Off the Hop: 7th-rated Minnesota State (3-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) begins Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend when it hosts the University of Alaska (0-5-1, 0-0-0 WCHA) Friday and Saturday. Face-off between the Mavericks and the Nanooks at Verizon Center (4,832) is slated for 7:07 p.m., both Friday and Saturday.
Minnesota State All-Time: The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 49th year of competition in 2017-18. The Mavericks, who completed their 22nd year as members of NCAA Division I and their 19th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association last year, sport an all-time record of 890-646-153. (.572).
About the Minnesota State-Alaska Series: In a series that dates back to the 1982-83 season, Minnesota State stands 11-15-2 vs. the University of Alaska. The Mavericks are 9-2-1 in the last 12 meetings with the Nanooks.
Minnesota State Most Recently: The Mavericks claimed a 7-4 victory over the University of North Dakota last Friday, before dropping a 4-3 decision to the Fighting Hawks in Saturday's rematch. The win marked the first time Minnesota State had won in a game in Grand Forks since March 10, 2006 when the Mavericks claimed a 3-2 win in overtime in the first round of the WCHA play-offs.
Alaska Most Recently: The Nanooks went 0-1-1 in a nonconference road series at the University of Denver last weekend in their most-recent action. Head coach Erik Largen (Alaska '08) is in his first year as head coach of the Nanooks. Largen, who served as the head coach at NCAA DIII-member Marian University in 2016-17 prior to joining Alaska as an assistant coach for two seasons, owns a career head coaching won-loss record of 23-42-7.
About Last Year: Minnesota State finished the 2017-18 campaign with a 29-10-1 record. The Mavericks went 22-5-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association games to claim the WCHA regular-season championship. Minnesota State earned an at large berth into the 2017-18 NCAA postseason tournament where it was seeded second at the Western Regional in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Mavericks lost 3-2 in overtime to eventual national champion Minnesota Duluth in a regional first-round game.
Roster Notes: This year's Minnesota State lineup includes players from 12 different states/provinces (and four countries). The state of Minnesota leads the way with 12 native sons. Class-wise there are four seniors, eight juniors, eight sophomores and eight freshmen.
Captains: Minnesota State's leadership group for 2018-19 includes a trio of captains in senior forward Max Coatta (second year) along with junior forwards Marc Michaelis (first year) and Nick Rivera (first year).
Max Coatta Notes: Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after accruing four goals and an assist for five points, along with eight shots on goal as #7 Minnesota State gained a 7-4 win Friday before dropping a 4-3 decision to the Fighting Hawks Saturday. Scored three times for his second career hat trick in powering the Mavericks to victory in the first game. Two of his goals in the game came on the power play. Added another power play goal in Saturday's contest and assisted on a power play goal by freshman forward Julian Napravnik. In second season as team captain...Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete...Two-time WCHA All-Academic...Two-time team Hardest Worker Award recipient...Played in all 40 games in 2017-18...Has 16-22--38 in 117 career games...Has not missed a game since freshman season (streak of 101 consecutive games played going)...Notched first career hat trick when he scored three times in Minnesota State's 8-6 win at Bemidji State Nov. 11
Ryan Schwalbe Notes: Three-time letterwinner is a two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time WCHA All-Academic..Saw action in nine games, registered five shots on goal and won 29 face-offs in 2017-18...Has 0-4--4 in 66 career games played.
Alec Vanko Notes: Three-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18)...Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time 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...Has 2-5--7 in 24 career games played.
Mathias Israelsson Notes: Prior to Minnesota State: Spent three years at Northern Michigan where he appeared in 21 games for the Wildcats...Compiled 5-7-2 record with 2.88 goals against average and .894 save percentage during course of time at NMU...Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time WCHA All-Academic selection...Spent 2014-15 campaign with Fargo (USHL), recording 3.00 GAA, .909 save percentage and 20-20-4 record with the Force ... In 10 USHL games with Waterloo during the 2013-14 season, went 6-3-0 with a 2.63 GAA and a .906 save percentage ... That season, also appeared in 17 games for Fargo, going 6-9-1 with a 3.34 GAA and a .913 save parentage.
Michael Bigelbach Notes: Two-time letter winner was a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and WCHA All-Academic as a sophomore in 2017-18...Has posted 0-2--2 and is +1 in seven career games played ...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, 2017.
Josh French Notes: 2017-18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic...Scored first career goal in 5-1 win over Alabama Huntsville Dec. 15, 2017...Finished sophomore season with 31 shots on goal in 31 games played...Had 188 face-off wins in 2017-18....Has 1-8--9 in 73 career games played.
Charlie Gerard Notes: Two-year letterwinner (2016-17, 2017-18)...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic selection...Tallied first career GWG in Minnesota State's 5-3 win over Boston University last weekend...Has 6-5--11 in 44 career games...Posted 2-3--5 with 36 shots on goal and was +4 in 14 games played as a sophomore.
Edwin Hookenson Notes: Has 1-1--2 on the season with five shots on goal and a +5 rating (third on the team)...13 blocked shots lead the team and stand tied for 13th in the nation. Two-time letterwinner (2016-17, 2017-18)...2017-18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic...Totaled 1-1--2 and was +3 in weekend sweep of Boston University... Had 3-7--10 in 46 career games...Scored first career goal in 5-2 win at Bemidji State Nov. 10, 2017. Added an assist in 8-6 victory over the Beavers Nov. 11...Finished sophomore year with 2-6--8 in 25 games...Tied for eighth on team with +13...Ranked third on team with 36 blocked shots.
Marc Michaelis Notes: Had two goals and an assist for a three-point weekend in last weekend's road split at the University of North Dakota...Tallied sixth shorthanded goal of his career when he scored at the 19:59.6 mark of the second period in Saturday's game...Has 35-47--82 in 79 career games in moving into a tie for 24th place on Minnesota State's career scoring list (DI era). In first year as Tri-Captain...2017-18 All-WCHA First Team...2017-18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic...Had 1-2--3 in Minnesota State's season-opening sweep of Boston University...Finished third on the Mavericks in scoring last year with 18-22--40 in 36 games played.
Nick Rivera Notes: Registered his first goal of the year in last Friday's 7-4 victory at North Dakota. The goal is the sixth game-winning goal of his career. Rivera has 15-15--30 in 81 career games....In first year as Tri-Captain...2017-18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic...Has 14-14--28 in 79 career games...Completed sophomore campaign with 8-10--18 in 39 games played...Had a four-point weekend on a goal and three assists in two WCHA play-off games vs. Alaska (March 2-3)...Tallied two game-winning goals during course of season (3-0 win at Boston University Oct. 14 and 6-2 win over Alaska March 3).
Ian Scheid Notes: Has 17-33--50 in 83 career games...Has not missed a game in college career...WCHA All-Academic and All-WCHA Third Team selection in 2017-18...Tied for third on team last year with six power play goals...Tied for sixth on team with two game-winning goals...Ranked fourth on team with 106 shots on goal...Scored twice in 6-1 home win over Bowling Green (Nov. 17)...Scored twice in 7-0 win at Lake Superior State (Dec. 9).
Parker Tuomie Notes: Has 4-2--6 in Minnesota State four games to date....Bremerhaven, Germany native tallied twice in last Friday's 7-4 victory at North Dakota and now has 21-40--61 in 83 career games...Had 2-2--4 in helping lead Mavericks to season-opening sweep over Boston University...Has not missed a game in college career...9-28--37 in 2017-18 ranked fifth on the team scoring charts...Fifth on the team with 103 shots on goal and tied for fourth on the team in power play goals with five...Had a goal and two assists in 5-2 win at Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 5)...Had a goal and two assists (assisted on GWG) in 3-2 overtime victory at Alabama Huntsville (Feb. 9).
Walker Duehr Notes: Lettered as a freshman in 2017-18...Registered 2-1--3 in eight games in maiden season of college hockey...Made first career appearance with Minnesota State in 4-1 win at Bowling Green Oct. 20...Collected first career goal in 6-1 win over Bowling Green (Nov. 17).
Dallas Gerads Notes: Scored twice in season-opening 4-3 win over Boston University...Gerads, who had 6-5--11 in the last 14 games of 2017-18 (he totalled 7-7--14 in 27 games as a freshman last year), was credited with the game-winning goal in Friday's victory (the fourth GWG of his two-year college career)...Has 9-7--16 in 29 career games...Scored first career goal and got the GWG in Minnesota State's 7-0 victory at Lake Superior State (Dec. 9)...Had 7-7--14 in 27 games played in first year of college hockey...Three game-winning goals on the season tied for third on the team (vs. Lake State, Alabama Huntsville and Bemidji State)...Tied for eighth on the team with four power-play goals...Played in 20 straight games to end the season.
Jake Jaremko Notes: 2017-18 WCHA Rookie of the Year...2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team...Led all league freshmen in scoring (15-24--39) and 11-20--31 totals in 28 league games was also tops amongst all first-year players...Four-time WCHA Rookie of the Week award recipient during the course of season...Ranked second in the country in freshmen scoring and his 39 points on the season rank as the most-ever by a Minnesota State freshman player for the program's NCAA DI-era, surpassing the previous high of 37 points established by David Backes in 2003-04...Named WCHA Rookie of the Month on three occasions during the course of 2017-18 (November, December and February)...Had three points in a game three times (1-2--3 vs Bemidji State Nov. 11; 1-2--3 vs BGSU Nov. 17; 2-1--3 vs Ferris State Feb. 16).
Reggie Lutz Notes: Had three assists in the two games at UND. The Elk River, Minn., native who was a member of the 2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team, has 7-23--30 in 39 career games...Named to 2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team...7-19--26 in 31 games played in his first season with Minnesota State...Finished third in WCHA in freshmen scoring with 6-16--22 in 25 league contests...Had a goal and three assists in two wins over Ferris State in earning WCHA Rookie of the Week honors (Feb. 16-17)...Had three assists in 7-0 win at Lake Superior State Dec. 9.
Connor Mackey Notes: Has 1-3--4 in four games to date...Had 1-1--2 as Minnesota State opened 2018-19 with a two-game sweep over Boston University...Has not missed a game in two-year college career (5-11--16 in 44 career games)...2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team selection...Played in all 40 games for the Mavericks...Registered 4-8--12 in first season of college hockey...Had two assists and was +3 in 7-1 win over Alaska Anchorage (Feb. 2)...Scored first career goal Oct. 20 in 4-1 win at Bowling Green.
Jack McNeely Notes: Had 0-6--6 in 23 games played in first season of college hockey...Finished with +8 rating and 16 shots on goal...Registered two assists in 7-0 win at Lake Superior State Dec. 9, 2017.
Jared Spooner Notes: Had three assists in the two games at UND....Bismarck, N.D., native who has 0-5--5 on the season, has 4-20--24 in 44 career games (has not missed a game in two-year college career)... Had 0-2--2 as Minnesota State opened 2018-19 with a two-game sweep over Boston University...Registered 4-15--19 and played in all 40 games in maiden season of college hockey...Scored first career goal as a collegian in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 13...Amassed a career-high three assists in 8-2 win over Alaska (March 2). Added an assist in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Nanooks, was +6 for the weekend with 16 face-off wins and eight shots on goal in garnering WCHA Rookie of the Week accolades...Had 234 face-off wins.
Riese Zmolek Notes: Has 1-2--3 in four games to date...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after registering 1-2--3, with five blocked shots and a +3-rating in season-opening weekend vs. Boston University...Registered 2-5--7 in 35 games played in first year of college hockey...Scored first career goal in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 13...Had a goal and an assist in home league game vs. Northern Michigan (Dec. 29)...Had 32 shots on goal, +6 rating and blocked 33 shots for the year.
Andy Carroll Notes: Has played four games in first season of college hockey...Scored twice and had six assists for eight points in 42 games with Green Bay of the United States Hockey League in 2017-18...Had 6-34--40 in 55 games for Aberdeen of the North American Hockey League in 2016-17...Awards won in 2016-17 included NAHL Second Team, NAHL All-Rookie Team First Team, NAHL All-Central Division Team, NAHL All-Central Division Rookie Team...Had 14-52--56 in 58 games played with Sioux Falls Stampede U18 team in 2015-16 coached by former Minnesota State captain Rylan Galiardi...2015 Northfield (Minn.) High School grad where he was a four-year letterwinner (13-41--54 in 94 GP)...Father (Todd) served as head coach of the Minnesota State women's hockey program from 1998-2001.
Wyatt Aamodt Notes: Has 0-2--2 in four games in first season of college hockey...Had 4-22--26 in 49 games played with Lincoln (USHL) in 2017-18...Manned the blue line for Chicago (USHL) in 2016-17 where he had 1-18--19 in 53 games and helped the Steel capture the Clark Cup as league postseason champions...2016 Reed Larson Award recipient as the state of Minnesota's top boys high school defenseman, served as team captain on Hermantown team that captured state title as a senior (2016)...2016 Duluth New Tribune Boys Hockey Player of the Year and finalist for state of Minnesota Mr Hockey Award.
Shane McMahan Notes: Has 0-0--0 in three games in first season of college hockey...Split 2015-16 between Fargo of the United States Hockey League, where he had 16-13--29 in 51 games and Aston of the North American Hockey League (2-7--9 in 11 GP)...2015-16 with Fargo (5-9--14 in 59 GP) and 2014-15 with Fargo (3-5--8)...Had 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points in 34 games with Los Angeles Jr. Kings U18.
Zak Galambos Notes: In first season of college hockey.. Spent 2017-18 campaign with Wenatchee of the British Columbia Hockey League where he totalled 28 points on five goals and 23 assists in 41 games...Helped lead Wenatchee to BCHL playoff championship (9-6--15 in 20 postseason games)...Split 2016-17 season with Johnstown (NAHL) and Omaha (USHL)...Product of the San Jose Jr. Sharks midget AAA program.
Julian Napravnik Notes: Scored first career goal with a power play marker vs. North Dakota (10.20.2018)...In first season of college hockey...Spent two seasons with USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers...Served as an alternate captain and had 19-19--30 in 60 GP for Des Moines in 2017-18...Had 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points in 51 games for the Bucs in 2016-17...Played for the German national junior team at two IIHF D1A World Junior tournaments where he helped lead his country to a silver medal in 2016-17...Named DNL Player of the Year after scoring 29 goals and assisting on 43 others for 72 points in 38 games with Jungadler Mannheim U19...Also represented Germany internationally at U18 and U17 international tournaments.
Chris Van Os-Shaw Notes: In first season of college hockey...Racked up 51 goals and 46 assists for 97 points in 59 games played with Spruce Grove of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2017-18...Named 2017-18 Canadian Junior A Player of the Year and Top Forward...Won 2017-18 AJHL scoring title, was named league Most Valuable Player and AJHL North Division All-Star in only season with the Saints...Helped lead Spruce Grove to 2017-18 AJHL play-off title...Registered 11-8--19 in 11 play-off games in 2017-18...Had 36-32--68 in 56 games with Humboldt to finish seventh in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League scoring race in 2016-17...Registered 52 goals and 48 assists for 100 points in 96 career games in two seasons in the SJHL split between Humboldt and Weyburn.
Dryden McKay Notes: Stands 3-1-0 with 3.52 goals against average and .878 save percentage in first year of college hockey...Named WCHA Rookie of the Week after backstopping Minnesota State to a pair of wins over Boston University to open the season. Stopped 49 of 55 shots in the two victories over the Terriers. Is the first freshman goaltender to get a season-opening win since Ken Hilgert accomplished the feat in a 12-3 win over UW-Stevens Point in 1984-85...Spent two seasons with Madison of the United States Hockey League...Named USHL Goaltender of the Week Oct. 29, 2017 after stopping 49 of 50 shots in a 5-1 win over Waterloo (.980 sv%, 1.99 GAA in the win)...Saw action in 39 games with the Capitols in 2016-17 where he crafted a 18-17-3 mark with a 2.70 goals against average and a .917 saves percentage...Had a 2.47 GAA and .921 sv% in 34 appearances with Corpus Christi of the NAHL in 2015-16.
Jacob Berger Notes: In first season of college hockey...Spent two seasons with Merritt of the British Columbia Hockey League...Compiled 18-18-0 mark, .915 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average in 37 games and was named to BCHL All-Rookie Team in 2016-17...Made 37 appearances for the Centennials in 2017-18 (13-24-0, .905 sv%, 3.45 GAA)...Minnetonka (Minn.) High School product played for Team Southwest in Minnesota High School Elite League in 2014-15.
Noteables: Now into his seventh season behind the Minnesota State bench, Mike Hastings has built a 154-73-19 record during his time in charge of the Mavericks. Under his guidance, the Mavericks have won at least 20 games every year, something that is unprecedented in the 49-year history of the program. No team in the nation has produced more wins than Minnesota State's 154 victories in the last seven years.
Next Week: After the Mavericks host the University of Alaska this weekend, they'll play a home-and-home series vs. the University of Minnesota. Friday's game (Nov. 2) will be played in Minneapolis and Saturday's game will be played in Mankato.
