• Mavericks Ranked #1 for Third Time in last Four Weeks
    • Mavericks Reach 20-Win Plateau For Third Year in a Row
    • Leitner Reaches 150-Point Plateau for Career
    • Gervais Scores Three Times in Home Sweep over Ferris State
    • Palmquist Moves into Third Place on Career Scoring by Defensemen List
 On Tap:  Top-rated Minnesota State (21-5-1 overall, 17-2-1 WCHA) continues Western Collegiate Hockey Association home action this weekend with Alaska Anchorage  (7-13-4 overall, 4-12-2 WCHA) making its way southward. The Mavericks square-off against the Seawolves at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832) Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Saturday (7:00 p.m.) CST in downtown Mankato.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  Minnesota State owns a 21-5-1 overall record (17-2-1 WCHA) after rolling to a home sweep over Ferris State last weekend. The Mavericks, who posted a pair of 5-1 wins over the Bulldogs, stands atop the WCHA standings with 35 points, four points in front of second-place Michigan Tech. Minnesota State enters the series with Alaska Anchorage having gone 16-2-1 in its last 19 games.

About Alaska Anchorage:  The Seawolves, who enter the weekend with a 7-13-4 overall mark and are 4-12-2 WCHA, fell twice at Northern Michigan (5-3, 3-2 ot) last weekend in their most recent action. UAA is led offensively by junior forward Blake Thatchell (4-15--19), senior forward Scott Allen (8-8--16) and senior forward Brett Cameron (7-8--15). Freshman Olivier Mantha (6-9-3, 2.56, .922) has started 19 games between the pipes for UAA in his maiden season. Head coach Matt Thomas (RIT '98) is in his second year behind the UAA bench and enters the weekend owning a 25-29-7 career coaching mark. Minnesota State is 40-24-9 in the all-time series vs. Alaska Anchorage.

All Three Zones:   Minnesota State ranks first in the nation in wins (21), winning percentage (.796), power play goals (31), goal margin (+46), shot margin (+321), fewest shots on goal allowed per game (21.4) and shots on goal margin per game (+11.9).

Polling: Following last weekend's two-game home league sweep over Ferris State, Minnesota State is again rated #1 in the nation in polls released by USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Monday. The Mavericks, who were rated third in both polls last week, have now been rated #1 in the nation three out of the last four weeks. This year marks the first time that Minnesota State have ever been rated #1 in the nation in men's hockey.

For a look at this week's national polls, go HERE.