Men's Hockey | 3/8/2016 4:05:00 PM

Mavericks Earn Share of MacNaughton Cup as WCHA Regular Season Champions
Minnesota State Enters Postseason Having Won Last Eight WCHA Play-Off Games
Mavericks Shooting for Third Straight Broadmoor Trophy

On Tap: 16th-rated Minnesota State (18-11-7 overall) begins the 2015-16 postseason with a best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association play-off series this weekend in Mankato with Lake Superior State (13-20-5) visiting Verizon Wireless Center (4,832). The Mavericks and the Lakers square-off both Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) at 7:07 p.m. CST.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  Minnesota State earned a share of the 2015-16 WCHA regular season title by virtue of its 16-5-7 lead record after gaining a split of a home league series with Bemidji State last weekend (6-1 win, 1-0 loss). This marks the second consecutive season the Mavericks have won at least a share of the MacNaughton Cup as league regular-season champions.

About Lake Superior State:  Lake Superior State owns a 13-20-5 overall record for 2015-16 and finished seventh in the league with a 10-13-5 mark after splitting (3-1 loss and a 3-2 win) a league road series at Ferris State last weekend. Sophomore forward J.T. Henke (9-11--20) tops the Lakers' scoring chart and is followed by freshman forwards Gage Torrell (8-11--19) and Mitch Hults (8-11--19). Sophomore netminder Gordon Defiel (10-12-4, 2.44, .924) has started 26 times in 2015-16. Head coach Damon Whitten (Michigan State '97) is in his second year behind the LSSU bench and owns a 21-48-7 mark as a college head coach.

Mavericks vs. Lakers:  Minnesota State, which claimed a pair of home wins over the Lakers Jan. 22-23 (8-1, 5-1), stands a 10-0-0 all-time in the series vs. LSSU. The weekend will mark the second time the Mavericks have met in the postseason - Minnesota State downed LSSU twice last year in the first round of the league play-offs (9-2, 4-2) to advance to the WCHA Final Five.

Mavericks in WCHA Play-off Action:  Undefeated in its last eight WCHA play-off games, Minnesota State owns a 15-27 all-time mark in the first round of the WCHA play-offs.  The Mavericks, who have won five first-round series (in 18 appearances), stand 11-3 when hosting first-round series.

Stamina: Senior forward Bryce Gervais has not missed a game in his four-year college career and owns a streak of 158 straight games played. Minnesota State's record for career  games played (160) is held by Zach Palmquist (2011-15) and Chase Grant (2010-2015).   Palmquist also owns the school record for consecutive games played with 160 (not unlike Gervais, Palmquist did not miss a game in his four seasons as a Maverick).

For Future Reference:  A total of four players on this year's roster have been selected by National Hockey League teams in the annual draft. Junior forward Zach Stepan was selected by Nashville in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2012 draft. Senior forward Teddy Blueger was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (52nd overall) in the 2012 draft. Sophomore forward C.J. Franklin was selected in the fifth round (129th overall) of the 2014 draft by Winnipeg. Senior forward Jimmy Mullin was selected in the fourth round of 2010 NHL Entry Draft by Tampa Bay (118th overall pick).

Stats Stuff:   Minnesota State has outshot its opponents by a 1221-753 margin through the team's 36 games this year.

The Mavericks, who have outshot their opponents in 30 of their 36 games on the season, rank first in the nation for fewest shots on goal allowed per game (20.92) and first in shots on goal margin with an +13.00 SOGM mark.

Minnesota State has scored the first goal in 17 of its 36 games this year and stands 11-1-5 in those games. Opponents have registered the game's first goal on 19 occasions and the Mavericks are 7-10-2 in those games.