Off the Hop:    Fourth-rated Minnesota State (5-1-0 overall, 2-0-0 WCHA) squares-off with #8/10 Minnesota (1-1-1, 0-0-0 B1G) this weekend. The two teams will play a two-game nonconference series beginning Friday in Minneapolis at Mariucci Arena (10,000) at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at Verizon Center (4,832) in Mankato with a 7:07 p.m. face-off.

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 892-646-153. (.573).

About the Minnesota State-Minnesota Series:   The Mavericks, who have won four of the last six meetings vs. the Gophers, are 14-37-6 all-time in the all-time series vs. Minnesota.  The series began in 1997-98 and the two teams have not met since the 2016-17 season.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  The Mavericks claimed 4-0 and 3-1 home WCHA wins last weekend over the University of Alaska in the league openers for both schools.

Shot Stuff:  The Mavericks held Alaska to six shots on goal in last Friday's 4-0 victory.  The previous low for shots given up during Minnesota State's NCAA Division I-era (which began in 1996-97) was nine (twice vs. Alabama-Huntsville,  Dec. 11, 2015 and Oct. 25, 2014).  Although the NCAA hasn't established a record for fewest shots on goal during a regular-season game, for frame of reference, Northern Michigan had seven shots on goal in a 1-1 tie with Miami on Feb. 21, 2009 and Air Force had six shots on goal at Niagara on Jan. 2, 2000.

Minnesota Most Recently:  The Golden Gophers are 1-1-1 on the year after opening the season with a nonconference tie (1-1) and win (7-4) with Minnesota Duluth Oct. 6-7 and a 3-1 loss to the University of North Dakota last Saturday in a nonconference game played in Las Vegas. Head coach Bob Motzko (St. Cloud State '87) is in his first year as head coach of the Golden Gophers.  Motzko stood behind the bench as the head coach at St. Cloud State for 13 seasons where he built a 276-192-49 record prior to joining Minnesota this past summer.

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 two weeks ago after accruing four goals and an assist for five points, along with eight shots on goal following a nonconference road split at North Dakota. Had five goals (including second career hat trick) and an assist in the two games with the Fighting Hawks. 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 20-23--43 in 121 career games...Has not missed a game since freshman season (streak of 103 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:  Stands 2-0-0 with 0.50 goals against average and .950 save percentage after two wins over the University of Alaska last weekend. Stopped 19 of 20 shots vs. the Nanooks and earned first career shut-out in 4-0 win last Friday. 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 77 career games played.

Charlie Gerard Notes:  Had a three-point weekend vs. Alaska with a goal and two assists last weekend...Has 2-3--5 in six games this season, owns 7-8--15 in 48 career games with the Mavericks....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...Posted 2-3--5 with 36 shots on goal and was +4 in 14 games played as a sophomore.

Edwin Hookenson Notes:   has 1-2--3 on the season with five shots on goal and a +6 rating (tied for first on the team).  Hookenson's 19 blocked shots lead the team and stand tied for third 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:    ranks second on the team in scoring with 3-4--7 on the year and for his three-year Minnesota State career has 35-48--83 in 81 career games...Stands tied for 25th 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 7-4 victory at North Dakota (Oct. 19, 2018).  The goal is the sixth game-winning goal of his career.  Rivera has 15-15--30 in 83 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: Registered two goals and an assist for a three-point weekend in last weekend's sweep over Alaska. Had four shots on goal and blocked five shots in the two wins. Assisted on power play goal by Julian Napravnik (to make it 3-0) in Friday's 4-0 win over the Nanooks and then scored Minnesota State's first two goals, both of which came on the power play, as the Mavericks closed out the sweep with Saturday's 3-1 victory.  His second goal in the game is the fourth game-winning goal of his career...Has not missed a game in his three-year college career, owns 19-34--53 in 85 career games...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: Had five points on five assists and two shots on goal in helping lead the Mavericks to the two-game sweep over the University of Alaska l last weekend...Bremerhaven, Germany native assisted on the last three goals in Friday's 4-0 win, then contributed two assists in the second win, a 3-1 victory, including one on the game-winning goal by Ian Scheid...Leads Mavericks in scoring on the season with four goals and seven assists for 11 points and stands tied for third in the nation in points...Had 2-2--4 in helping lead Mavericks to season-opening sweep over Boston University...Has not missed a game in college career (21-45--66 in 85 career games)...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:   Has 0-3--3 in six games played this year)...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: Has 1-3--4 on the year, tallied his fourth career game-winning goal when he scored Minnesota State first goal in last Friday's 4-0 win over Alaska...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 8-23--31 in 41 career games...Named to 2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team...7-19--26 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 1-5--6 in six 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 (5-13--18 in 46 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: Has seen action in all six games this year (0-0-0)...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 North Dakota (Oct. 19-16)....Bismarck, N.D., native who has 1-5--6 on the season, has 5-20--25 in 46 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 six 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 six games in first season of college hockey (-0-0--0)...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 six 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 five 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 twice and had an assist for a three-point weekend in the two wins over Alaska...Had a pair of power play goals in Friday's 4-0 win over the Nanooks and assisted on a goal by Jared Spooner as the Mavericks closed out Saturday's 3-1 victory...Heads into the Minnesota series riding a three-game point-scoring streak (3-1--4)...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 156-73-19 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 156 victories in the last seven years.

Next Week:  After the series the University of Minnesota this weekend, the Mavericks are idle the weekend of Nov. 9-10 before hosting a pair of Western Collegiate Hockey Association games with Ferris State visiting Mankato Nov. 16-17.