Off the Hop:   Third -rated Minnesota State (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) starts the 2019-20 season this weekend when it hosts Arizona State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Hockey East) Friday and Saturday. Face-off between the Mavericks and the Sun Devils in Mankato at the Mankato Civic Center (4,832) is slated for 7:07 p.m., CST Friday and 6:07 p.m., CST Saturday.

Minnesota State stands 24-22-4 all-time in season openers.

Minnesota State All-Time:  The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 50th year of competition in 2018-19.  The Mavericks, who completed their 23rd year as members of NCAA Division I and their 20th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association this year, sport an all-time record of 919-653-155. (.577).

About the Minnesota State-ASU Series:  The Mavericks and the Sun Devils have met once previously with the two teams battling to a 2-2 overtime tie in Glendale last year (Dec. 29).  ASU, an NCAA Division I independent program, went 21-13-1 in 2018-19 en route to it first invitation the NCAA postseason tournament.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  The Mavericks received goals from five different players in Saturday's victory over Mount Royal, including three from freshmen.  Junior center Jared Spooner, named the game's First Star had a goal and an assist and was plus-2. Sophomore defenseman Andrew Carroll had a pair of assists and was +3.  Sophomore goaltenders Dryden McKay and Jacob Berger combined to turn aside 25 Cougar shots. Minnesota State is now 21-4-1 all-time vs. Canadian opponents.

Arizona State Most Recently:  The Sun Devils, who posted a 21-13-1 mark last year and made their first appearance in the NCAA DI men's hockey postseason tournament, play as an independent program. ASU started the 2019-20 season last weekend with a home split with Mercyhurst (3-2 loss, 6-4 win).  This season marks the fifth year for ASU as a varsity program.  Head coach Greg Powers is in his fifth year at the ASU helm.  Junior forward Johnny Walker registered 23 goals and 11 assists for 34 points in 32 games last year.
 
About the Mavericks:  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 last year 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: Finished 2018-19 with 8-8--16 in 41 games played...Had 248 faceoff wins on the year...Has 9-15--24 in 112 career games...Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time 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.

Charlie Gerard Notes:  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)...Three-year letterwinner (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic selection.

Edwin Hookenson Notes:  Finished junior season ranking second in the nation with 97 blocked shots..Tied for ninth on the team with a +13 rating..Has registered 5-13--18 with a +26 rating and 155 blocked shots in 85 career games...Three-year letterwinner earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2018-19.  WCHA All- Academic and WCHA Scholar-Athlete honors as a sophomore and junior...Spent three seasons with Nanaimo (BCHL) prior to joining Minnesota State.

Marc Michaelis Notes:  Led Minnesota State in scoring last with 19-23--42 (t-15th in the nation) and tied for 17th in the country with a +22 rating. For his three-year Minnesota State career, the Mannheim, Germany native has 51-67--118 in 117 career games. A three-time All-WCHA First Team pick, he's eighth on Minnesota State's career scoring list (DI era) and he stands tied for second all-time at Minnesota State with seven career shorthanded goals...Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after picking up MVP honors at the Michigan Tech Winter Carnival (Feb. 8-9)....Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree.

Nick Rivera Notes:  Two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree...Totaled 10-9--19 and played in 39 games on the year...Has tallied 24-23--47 in 116 career games with Minnesota State...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:  Posted 5-20--25 last year, hasn't missed a game in his three-year Minnesota State career. The Coon Rapids, Minn., native has 22-53--75 in 121 career games played to rank 11th on the school's career scoring by defensemen list....Had a goal and two assists in Minnesota State's 6-1 win at Alaska (Feb. 22)...Had two assists in 3-2 overtime win at Michigan Tech (Feb. 9)...Two-time WCHA All-Academic honoree...Two-time All-WCHA Third Team selection.

Parker Tuomie Notes:  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...Has 31-64--95 in 114 career games played and ranks 19th on the program's career scoring list...Had a three-point weekend with three assists in Minnesota State's two games at Michigan Tech (Feb. 8-9).

Walker Duehr Notes:   Had 10-6--16 in 34 games played as a sophomore...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:  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:   Two-year letterman was a 2018-19 WCHA All-Academic honoree... Had 7-12--19 in 37 GP as a sophomore in 2018-19...Has 22-36--58 in 77 career games played...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...Named WCHA Rookie of the Month on three occasions during the course of 2017-18 (November, December and February).

Reggie Lutz Notes:  Totaled 7-9--16 in 39 games in 2018-19...Has 14-29--43 in 75 career GP.....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:   2018-19 All-WCHA Third Team selection...Had seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points as a sophomore in 2018-19..Hasn't missed a game in his Minnesota State career and has posted 11-26--37 with a +22 rating and 66 blocked shots in 82 games played...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:   Had 1-9--10 and played in all 42 games as a sophomore in 2018-19. McNeely, who has 1-15--16 in 65 career games played, led the Mavericks and ranked seventh in the nation with a +27 rating...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: Ranked fourth on the team in scoring with 7-20--27 in 41 games in 2018-19... Has registered 11-35--46 in 81 career games of college hockey...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:   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...Registered 2-5--7 in 35 games played in first year of college hockey in 2017-18...Scored first career goal in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 13, 2017.

Andy Carroll Notes:  Northfield, Minn., native 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:  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)...Spent two seasons with USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers prior to joining Mavericks.

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:  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. 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 prior to joining Minnesota State.

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:   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:   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:  In first season of college hockey... 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: Under the guidance of Mike Hastings, Minnesota State has gone 183-80-21 in the last seven seasons.  The 183 wins are the most by any team in the nation during that span.

Next Week:  Minnesota State continues nonconference action with a home series with the University of North Dakota slated for Oct. 18-19 in Mankato.