Mankato, Minn.  ---  #3 Minnesota State opened the 2019-20 season with a 5-2 win over Mount Royal (Calgary, Alta.) in men's hockey exhibition action Saturday in Mankato.

The host Mavericks struck first at 4:03 of the opening period when freshman forward Ryan Sandelin pounced on a rebound off of a shot from Chris Van Os-Shaw.  The Cougars responded at 12:15 on a laser from Kade Jensen that beat Mavericks sophomore goaltender Dryden McKay high on the glove side and the two teams entered the locker rooms knotted at 1-1 at the end of the first.

Then, at 9:56 of the second, freshman defenseman Tony Malinowski's shot from the point beat a screened Riley Morris to make it a 2-1 Minnesota State lead.  And with a pair of Cougars in the penalty box, junior defenseman Conner Mackey drilled a one-timer from the point past Morris at 18:34 to make it 3-1 Minnesota State lead heading into the third period.

Mount Royal pulled within one at 0:53 of the third on a shot from Sean Richards that beat Jacob Berger high on the short side. The Mavericks regained their two-goal cushion on a power play goal by Jared Spooner at 1:49.  Freshman forward Cade Borchardt deflected a shot into the net at 10:25 in making it a 5-2 Minnesota State lead and that's how the game ended.

The Mavericks, who went one-for-five on the power play outshot the visiting Cougars by a 35-27 margin.

Minnesota State opens the 2019-20 season next Saturday with Arizona State visiting for a pair of nonconference games Friday and Saturday.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.