Men's Hockey | 3/1/2017 10:28:00 AM
Off the Hop: Minnesota State (19-11-4 overall, 15-9-4 WCHA) begins postseason action this weekend with a home best-of-three first-round WCHA playoff series vs. the University of Alaska (12-18-4 overall, 11-13-4 WCHA). The Mavericks and the Nanooks are slated to play at Verizon Center (4,832) Friday (7:07 p.m. CST), Saturday (7:07 p.m. CST) and Sunday (7:07 p.m. CST, if necessary).
About the Minnesota State-Alaska Series: The Mavericks, who went 2-1-1 (7-1 win, 4-2 loss, 7-3 win, 5-5 tie) in games with Alaska this year, own a 6-14-2 all-time mark in the series with the Nanooks. The series between the two schools dates back to the 1982-83 season and this weekend marks the first postseason meetings between the two schools.
Minnesota State Most Recently: Minnesota State stands 19-11-4 overall and finished third in the WCHA with a 15-9-4 record after completing the 2016-17 regular season with a WCHA road split (2-1 loss and 2-1 win) at Bemidji State last weekend. The Mavericks have gone 10-5-2 in the last 17 games.
About Alaska: The Nanooks, who finished sixth in the WCHA regular season standings with an 11-13-4 conference record, enter the weekend owning a 12-18-4 overall mark after gaining a two-game road league sweep at Alaska Anchorage (4-3 and 2-1 wins).
The Nanooks are paced offensively by sophomore forward Chad Staley (8-13--21) and senior wing Marcus Basara (9-10--19). Senior Davis Jones (6-9-3, 2.69, 912 sv%) and sophomore Jesse Jenks (6-9-1, 3.33, .888 sv%) had split goaltending duties for Alaska this year.
Alaska is led by head coach Dallas Ferguson (Alaska '96), who stands 74-149-42 as a college head coach (this is ninth year with the Nanooks).
Minnesota State in the WCHA Postseason: The Mavericks are 22-33 all-time in WCHA postseason tournament play. Under head coach Mike Hastings Minnesota State has forged a 13-4 record in the last four years in WCHA tournament action.
Minnesota State All-Time: The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 47th year of competition last year. The Mavericks are in their 21st year as members of NCAA Division I and in their 18th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks are 855-633-152 (.568) all-time and stand 226-217-61 (.509) in regular-season games vs. WCHA opponents.
Sean Flanagan Notes: In first season serving as an alternate captain...Three-time letterwinner (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) is a two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree and WCHA Scholar-Athlete honoree (at least 3.50 grade point average)...has seven points on two goals and five assists in the last 13 games. Flanagan, who has 12-39--51 in 135 career games played, has 170 shots on goal, 131 blocked shots and is +21 in his four seasons with the Mavericks.
Carter Foguth Notes: In second season serving as team captain...Three-time letterwinner (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) was a WCHA All-Academic honoree last year... Minnesota State's Minnesota State's active career games played leader with 139, has 4-17--21, owns a +23 rating with 281 blocked shots in his four seasons as a Maverick. Foguth's 65 blocked shots this year rank second on the Mavericks and stand tied for 21st in the nation. Foguth has 0-3--3 in 29 games played this year,
Cole Huggins Notes: Three-year letterwinner (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16) is a two-time WCHA All-Academic pick...Owns school record for shut-outs with 11...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (third time in career) after backstopping Mavericks to 3-1 an 4-0 wins over #17 Michigan Tech Oct. 7-8...Stands 8-6-1 with a 2.29 goals against average and a .902 save percentage for the year and ranks fifth at Minnesota State for career wins with 46 victories....Stopped 47 of 51 shots (.922 sv%, .1.92 GAA) as Minnesota State picked up five of six points in the two games vs. Lake Superior State (Nov. 4-5).
Michael Huntebrinker Notes: Three-year letterwinner (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16) is in first year as an alternate captain...Two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree and WCHA Scholar-Athlete honoree (at least 3.50 grade point average)...Had three assists in Minnesota State's 7-3 win over Alaska Dec. 2...Scored his third goal of the season in Minnesota State's 5-4 win at Princeton Dec. 17. Had his second career three-point game when had a goal and two assists in last 5-0 win at Alaska Anchorage (Feb. 4)...Has 4-16--20 this year, has registered a single-season highs for assists and points this year...Ranks second on the team with 241 face-off wins.
Jordan Nelson Notes: Three-year letterwinner (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16) is a two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree and WCHA Scholar-Athlete honoree (at least 3.50 grade point average)...Ranks third on the Mavericks with 238 face-off wins. The Williston, N.D., native has 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 129 career games played.
Zach Stepan Notes: Three-time letterwinner (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) is a 2012 Nashville Predators draft pick (4th round, 112 overall)...Including the game-winning goal, scored a pair of power play goals in Minnesota State's 3-2 win at Alabama Huntsville Jan. 7... Has scored six times and assisted on four others for ten points in the last 12 games, has 24-34--58 in 132 career games played. His goal last Saturday at Bemidji State is the fourth career game-winning goal of his career.
C.J. Franklin Notes: Two-year letterwinner is in first season as team captain...2014 Winnipeg Jets draftee (5th round, 129th overall)... Finished third on team in scoring and second in goals with 14-11--25 in sophomore season and saw action in all 41 games...Ranks second on Minnesota State's scoring charts with 12-18--30, has nine goals and 13 assists for 21 points in the last 21 games...Leads the Mavericks with 341 face-off wins (ranks 28th in the country) and with 35-48--83 in 112 career games, the Forest Lake, Minn., product stands as Minnesota State's active career scoring leader and is 22nd on the school's career scoring list (for DI-era).
Zeb Knutson Notes: Two-year letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16) finished sixth on school's point-scoring charts in 2015-16 with six goals and 11 assists for 17 points... Scored his 13th goal of the season in Minnesota State's 2-1 win at Bemidji State last Saturday. Knutson, who has 13-10--23 for the season, ranks third on the team in goals (13), fifth in shots on goal (77), tied for fifth in points (23) and has posted career highs for goals and points in a season. He has 8-4--12 in the last 12 games.
Clint Lewis Notes: Lettered as a freshman in 2015-16...Missed most of season due to injury (saw action in six games)...Tied for second on the Mavericks in plus/minus with a +12 on the year, has 37 blocked shots and 33 shots on goal in 2016-17.
Brad McClure Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16) is in first year as an alternate captain...Posted 5-8--13 numbers while playing in all 41 games as a sophomore... Has racked up 10-10--20 in the last 22 games. The Stratford, Ont., native leads Minnesota State with 122 shots on goal (17th in the nation), stands tied for the team lead in goals (14) and is tied for third in points with 14-14--28.
Aaron Nelson Notes: Two-year letterwinner was a WCHA All-Academic selection last year...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week following two wins at Alabama Huntsville (Jan. 6-7), started six games for the Mavericks Jan. 6-Jan. 21... The Bismarck, N.D., stands 6-2-1 on the year with a 2.53 goals against average and a .898 saves percentage...Has two shut-outs in seven starts in 2016-17...Career-high 35 saves in 4-4 overtime tie at Michigan Tech Jan. 20.
Daniel Brickley Notes: Lettered in first season with Mavericks (2015-16)....Named to 2015-16 WCHA All-Rookie Team...Collected 2-9--11 in 36 games played as a freshman...Two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week in 2016-17...Has 8-20--28 on the season and stands tied for third on Minnesota State's scoring charts. He led all WCHA defensemen in scoring this year (and currently stands t-8th in the nation) and stands tied for second on the Mavericks at +13. His 64 shots on goal lead Minnesota State defensemen, as does his 66 blocked shots.
Max Coatta Notes: Lettered in first season with Mavericks (2015-16)...Named to 2015-16 WCHA All-Rookie Team.....Tied for third in the WCHA in rookie scoring with 5-6--11 in 28 league games...Collected 5-8--13 in 36 games played as a freshman...Has 9-14--23 in 70 career games.
Steen Cooper Notes: Lettered in first season with Mavericks (2015-16)...Collected 1-0--1 in 10 games played as a freshman... Scored first career goal in 2-2 overtime tie in WCHA road game at Northern Michigan (Nov. 21)...Enters weekend with 1-0--1 in 16 career games.
Chandler Madry Notes: Lettered in first season at Minnesota State (2015-16)...Had 2-1--3 in nine games played in debut season with Mavericks...Registered first career goal in 2-0 home win over Alaska Anchorage (Nov. 27, 2015)...Also scored in a game at Michigan Tech (Jan. 16, 2016)... Scored his first career game-winning goal in 6-4 victory over St. Cloud State (Oct. 15, 2016), has 3-1--4 in 12 career games.
Jason Pawloski Notes: Lettered in first season with Mavericks (2015-16)....8-2-5 won-loss record with .901 save percentage and 1.85 goals against average in first year of college hockey...Named WCHA Rookie of the Week after backstopping Mavericks to a two-game home league sweep over Alaska Anchorage with a 2-0-0 record, a 1.00 goals against average and a .947 save percentage (Nov. 27-28)...Got his first win of 2016-17 when he stopped 18 shots in Minnesota State's 2-1 win at Lake Superior State, Nov. 5...Owns a 13-5-7 career record with a 2.03 GAA and .908 sv%, stands 5-3-2 for the year with a 2.34 GAA and a .915 sv%.
Ryan Schwalbe Notes: Lettered in first year with Minnesota State (2015-16)...Had 0-3--3 in 28 games in debut season with Mavericks while playing both forward and defense...Had 24 shots on goal and blocked eight shots...First career point came in 3-2 win at Ferris State (Nov. 7) when he assisted on a goal by Casey Nelson...Picked up his first point of 2016-17 when he drew an assist on Ian Scheid's goal in 2-2 overtime tie with Lake Superior State. Schwalbe has 0-4--4 in 55 games played, 41 shots on goal and 24 blocked shots for his two-year Minnesota State career.
Alec Vanko Notes: Lettered in freshman season (2015-16)...Registered 0-4--4 and was +3 in 12 games played in debut season with Minnesota State...Scored first career goal in 7-1 win at Alaska (Oct. 21, 2016)...Oregon, Wis., native has 2-1--3 in 12 games played this year.
Michael Bigelbach Notes: Played two seasons with Omaha (USHL) where he served as an alternate captain for the Lancers in 2015-16...Had 2-10--12, along with 105 PIMS with Omaha in 2015-16...Toiled in the North American Hockey League in 2013-14, playing 44 games with Minot (4-10--14) and 18 games with Janesville (0-2--2)...Assisted on Jordan Nelson's game-winning goal in Minnesota State's 2-1 victory at Lake Superior State, Nov. 5...Has 0-2--2 and is +1 in seven games played on the year.
Josh French Notes: Spent two campaigns with Omaha (USHL) where he had 16-32--48 and served as an alternate captain for the Lancers in 2015-16...Led Omaha in points and assists and was named team MVP and Forward of the Year in 2015-16...Made debut for Minnesota State he played in season-opening games with Michigan Tech, Oct. 7 and has played in every game this year...Registered first career point with an assist on Charlie Gerard's goal vs. Bemidji State Nov. 11...Had two assists in 4-2 victory over Lake Superior State (Jan. 27), had an assist in each win over Northern Michigan last weekend and owns 0-6--6 numbers in his debut season with the Mavericks.
Charlie Gerard Notes: Played with three different teams in the USHL in 2015-16 - Collected 10 goals and five assists for 15 points in 26 games with Madison, 3-5--8 in 18 GP with Fargo and 6-4--10 with Muskegon...Totalled 17-16--33 with Madison in 2014-15....Notched first career goal with Minnesota State when he scored in a 1-1 home tie with Bemidji State (Nov. 11) and has 2-2--4 in 24 games played to date.
Edwin Hookenson Notes: Spent three seasons with Nanaimo (BCHL) where he served as an alternate captain for the Clippers and earned team's Coaches Award in 2015-16...Had six goals and 17 assists for 23 points in 58 games in 2015-16...Registered 5-23--28 in 58 games and was named team's Most Improved Player in 2014-15 in helping lead Nanaimo to an Interior Division regular-season title and play-off series victories over Alberni Valley and Powell River and a place in the BCHL championship series....Made his college debut when he played in both games vs. the University of Alaska Dec. 0-2...Has 21 shots on goal and 16 blocked shots in 14 games in debut season with Mavericks.
Marc Michaelis Notes: Two-year USHL vet spent a pair of seasons with Green Bay where he had 10-41--51 in 59 games in 2015-16... A two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week award recipient this year, freshman forward Marc Michaelis, who leads Minnesota State in scoring with 36 points on 14 goals and 22 assists, has registered the second-highest ever point total by a Maverick freshman for the DI-era. He stands tied for 24th in the country in scoring and is third amongst all freshmen skaters in the nation in scoring. Michaelis has accrued at least one point in 24 of 34 games played in his debut season with the Mavericks.
Nick Rivera Notes: Team captain for Omaha (USHL) in 2015-16...Had 23-18--41 with 132 PIMs and +5 in 48 games with Lancers in 2015-16...Had 14-14--28 and was +12 in 58 games with Omaha in 2014-15 and collected 18-9--27 with Wenatchee (NAHL) in 2013-14...Scored twice and had two assists in earning WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his play in Minnesota State's two games at Alaska Oct. 21-22)...Earned WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for the second time after scoring the game-winners in both victories over Northern Michigan Feb. 17-18). His goal in Friday's 5-3 victory was also his first career shorthanded tally. Has 6-4--10 in 33 games played in his maiden season with the Mavericks.
Ian Scheid Notes: Played the first five games of the 2015-16 season with Fargo (USHL) before being traded to Sioux City where he had 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 47 games...Spent the 2014-15 campaign with Austin (NAHL) where he registered 12-23--35 in 55 games with the Bruins and was named NAHL All-Rookie First Team...Scored his first career game-winning goal in 4-2 victory over Ferris State (Oct. 28)...Has played every game for Minnesota State in debut season...Has 7-16--23 on the year to rank first amongst all WCHA first-year blueliners in points (he's tied for second amongst all freshmen defensemen in the nation).
Parker Tuomie Notes: Former Sioux Falls (USHL) captain...Had a goal and three assists, along with 10 shots on goal, in earning WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his role in Minnesota State's two wins over St. Cloud State (Oct. 14-15)...Named WCHA Rookie of the Week following Minnesota State's two games vs. Lake Superior State Jan. 27-28...Tallied first career game-winning goal when he scored Minnesota State's third goal at 3:07 of the third period in 4-2 victory over the Lakers. Also scored at 3:52 of second overtime session in three-on-three action as the Mavericks claimed the WCHA point in 2-2 overtime tilt...Had a four-point weekend on a goal and three assists in the series vs. Northern Michigan with 1-3--4 (Feb. 17-18). Has 6-8--14 on the year to rank eighth on the team's scoring charts and has totalled 2-2--4 in the last four contests.
Noteables: Minnesota State's freshmen have combined for 35-60--95 in 34 contests so far this season and are fourth in scoring in the nation as a group.
As a group, Minnesota State's defensemen are tied for tenth in the country amongst all defensive corps with 24-61--85.
Minnesota State has outshot its opponents in 24 out of 34 games this year and rank seventh in the nation in shots on goal margin at +233.
