Off the Hop:  Rated #2 by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey, Minnesota State (3-0-1 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) begins Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend with a pair of games at Alabama Huntsville (0-4-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) Friday and Saturday. Face-off between the Mavericks and the Chargers at the Von Braun Center (6,600) is slated for 7:07 p.m., CST Friday and 7:07 p.m., CST Saturday.

Minnesota State All-Time:  The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, is in its 51st year of competition in 2019-20.  The Mavericks, who are in their 24th year as members of NCAA Division I and their 21st season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association this year, sport an all-time record of 922-653-156. (.578).

About the Minnesota State-UAH Series:  Minnesota State stands 35-17-7 all-time vs. the Chargers. The Mavericks are 26-0-4 in the last 30 meetings vs. UAH with the last loss in the series coming  during the 2001-02 season.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  Minnesota State stands 3-0-1 for 2019-20 after earning a 4-4 overtime tie and a 2-1 win over 16th-rated North Dakota in a pair of nonconference games played in Mankato last Friday and Saturday.

Hookenson, Smith Pick Up WCHA Honors: Senior defenseman Edwin Hookenson was named WCHA Defenseman of the Week after he scored twice over the course of the two games with North Dakota last weekend. In addition to the two goals, Hookenson had four shots on goal, one blocked shot and a +2 rating. The Lampman, Sask., native tallied his first goal of the season in Friday's 4-4 tie with the Fighting Hawks and then chalked up his first career game-winning goal when his even-strength marker at 5:21 of the third period broke a 1-1 tie, leading to Minnesota State's 2-1 victory Saturday.

Freshman forward Nathan Smith picked up WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his performance in the two games vs. UND. The Hudson, Fla., native racked up four points on a goal and three assists in his college debut in the 4-4 tie with the Fighting Hawks Friday. For the weekend, Smith won 20 of 29 face-off attempts (.690) and his face-off winning percentage led all freshmen in the nation who had at least 13 face-off attempts. He had three shots on goal and had a +3 rating in the two games vs. UND.

Alabama Huntsville Most Recently:  The Chargers, who posted an 8-28-2 mark last year, are 0-4-0 for 2019-20 after dropping a 1-0 decision to Colorado College last Friday and a 6-0 loss to #1 Denver Saturday. Head coach Mike Corbett (DU '96) is in his seventh year at the UAH helm and owns a 46-159-18 mark behind the Chargers bench.  
 
About Last Year:  Minnesota State finished the 2018-19 campaign with a 32-8-2 record.  

The Mavericks went 22-5-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association games to claim the WCHA regular-season championship. Minnesota State won the WCHA postseason tournament in earning a trip the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in the last seven season. Minnesota State established school records for most wins (32) and home victories (21) in 2018-19. The 32 wins were the most by any team in the nation and the Mavericks enter the year having won at least 20 games for seven consecutive years.

The Mavericks led the country in 2018-19 with 44 power play goals and also led the nation in goal margin (+71) and goals against average (1.81). Minnesota State went 21-1-0 in home contests in 2018-19 and ranked 18th in the country in home attendance with a 4,120 average over the course of 22 contests.

Roster Notes:  Minnesota State returns 20 skaters off of last year's roster.  Those returnees, who have accumulated a total of 1,503 career games played, registered 138 goals and 356 points last year.

Minnesota State's roster includes seven seniors, eight juniors, seven sophomores and seven freshmen. 13 players from the state of Minnesota dot the roster, there are three German natives and two players each from Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Saskatchewan. The rest of the roster is made of one player each from California, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota.

Josh French Notes: Has 9-16--25 in 116 career games...Finished 2018-19 with 8-8--16 in 41 games played...Had 248 faceoff wins on the year...Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time WCHA All-Academic.

Charlie Gerard Notes:  Has 17-24--41 in 88 career GP...Led Minnesota State with 110 shots on goal in 2018-19...Rocky River, Ohio product reached career highs for goals (12), assists (18) and points (30) while playing in all 42 games in 2018-19...Had a goal and an assist for two points as the Mavericks swept its WCHA semi-final series vs. #20 Lake Superior State.  Scored game-tying goal in Friday's 2-1 victory and assisted on game-winning goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory...Assisted on Connor Mackey's overtime game-winning goal in 3-2 victory at Michigan Tech Feb. 9...Scored twice and added an assist for a three-point weekend vs. Northern Michigan (Jan. 25-26).

Edwin Hookenson Notes:  Had 2-0--2 in the series vs. North Dakota last weekend...Has 7-13--20 in 90 career GP...Finished junior season ranking second in the nation with 97 blocked shots..Tied for ninth on the team with a +13 rating...Earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2018-19.  WCHA All- Academic and WCHA Scholar-Athlete honors as a sophomore and junior....

Marc Michaelis Notes: Registered three goals in the two-game sweep After being held off the scoresheet in Friday's 4-4 overtime tie vs. North Dakota, had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 2-1 win. A three-time First Team All-WCHA selection and the 2019-20 WCHA Preseason Player of the Year, Michaelis is the NCAA's active career scoring leader with 123 points (55 Gs, 68 As) in 121 career games played.  His 123 points ranks seventh on Minnesota State's career scoring list for the DI-era....Tallied his eighth career shorthanded goal in 5-0 win over Arizona State (Oct. 12) to stand second on Minnesota State's career shorthanded goals scored list. Only Bryce Gervais, who tallied nine shorties in a career that spanned 2012-16, has more...Three-time All-WCHA First Team pick...Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree.

Nick Rivera Notes:  Has tallied 24-23--47 in 118 career games with Minnesota State Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree...Totaled 10-9--19 and played in 39 games on the year...Scored his eighth career game-winning goal in 3-2 overtime victory over Bowling Green in WCHA Championship game...Registered three points on two goals and an assist as #4 Minnesota State closed out the regular season with a pair of home league wins over Bemidji State (March 1-2). Had a goal and an assist in 4-1 win over the Beavers and then scored the game-winning goal with his fourth career shorthanded goal in Saturday's 3-1 victory. Registered second career shorthanded goal in Minnesota State's 5-3 win over Lake Superior State (Jan. 18)...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...In first year as team captain.

Ian Scheid Notes:  The Coon Rapids, Minn., native who has played in 125 consecutive games (he hasn't missed a game in his Minnesota State career), has racked up 22-57--79 in his four-year college career and ranks tenth on Minnesota State's career scoring by defensemen list...Picked up four assists two-game home sweep over Arizona State to open the season....Two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree...Two-time All-WCHA Third Team selection.

Parker Tuomie Notes:  Has 31-65--96 in 118 career games played and stands tied for 16th on the program's career scoring list....Assisted on a Marc Michaelis' PPG in 5-0 win over Arizona State (Oct. 12)...2018-19 All-WCHA Second Team pick...Ranked second on the Mavericks in scoring with 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points in 36 games played in 2018-19.

Walker Duehr Notes:   Owns 12-8--20 in 46 career games played...Had 10-6--16 in 34 games played as a sophomore in 2018-19...Had 1-1--2 with three shots on goal and a +3 rating in two wins over Alaska Anchorage (Dec. 7-8)...2018-19 WCHA All-Academic honoree...Two-time letterwinner..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:  Posted his sixth career game-winning goal in 5-0 victory over ASU (Oct. 12)....Has 20-16--36 in 66 career games played...2018-19 WCHA All-Academic honoree...Posted 12-9--21 in 37 games in 2018-19...Registered career highs for goals and points as a sophomore... His 12 goals ranked third on the team...Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals and recording  two assists for five points in helping lead Minnesota State to two wins at Northern Michigan (Jan. 25-26)...Tallied his fifth career game-winning goal when he scored Minnesota State's second goal in 7-1 victory over Ferris State (Nov. 16, 2018)...Scored twice in season-opening 4-3 win over Boston University (Oct. 12-13).

Jake Jaremko Notes:  Assisted on Reggie Lutz PPG in 5-0 win over Arizona State (Oct. 12)... Has 22-37--59 in 79 career games played...Two-year letterman was a 2018-19 WCHA All-Academic honoree... Had 7-12--19 in 37 GP as a sophomore in 2018-19...Tallied his third career game-winning goal in 2-1 win over Minnesota (Nov. 3, 2018)...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.

Reggie Lutz Notes:  Has 15-30--45 in 79 career GP...Assisted on Julian Napravnik GWG in 4-1 victory over Arizona State and tallied PPG in 5-0 win (Oct. 11-12)...Totaled 7-9--16 in 39 games in 2018-19...Scored twice in 4-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville (March 9)..Had a goal and an assist in 6-1 win at Alaska (Feb. 22)...His goal in 2-1 win at Ferris State (01.12.2019) was his fifth career game-winning tally...Tallied his fourth career game-winning goal when he scored Minnesota State's first goal in 4-0 win over Alaska (10.26.2018)...Had three assists in the two games at North Dakota (10.19-20.2018)...Named to 2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team.

Connor Mackey Notes: Hasn't missed a game in his Minnesota State career and has posted 12-28--40 in 86 games played...Had a goal and an assist in the series vs. North Dakota last weekend...Assisted on Julian Napravnik GWG 4-1 victory over Arizona State (Oct. 11)...2018-19 All-WCHA Third Team selection...Had seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points as a sophomore in 2018-19...Tallied his first career game-winning goal when he scored in overtime in Minnesota State's 3-2 win at Michigan Tech (Feb. 9)...Recorded two assists in 8-2 win at Northern Michigan (Jan. 26)...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week following the Ferris State series (Nov. 16-17). Had three assists, one shot on goal, was +5 and had three blocked shots in the sweep over the Bulldogs.  Had career-high three assists and was +4 in Friday's 7-1 win and registered one shot on goal and was +1 in Saturday's 5-2 victory.  ...2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team selection.

Jack McNeely Notes:   Has 1-15--16 in 69 career games played...Had 1-9--10 and played in all 42 games as a sophomore in 2018-19...Led the Mavericks and ranked seventh in the nation with a +27 rating lasts year...Had two assists in 6-1 win at Alaska (Feb. 22)...Had a three-point weekend with three assists in the two-game sweep over Alabama Huntsville (Feb. 1-2)...Scored his first career goal in Minnesota State's 7-1 win over Ferris State (Nov. 16, 2018).

Jared Spooner Notes: Has registered 11-37--48 in 85 career games of college hockey ..Had two assists in 5-0 home win over Arizona State (Oct. 12)...Ranked fourth on the team in scoring with 7-20--27 in 41 games in 2018-19...Had two helpers in the 6-1 win over Alaska (Feb. 22)... Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after he accumulated five points in two Minnesota State home Western Collegiate Hockey Association wins over Ferris State (Nov. 16-17)  Registered nine shots on goal and 17 faceoff wins in the two games. Had a goal and an assist in Friday's 7-1 win.  Scored the first two goals of the game and added an assist in Saturday's 5-2 win.

Riese Zmolek Notes:   Has 4-14--18 in 78 career games with Minnesota State...Had two points in 4-1 victory over Arizona State (Oct. 11) with a goal and an assist...2018-19 WCHA All-Academic honoree...Assisted on Minnesota State's first goal of the game in WCHA championship game - a 3-2 overtime win over Bowling Green...Had 1-8--9 in 2018-19 and 3-13--16 in 74 career games...Ranked third on the team this year with a +20 rating...Ranked second on the team with 54 blocked shots...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.

Andy Carroll Notes:  Has 1-4--5 in 33 career games played...Saw action in 27 games in his first season of college hockey last season...Finished 2018-19 with 1-4--5...Tallied first career goal in 4-1 win over Michigan Tech (01.04.2018)...Scored twice and had six assists for eight points in 42 games with Green Bay of the United States Hockey League in 2017-18.

Wyatt Aamodt Notes:  Had 1-5--6 in 36 games in first season of college hockey last season...Scored first career goal when he tallied in Minnesota State's 5-3 victory over Lake Superior State Jan. 18. He also had an assist in the win for his first career multi-point game as a Maverick...Had 4-22--26 in 49 games played with Lincoln (USHL) in 2017-18.

Shane McMahan Notes:  Registered 3-4--7 in 34 games in his first year of college hockey last season..Named WCHA Rookie of the Week after posting his first career multiple-point game when he scored twice and added an assist in 8-2 win at Northern Michigan (Jan. 26)...Scored his first career goal in 6-0 win over Alaska Anchorage (Dec. 8). Also had an assist on Alec Vanko's game-winning tally in Friday's 4-1 victory over the Seawolves..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).

Julian Napravnik Notes:  Has 9-15--24 in 45 career GP...Had a goal and two assists for three points in Minnesota State's two-game sweep over Arizona State (Oct. 11-2).  His goal in Friday's victory over the Sun Devils is his fourth career game-winning tally....2018-19 WCHA All-Rookie Team selection...Led Minnesota State freshmen in scoring with 8-13--21 in 41 games played in 2018-19....Had a game-winning goal and registered eight shots on goal as Minnesota State swept its WCHA semi-final series vs. #20 Lake Superior State..  His goal Saturday, which opened the scoring and came on the power play at 12:14 of Saturday's 2-0 Minnesota State win, is his second game-winning goal of the year...Named WCHA Rookie of the Week after tallying 2-2--4 in two wins over Alabama Huntsville (Feb. 1-2)...

Chris Van Os-Shaw Notes:  Had 2-4--6 in 18 games played as a freshman in 2018-19...Tallied Minnesota State's lone shoot-out goal vs. Michigan Tech (Feb. 8), enabling the Mavericks to earn the extra point in league play after the game ended in a 1-1 tie..Scored the first two goals of his Minnesota State career when he had a goal in both wins over Alabama-Huntsville (Feb. 1-2)...Made his collegiate debut in Minnesota State's first game at the Desert Hockey Classic in Phoenix (Dec. 28-29, 2018)...Picked up first career point when he drew an assist on a goal by Marc Michaelis in a game vs. Minnesota Duluth...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.

Dryden McKay Notes:  Stands 3-0-1 on the year with a 1.47 goals against average and a .941 save percentage after backstopping the Mavericks to last weekend's tie and win over #16 North Dakota. McKay's 34 saves Saturday vs. the Fighting Hawks tied for the second-most number of saves he's had in a game. His career high is 36 (Minnesota Duluth, Dec. 28, 2019)....2018-19 CHN National Rookie of the Year...2018-19 WCHA Second Team...2018-19 WCHA All-Rookie Team...Mike Richter Award Semi-Finalist (top ten)...Posted 24-7-2 won-loss record with a 1.76 GAA and .927 sv% in 34 games played in 2018-19...McKay, the WCHA Goaltending Champion this year with a 1.35 GAA in 22 league games, led all NCAA DI freshmen netminders in wins, goals against average and shutouts (4) and was a five-time WCHA Goaltender of the Week honoree this year.  His 24 wins and four shutouts both rank fourth on Minnesota State's single-season list...His .927 save percentage is a school record...Started 28 of the last 30 games in goal for Minnesota State and...Stopped 57 of 60 shots (.950 sv%) in backstopping Minnesota State to a 1-1 tie and 3-2 overtime win at Michigan Tech (Feb. 8-9) to earn WCHA Goaltender of the Week honors...Stopped 26 of 27 shots in two wins over Alabama Huntsville (Feb. 1-2) in garnering WCHA Goaltender of the Week honors...Went 2-0-0 with a 0.50 goals against average and stopped 22 of 23 shots for a .957 save percentage in backstopping Minnesota State to a two-game home WCHA sweep over Alaska Anchorage (Dec. 7-8). Stopped 10 of 11 shots in Friday's 4-1 win over the Seawolves. Turned aside all 12 shots to earn second career shutout in 6-0 victory Saturday...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.

Jacob Berger Notes:  In second 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.

Cade Borchardt Notes: In first season of college hockey... Served as an alternate captain with Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League in 2018-19... Registered 13 goals and 33 assists for 46 points in 55 games with the Stampede in 2018-19...Helped lead Sioux Falls to Clark Cup as 2019 USHL champions (contributed 2-4--6 in 11 USHL playoff games)...Had 14-28--42 in 59 games with Madison (USHL) in 2017-18...Spent the 2016-17 campaign with Brookings of North American Hockey League (23-30---53 in 59 GP)...Burnsville (Minn.) High School product had 19-25--44 in 25 games 2015-16.

Colby Bukes Notes:  In first season of college hockey... Spent three years with Muskegon of USHL where he served as captain in 2018-19 season and had 6-30--36 in 58 games...Had 2-2--4 in 8 games in 2019 USHL Playoffs...Had 4-24--28 in 59 games with the Lumberjacks in 2017-18...Product of the Colorado Thunderbirds AAA system.

Tony Malinowski Notes:  In first season of college hockey... Spent two years with Des Moines of USHL where he had 1-7--8 in 42 games played in 2018-19...Had 1-7--8 in 40 games with the Buccaneers in 2017-18...Product of Oakland (Mich.) Jr. Grizzlies AAA organization.

Ryan Sandelin Notes:  Scored his first career goal with a power play marker 5-0 win over visiting Arizona State (Oct. 12) In first season of college hockey... Played two season with Penticton of British Columbia Hockey League where he served as an alternate captain in 2018-19...Registered 31 goals and 20 assists for 51 points in 51 games in 2018-19...Helped lead Hermantown (Minn.) High School to two straight Minnesota State High School League Class A titles and was a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey Award after posting 36 goals and 43 assists in 31 games in 2016-17...Son of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey coach Scott Sandelin.

Nathan Smith Notes:  Racked up four points on a goal and three assists in his college debut in the 4-4 tie with the Fighting Hawks last Friday. For the weekend, Smith won 20 of 29 face-off attempts (.690) and his face-off winning percentage led all freshmen in the nation who had at least 13 face-off attempts. He had three shots on goal and had a +3 rating in the two games vs. UND...In first season of college hockey... Selected in the third round (91st overall) by Winnipeg in 2018 National Hockey League entry draft...Spent two seasons with Cedar Rapids of USHL where he led the RoughRiders in scoring with 18 goals and 35 assists for 53 points in 59 games in 2018-19...Had 17-30--47 in 51 games with first season with Cedar Rapids in 2017-18... Named to U.S. Junior Select Team for World Junior A Challenge (11/17/17)...Product of Tampa (Fla.) Scorpions midget AAA program...Two-time International Silver Stick midget AAA all-star (2015-16 and 2016-17)...Tallied 41-45--86 in 15 games at Mitchell High School (Fla.) in 2016.

Lucas Sowder Notes: With seven points on two goals and five assists in his first four games with Minnesota State, freshman forward Lucas Sowder stands tied for second in the nation in freshman scoring. Sowder, who started his college career with three points in two games vs. Arizona State to open the season two weeks ago, had a goal and three assists for four points in two games vs. North Dakota last weekend. The Trinity, Fla., native has seven shots on goal and is +7 and heads into the series vs. UAH riding a four-game point-scoring streak....Played two seasons with Wenatchee of BCHL where he served as captain in 2018-19...Had 11 goals and 34 assists for 45 points in 42 games in 2018-19...Led the Wild with 9-13--22 in 18 games in 2018-19 BCHL Playoffs...Was an alternate captain with Wild in 2017-18 and posted 22-38--60 in 48 games in helping lead Wenatchee to the Doyle Cup as BCHL champions...Product of Mitchell High School (Fla.) where he had 54-68--122 in 17 games in 2015-16.

Jaxon Stauber Notes:   In first season of college hockey... Spent two seasons with Sioux Falls of United States Hockey League where he owned an 16-8 won-loss record in 2018-19, along with a .883 save percentage and a 2.91 goals against average...Had an 11-1 record with .941 save percentage and a 1.46 goals against average in leading the Stampede to 2019 Clark Cup Championship as USHL postseason tournament champions and was named 2019 Clark Cup MVP...Went 8-6-2 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.09 goals against average in 22 games with Sioux Falls in 2017-18...Product of Holy Family (Minn.) High School program and Victory Honda U18 organization...Son of former National Hockey League goaltender Robb Stauber.

Behind the Bench: Minnesota State has gone 186-80-22 head coach Mike Hastings, who is in his eighth season in charge of the Mavericks. No program in the nation has won more games (186) during that span.

Next Week:  Minnesota State continues WCHA action next week with Bowling Green making the trek for games in the Key City Nov. 1-2.