On Tap:   Minnesota State (2-0-2 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) begins Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend with a pair of league games at St. Cloud State (2-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA).  MSU and SCSU play in St. Cloud at National Hockey Center (5,371) Friday (7:37 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.).

About the MSU-SCSU Series:  In a series that dates back to 1969-70, MSU leads the all-time series between the two schools 61-45-11. The Mavericks and the Huskies split last year’s games with SCSU winning 4-3 and MSU responding with a 3-2 win in a series that took place in Mankato.

Head coach Mike Hastings (SCSU ‘93), who is in his first year at the Maverick men’s hockey helm and as a college head coach, played at St. Cloud State in the mid-1980’s and was an assistant coach with the Huskies in 1993-94.

MSU Most Recently:  Minnesota State stands 2-0-2 on the season after rallying for a 3-3 tie and gaining a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime win in a pair of nonconference home games with RPI last weekend.

The Mavericks scored twice in the last ten minutes of Friday’s game in coming back to claim the 3-3 tie.  Freshman forward Teddy Blueger opened the scoring in the game with a first-period power play goal, but RPI opened up a 3-1 lead with a goal four minutes after Blueger’s tally, one more in the second period and another seven minutes into the third period. MSU forced a scoreless overtime period with goals from junior forward Johnny McInnis and freshman Bryce Gervais. Senior netminder Phil Cook  was credited with 23 saves.

MSU used a similar recipe in claiming a 4-3 overtime win in Saturday’s rematch. MSU trailed 2-0 before McInnis scored at 1:02 of the third period. MSU tied the game on a goal by senior forward Eli Zuck and then freshman forward Dylan Margonari scored to give the Mavericks their first lead at the 5:05 mark. RPI evened the score at 18:24, setting up an overtime situation.

Senior forward Eriah Hayes won it at 1:09 of the extra session after taking a pass from sophomore forward Matt Leitner, who had won the faceoff in RPI’s defensive zone. The Mavericks owned a 38-33 advantage in shots on goal in the game as Cook got his second win of the year.

SCSU Most Recently:  The Huskies claimed a pair of nonconference home wins (8-3 and 4-0) over Alabama-Huntsville in running their record to 2-2-0 on the season.  

The complete 12-page release as a PDF is available HERE.