Men's Hockey | 1/17/2018 4:31:00 PM

Off the Hop:    #8/9 Minnesota State (17-7-0 overall, 15-5-0 WCHA) is on the road for a single nonconference game this weekend at long-time foe St. Cloud State (14-4-3, 8-3-1 NCHC). Face-off between the Mavericks and the Huskies at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (5,159) is slated for 5:00 p.m. CST Saturday.

About the Minnesota State-St. Cloud State  Series:  Minnesota State, which opened the 2017-18 campaign with a 4-0 home loss to the Huskies on Oct. 7, stands 71-54-10 in the all-time series with SCSU.  The Mavericks and the Huskies first met in 1969-70.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  Rated ninth by USCHO.com and eighth by USA Today/USA Hockey after splitting a WCHA road series at the University of Alaska last weekend, Minnesota State stands 17-7-0 overall and stands atop the WCHA standings with a 15-5-0 record in league games.  The Mavericks enter Saturday's contest at St. Cloud State having won eight of their last ten games.

St. Cloud State Most Recently:  The Huskies are 14-4-3 overall and 8-3-1 NCHC on the season. SCSU split a pair of league games with Western Michigan last weekend, dropping a 7-5 decision to the Broncos before rebounding for a 4-3 victory in the second game of the two-game series.
   The Huskies are led by Bob Motzko (SCSU '87), who is in his 13th season behind the SCSU bench. Motzko owns a 365-187-46 mark as head coach of SCSU and as a college head coach.

Minnesota State On the Web:  Tickets, releases, statistics, player and staff biographies, etc. on all of Minnesota State's 20 sports are available at the official website of MSU Athletics located at www.msumavericks.com

Minnesota State All-Time:  The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 48th year of competition last year.  The Mavericks are in their 22nd year as members of NCAA Division I and in their 19th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks sport an all-time record of 875-642-153. (.570).

C.J. Suess Notes: Three-year letterwinner is in his second season as team captain..2016-17 All-WCHA Second Team selection...Registered three goals and an assist in Minnesota State's four games in Alaska over the course of the last two weekends, leads Minnesota State in scoring with 13-17--30 (his 30 points is tied for sixth in the country) and stands as Minnesota State's active career scoring leader with 114 points on 48 goals and 66 assists.  Suess's 114 points stand tied for seventh on the school's career scoring list for the DI-era. Suess, who has seen action in 141 career games, has played in 112 consecutive games.

Zeb Knutson Notes: Three-year letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) finished fifth on school's point-scoring charts in 2016-17 with 15 goals and 10  assists for 25 points...Has a career-high 18 assists and points with 26 this year, including 2-9--11 in the last ten games. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native has 31-40--71 in 111 career games with the Mavericks.
 
Clint Lewis Notes: Two-year letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17) ranked second on the Mavericks in plus/minus with a +12 rating in 2016-17...Completed season with 3-12--15 and played in all 39 game...12 assists ranked seventh on team...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week earlier this year after he registered two assists in the Tech series earlier this year (Oct 27-28), was +3 and blocked 2 shots...Has 0-3--3 and is +11 in 21 games played in 2017-18.

Brad McClure Notes: Three-time letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) served as an alternate captain in 2016-17 and is serving as one of three team captains in 2017-18...2016-17 All-WCHA Second Team selection...Ranks as Minnesota State's active career games played leader with 143 appearances, owns a consecutive games played streak of 118. McClure owns 40-43--83 numbers for his four-year Minnesota State career to tie for 23rd on the school's all-time scoring list (DI-era).

Aaron Nelson Notes: Three-year letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) is a two-time WCHA All-Academic selection and two-time WCHA Scholar- Athlete honoree...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... Finished 2016-17 with 6-2-1 record, 2.53 goals against average and a .898 saves percentage...Recorded two shut-outs in nine starts in 2016-17...Career-high 35 saves in 4-4 overtime tie at Michigan Tech Jan. 20.

Daniel Brickley Notes: 2016-17 AHCA/CCM West Second Team All-America...2016-17 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year...2016-17 All-WCHA First Team...2016-17 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2016-17 WCHA All-Academic ...Two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week in 2016-17...Played with Team USA at 2017 IIHF World Championship....A four-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honoree this year. Brickley, who has 7-14-20 on the season, is fifth in the nation in points by defensemen.  Brickley has 17-46--63 in 91 career games to stand tied for 15th on Minnesota State's career scoring list by defensemen (he's ninth for the NCAA DI era).

Max Coatta Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17) is one of three captains for 2017-18...2016-17 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2016-17 WCHA All-Academic... Notched first career hat trick when he scored three times in Minnesota State's 8-6 win at Bemidji State earlier this year (Nov. 11)...Has 4-5--9 in 24 games played this year, has 15-20--35, 176 shots on goal and is +13 in 99 career games with the Mavericks.

Steen Cooper Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...Saw action in six games as a sophomore in 2016-17...Produced four shots on goal in second season of action...Has 1-0--1 in 16 career games with Mavericks.

Jason Pawloski Notes:  Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...Completed sophomore campaign with 8-5-2 record, 2.10 goals against average and .920 saves percentage...Earned his fourth career shut-out in the 3-0 win at Boston University Oct. 13 and fifth career shutout in 3-0 win at Northern Michigan (Nov. 3)...Stands 22-11-7 and owns a .907 save percentage and a 2.12 goals against average in his  three  years at Minnesota State.

Ryan Schwalbe Notes:  Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...Finished sophomore campaign with 0-1--1 in 29 games played...Has 0-0-0 in two games played in 2017-18.

Alec Vanko Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...2016-17 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2016-17 WCHA All-Academic...Scored first career goal in 7-1 win at Alaska (Oct. 21, 2016)...Registered 2-1--3 in 12 games played as a sophomore.

Michael Bigelbach Notes: Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 0-2--2 and was +1 in seven games played on  the year...Tallied first career point in first career game with assist on Brad McClure goal in 4-2 home win over Ferris State (Oct. 28)...Assisted on Jordan Nelson's game-winning goal in Minnesota State's 2-1 victory at Lake Superior State, Nov. 5.

Josh French Notes:  Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 0-6--6 and tied for eighth on team with +4 rating in maiden season...Played in all 39 games in first year of college hockey and registered first career point with an assist on Charlie Gerard's goal vs. Bemidji State Nov. 11...Scored first career goal in 5-1 win over Alabama Huntsville Dec. 15...Has 29 shots on goal and is +3  in 23 games played in 2017-18.

Charlie Gerard Notes:  Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 3-2--5 and totalled 48 shots on goal in 28 games in debut season with the Mavericks...Has 2-3--5, has 36 shots on goal and is +4 in 14 games in 2017-18.

Edwin Hookenson Notes:  Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 0-0--0 with 25 shots on goal and 22 blocked shots in 19 games in debut season with the Mavericks...Scored his first career goal in 5-2 win at Bemidji State Nov. 10. Added an assist in 8-6 victory over the Beavers Nov. 11...Had a pair of assists in 5-1 win at the University of Alaska Jan. 13...Has 1-3--4 in 29 career games.

Marc Michaelis Notes:  2016-17 All-WCHA First Team and was also member of the 2016-17 WCHA All-Rookie Team, finished conference play ranking second in the league in points with 13-15-28 in 28 league games...Led Minnesota State in scoring with 36 points on 14 goals and 22 assists...Since returning from an injury, sophomore forward Marc Michaelis has tallied 3-7--10 in the last six games...Ranks fourth on the team with 10-13--23 in 20 games and owns 24-35--59 in 59 career games played.

Nick Rivera Notes:  Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 6-4--10 in 38 games played in his maiden season with the Maverick...Has 5-4--9 in 23 games played in 2017-18.

Ian Scheid Notes:  2016-17 WCHA All-Rookie Team member, registered 8-16--24 to rank sixth on team scoring charts and ranking as one of the top-scoring freshmen defensemen in the country...Led Minnesota State with a +16 rating...Played all 39 games for Minnesota State in debut season...Scored a power play goal in 6-3 win at BU Oct. 13 this year for his second career game-winning tally...His third career GWG came in 3-0 victory at Northern Michigan Nov. 3...Has 8-9--17 in 24 games played this year, has 16-25--41 in 63 career games with Minnesota State (he hasn't missed a game during his time with the Mavericks). Scheid stands tied for the team lead with five power play markers.

Parker Tuomie Notes:  Three-time WCHA Rookie of the Week honoree during course of last season...Finished year with 8-10--18 and played in all 39 games in debut season with Mavericks...Has at least one point in eight of the last ten games and has tallied 5-10--15 during that time, has 6-15--21 on the season to tie for fifth on the team scoring charts...Stands tied for third on the team with 60 shots on goal and stands tied for the team power play goal lead with five, hasn't missed a game in his two-year Minnesota State career. He has 14-25--39 in 63 career appearances with the Mavericks.

Connor LaCouvee Notes: In first year with Mavericks after three years at Boston University... Had 2.80 goals a
Earned his first career shutout when he turned aside 13 shots in Minnesota State's 7-0 win at Lake Superior State...Stands 11-3-0 with a 1.90 goals against average and .909 save percentage for 2017-18.  

Walker Duehr Notes: Three-year veteran of United States Hockey league spent the 2016-17 season with Chicago (42 GP, 12-15--27) and Bloomington (15 GP, 3-4--7)...Won Clark Cup in helping Tri-City capture USHL postseason title in 2015-16 where he had 10-13--23 in 38 regular-season games with the Storm...Made first career appearance with Minnesota State in 4-1 win at Bowling Green Oct. 20...Registered first career goal in 6-1 win over Bowling Green (Nov. 17)...Has 2-1--3 in eight games played in his maiden season with the Mavericks.

Dallas Gerads Notes: Spent two seasons with Dubuque of the United States Hockey League prior to joining Mavericks...Made Minnesota State debut in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 13...Scored first career goal in and got the GWG in Minnesota State's 7-0 victory at Lake Superior State (Dec. 9)...Has 1-1--2 in 11 games played in debut season with Mavericks.

Jake Jaremko Notes: Alternate captain for Chicago (USHL) in 2016-17, finished with 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 2016-17...Racked up 22-46--68 in 26 games at Elk River (Minn.) High School in 2014-15 en route to being named Mr. Hockey for the state of Minnesota...Assisted on both game-winning goals in the series at Boston University (Oct. 13-1...Had a goal and three assists in two wins at Bemidji State (Nov. 10-11)...Scored twice and had a pair of assists in BGSU series (Nov. 17-18)...Has racked up 5-8--13 in the last 13 games, leads Minnesota State freshmen in scoring and ranks third on the team with 7-17--23 in 24 games.  Jaremko is third in the nation in points amongst all freshmen.

Reggie Lutz Notes: Registered 24 goals and 23 assists for 47 points in 58 games with Chicago (USHL) in 2016-17...Had 7-5--12 in 14 games in helping lead the Steel to the Clark Cup as USHL tournament champions...Won a Robertson Cup in helping Fairbanks capture the North American Hockey League postseason championship in 2015-16...Had 9-3--12 in 12 play-off games for the Ice Dogs and was named Robertson Cup MVP...Made his Minnesota State debut in 3-0 victory at Boston University Oct. 14...Had three assists in 7-0 win at Lake Superior State (Dec. 9)... Ranks ninth on the team in scoring with 4-9--13 in 19 games played. His three game-winning goals lead the team.

Jared Spooner Notes: Team captain for Green Bay (USHL) in 2016-17 where he collected 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 56 games played...Scored first career goal as a collegian in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 13...Has played in all 24 games to date for Minnesota State and has tallied 2-9--11.

Connor Mackey Notes: Alternate captain for Green Bay (USHL) in 2016-17 where he had six goals and 41 assists for 47 points in 60 games...2016-17 USHL Defenseman of the Year and USHL First Team selection led all league defensemen in scoring and ranked 16th overall in points...Ranked third in the USHL in assists...Led all USHL players with 30 power-play assists and 34 power-play points, and his four goals on the man advantage were the third-most in the league among defensemen...Has played in all 24 games for the Mavericks so far this season and has 2-4--6 on the year.

Jack McNeely Notes: Team captain for Tri-City of the United States Hockey League where he had 0-1--1 in 11 games played with the Storm prior to be traded to Muskegon (1-10--11 in 38 GP) in 2016-17...Won Clark Cup in helping Tri-City capture USHL postseason title in 2015-16 where he had 0-2--2 in 11 regular-season games with the Storm...Lakeville North (Minn.) High School product...Lakeville, Minn., native has seen action in 22 games in 2017-18 and owns 0-6--6 numbers.

Riese Zmolek Notes: Recipient of the USHL's Curt Hammer Award in 2016-17...Registered four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 45 games with Cedar Rapids of the USHL in 2016-17...Served as team captain of the RoughRiders in 2016-17...Had 3-8--11 in 56 GP in first year with Cedar Rapids in 2015-16...Rochester Century (Minn.) product had 19-20--39 in 2014-15...Scored first career goal in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 14...Totalled 1-2--3 in Minnesota State's two games vs. Northern Michigan (Dec. 29-30...Has 2-2--4 in 19 games played this year.

Noteables:  Minnesota State's freshmen have combined for 20 goals and 49 assists for 69 points in 2017-18 to rank fourth in the nation amongst all freshmen groups.

Minnesota State, which has ten different players score at least one power play goal this year, leads the nation with 32 power play goals.

Minnesota State enters the game with St. Cloud State ranking first in the nation in power play goals scored (32), first in the country in fewest shots allowed per game (22.33) and shot margin (+276), is second in goals scored (91), tied for third in wins (17), fourth in power play percentage (.276, 32/116) and eighth in the country in penalty killing (.855, 94/110).
 
On Tap:  Following the game at St. Cloud State, the Mavericks will continue nonconference action Jan. 23 with a home game vs. Minnesota Duluth.