Minnesota State Stands 15-13-0 overall, 13-7-0 WCHA After League Road Split at Northern Michigan; Lafontaine Tallies 14 Points for Month of January; Leiter Notches Second Career Four-Point Game; McInnis Has Eight Goals in Last Six Games

On Tap: The Mavericks played ten of its last 12 games on the road, Minnesota State (15-13-0 overall, 12-6-0 WCHA) continues Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend with a pair of league games in Mankato vs. Bemidji State (8-13-7, 8-8-4 WCHA). The Mavericks and the Beavers face-off at 7:37 p.m. Friday and 7:07 p.m. Saturday at Verizon Wireless Center (4,862).

MSU Most Recently: The Maverricks split a WCHA road series at Northern Michigan in its most-recent action, losing 5-2 last Friday, before claiming a 5-1 win Saturday.

Minnesota State got a four-point game on a goal and three assists from junior forward Matt Leitner in claiming Saturday's win. Senior captain Johnny McInnis scored twice, while junior forward Jean-Paul Lafontaine contributed two assists in the victory over the host Wildcats.

About the Beavers: Bemidji State enters this weekend after splitting a pair of league games with Alaska. The Beavers, who fell by a 3-0 margin to the Nanooks Friday before winning 4-0 Saturday, have gone 3-2-1 in their last six contests.

BSU is led offensively by sophomore forwards Cory Ward (16-8--24) and Markus Gerbrandt (12-8--20) along with junior defenseman Matt Prapavessis (5-15--20). Junior Andrew Walsh (6-10-4, .911, 2.79) has started 20 of BSU's 28 games this year. Head coach Tom Serratore (Bemidji State '87) is in his 13th year as a college head coach and at Bemidji State. His career record with the Beavers stands 209-199-56.

MSU All-Time: The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 44th year of competition last year. MSU is in its 17th year as a member of NCAA Division I (first DI season was 1997-98) and the Mavericks are in their 15th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks sport an all-time record of 775-600-137 (.558).

What the What: The Mavericks, who had gone 4-for-46 (.086) on the power play through the first ten games of the year, have gone 32-for-98 (.326) with the man advantage in the last 18 contests.

Minnesota State stands fourth in the nation in power play percentage (35/145, 24.1%) and is 11th in the nation in penalty kill (105/122, 86.1%)

Minnesota State's record this year in Friday games is 5-9. In Saturday games, the Mavericks stand 10-4. The Mavericks are 9-1-0 in home games on the year, stand 6-10-0 in road games and are 0-2-0 in neutral site games.

The Mavericks, who had gone the first 24 games of this season without recording a shorthanded goal, have scored three shorthanded goals in the last four games.

On Tap: Following the games vs. Bemidji State, the Mavericks continue home action Feb. 14-15 with WCHA games vs. Alabama Huntsville.

Lafontaine & Leitner Hobey News: The Hobey Baker Memorial Award fan vote is open and Minnesota State junior forwards Jean-Paul Lafontaine and Matt Leitner are listed amongst the balloting options.

Fans can vote once every 24 hours for their pick as to who is college hockey's best player in 2013-14. Fans can vote by visit the Hobey Baker website.

This first phase of fan balloting runs now through March 9. The fans' vote accounts for one percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting the award recipient.

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