On Tap:    Minnesota State (3-7-0 overall, 2-4-0 WCHA) takes to the road when it takes on #8 Minnesota Duluth (7-3-2, 5-2-1WCHA) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend in Duluth, Minn.  MSU and UMD play at Amsoil Arena (6,726) Friday (7:37 p.m. CST) and Saturday (7:07 p.m. CST).

About the MSU-UMD Series:   MSU stands 19-13-5 in the series with Minnesota Duluth.  The Mavericks had dropped six games in a row to the Bulldogs before splitting a two-game set played in Mankato last year.

Most Recently:  Minnesota State (3-7-0, 2-4-0 WCHA) split a two-game home Western Collegiate Hockey Association series with St. Cloud State last weekend in its most-recent action.  The Mavericks prevailed 4-2 in the first game before falling 3-2 in the second contest.

About Minnesota Duluth:  The Bulldogs stand 7-3-2 on the year (5-2-1 WCHA) after earning a two-game home league series sweep over Alaska Anchorage last weekend.  UMD earned a 5-0 win Friday before claiming a 3-1 win over the Seawolves Saturday.

The defending national champions, UMD return 16 letterwinners from last year’s team which crafted a 26-10-6 overall record.

Selected as an All-American last year, senior forward Jack Connolly stands atop UMD’s 2011-12 scoring charts with 6-11--17 in 12 games.  Senior forward Travis Oleksuk (11-3--14) and sophomore forward J.T. Brown (3-11--14) are next.

Senior goaltender Kenny Reiter owns a 7-2-2 record with a .923 saves percentage and a 2.05 goals against average in 11 games.  

Scott Sandelin (North Dakota‘87), is in his 12th year at the UMD men’s hockey helm and stands 199-203-52 as a collegiate head coach.  

Leading The Way:  Senior forward Michael Dorr and junior defenseman Tyler Elbrecht are serving as MSU team  captains in 2011-12.   The Mavericks plan on rotating an alternate captain during the course of the season.

MSU All-Time:  The Minnesota State men’s hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 42nd year of competition last year.  The Mavericks are in their 16th year as members of NCAA Division I and in their 13th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. With a total of 1,407 games played, the Mavericks sport an all-time record of 727-554-132 (.562).

MSU's complete 12-page release (as a pdf) is available here.