Men's Hockey | 10/19/2016 10:09:00 AM

Off the Hop:    Minnesota State (4-0-0 overall, 2-0-0 WCHA) heads northward in its first road tests of the 2016-17 season with a pair of Western Collegiate Hockey Association contests at the University of Alaska (1-3-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) this weekend. The Mavericks and UA play in Fairbanks at the Patty Ice Arena (2,000) Friday (10:07 p.m. CST) and Saturday (10:07 p.m. CST).

About the Minnesota State-Alaska Series:  The Mavericks trail in the all-time series with Alaska by a 13-4-1 margin, but head to Fairbanks this weekend owning a two-game winning streak vs. the Nanooks.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  The Mavericks upped their record for 2016-17 to 4-0-0 after skating to a nonconference home sweep over St. Cloud State (4-1 and 6-4) last weekend.  The four straight victories mark the first time Minnesota State has won its first four games of a season since 1998-99 when it began the season 6-0-0 before tying Ferris State.

Alaska Most Recently:  The Nanooks started off the year two weeks ago with a 4-1 win over Alaska Anchorage, but have since dropped their last three contests (6-3 vs. Minnesota, 2-1 vs. Canisius and 4-3 vs. Nebraska Omaha). Alaska is led by  led by head coach Dallas Ferguson (Alaska '96), who stands 63-134-38 as a college head coach and is in his ninth year as head coach with the Nanooks.

Noteables:  Along with senior defenseman Carter Foguth, who is in his second season as a team captain for the Mavericks, junior forward C.J. Franklin will also wear a "C" for Minnesota State this year. Serving as alternate captains (all in their first year) are senior forward Michael Huntebrinker, senior defenseman Sean Flanagan and junior forward Brad McClure.

At 114 games played, senior defenseman Carter Foguth is Minnesota State's active career games played leader. Senior defenseman Sean Flanagan is next at 105.

On Tap: The return home for a WCHA series vs. Ferris State Oct. 28-29 in their next action following the two games at the University of Alaska.