On Tap:    Minnesota State (2-4-4 overall, 2-4-2 WCHA) continues Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this week with a pair of  road games at the University of Denver (4-4-2 overall, 3-2-1 WCHA) this weekend.  The Mavericks and the Pioneers play at Magnuss Arena (6,026) Friday (7:37 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.).  Please note times are local (Mountain Standard Time).

About the MSU-DU Series:   In a series that dates back to the 1997-98 season, the Mavericks stand 13-19-5 all-time vs. the Pioneers. MSU’s last win in the series came during the 2007-08 season and since then, the Mavericks have gone 0-1-5 vs. DU. Senior forward Andrew Sackrison has 3-3--6 in nine games as MSU’s top active scorer vs. Denver and head coach Troy Jutting stands 9-16-5 all-time vs. the Pioneers for his career.

Most Recently:  Currently in the midst of an eight-game road swing, Minnesota State stands 2-4-4 overall and is 2-4-2 WCHA after last weekend’s series at eight-rated Nebraska Omaha. MSU dropped 5-1 and 5-2 decisions at UNO.

Sophomore Phil Cook got the start in both games with their rivals to the south, giving up three goals on 18 shots in the first game (junior Austin Lee had nine saves on 11 shots in relief), and 34 saves the next night. Junior forward Joe Schiller got his second goal of the year Friday, while senior defenseman Kurt Davis and sophomore forward Eriah Hayes both scored power play markers in Saturday’s 5-2 defeat.

About the University of Denver:  DU, which returns 18 letterwinners from last year’s team which went 27-10-4 overall and was 19-5-4 WCHA, stands 4-4-2 overall (3-2-1 WCHA) for the year. The Pioneers  split a WCHA series last weekend, downing Colorado College, 4-1, in Denver Friday, before falling 9-2 Saturday in Colorado Springs.

DU is led offensively by sophomore forward Drew Shore (7-5--12),  freshman forward Jason Zucker 7-2--9), senior forward Kyle Ostrow (3-4--7) and senior forward Anthony Maiani (4-5--9). Freshman Sam Brittain (3-3-2, 2.17, .931), a fourth-round pick (92nd overall) by Florida in this last summer’s NHL draft, has started eight of DU’s ten games this year.

George Gwozdecky  (Wisconsin ‘73) is in his 17th  season at the DU?helm and owns a 374-231-52 mark with the Pioneers. Gwozdecky stands 527-355-73 all-time and is in his 24th year as a collegiate head coach.

The complete 12-page release in pdf format is located here.