Nov. 20, 2009 at Alaska Anchorage) at 17:30 to end the carnage.

Joe Caveney tipped a shot from the point past Lee at 8:31 of the third, but goals from Andy Sackrison at 10:2 and one by Rylan Galiardi at 11:15 put the game out of reach.

Lee finished with 23 stops in backstopping the Mavericks to the win, while the two UMass Lowell netminders combined for 27 stops.

In addition to the three goals from Jokinen, whose six goals on the year lead the Mavericks, Michael Dorr chipped in with a goal and two assists and Galiardi had two goals and an assist. Freshman forward J.P. Burkemper and Eli Zuck both had a two assists as 11 different MSU players had at least one point in the contest. The eight goals scored is the most by a MSU team since the Mavericks downed Alaska Anchorage, 8-2, Nov. 2009.

Now 3-6-4 overall, Minnesota  State plays UMass Lowell again Saturday at 4:00 p.m. (EST) .

Junior forward Justin Jokinen comments after 8-3 win at UMass Lowell.