Mavericks Rated #1 For Fifth Consecutive Week After Sweeping Lake State; Enter Series with Northern Michigan Riding Nine-Game Winning Streak and 14-1-1 Record
McKay Named WCHA Goaltender of the Week for Fifth Time This Year After Mavericks Sweep Lakers; Smith Picks Up WCHA Rookie of the Week Recognition for Third Time This Year; Minnesota State Leads Nation in GAA, Wins & Goal Margin; Michaelis Gets Tenth Career Game-Winning Goal, Tuomie Nets Ninth

Off the Hop
Minnesota State continues league action this weekend with a pair of games at Northern Michigan Friday and Saturday.  In a series that started in 2013-14, the Mavericks stand 13-4-3 all-tme vs. the Wildcats. Minnesota State, which has won the last three meetings between the two schools, is 5-2-3 all-time vs. Northern Michigan in games played in Marquette.

Last Time Out
Ranked #1 in the nation for the fifth consecutive week by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine, Minnesota State (14-1-1) beat Lake Superior State twice last weekend (5-1 and 2-0) in extending its winning streak to nine games.

Rational National
Minnesota State enters the weekend leading the nation in goals against average (1.06), goal margin per games played (+2.69) and power play percentage (.323) . The Mavericks stand tied for first in wins (14) and are second in penalty kill percentage (.932) and third in +/- (+27).

Pilotage
Minnesota State has gone 197-81-22 under the guidance of head coach Mike Hastings, who is in his eighth season in charge of the Mavericks. No program in the nation has won more games (197) during that span. The next closest team is Quinnipiac, which has won 181.

McKay Notes
Sophomore Dryden McKay, a five-time Western Collegiate Hockey Association Goaltender of the Week honoree this year, limited Lake Superior State to one goal on 42 shots last weekend. For the year he stands 13-1-1 with a nation's best .957 save percentage and 1.06 goals against average.  During Minnesota State's nine-game winning streak, the Downers Grove, Ill., native is 9-0-0 with three shutouts, a 0.67 GAA and a .973 Sv%.

Michaelis Notes
Senior captain Marc Michaelis, who had three points on a goal and two assists in the sweep over Lake Superior State last weekend, has 8-12--20 in 16 games played for 2019-20. His shorthanded game-winning goal vs. the Lakers is his ninth career SHG and ties him for first all-time with Bryce Gervais (MSU 2012-16). 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 138 points (59 Gs, 79 As) in 133 career games played.  His 138 points ranks fourth on Minnesota State's career scoring list for the DI-era.

Tuomie Notes
Senior forward Parker Tuomie, who tallied his third game-winning goal in last Friday's 5-1 win over Lake State and now has nine career GWGs, has 38-71--109 in 130 games for his four-year Minnesota State career. His 109 points ranks 11th on Minnesota State's career point-scoring list.

Gerard Notes
Senior winger Charlie Gerard, who has seven goals in the last 11 games, has 7-6--13 in 16 games played this year.  The Rocky River, Ohio native, who leads the Mavericks with 57 shots on goal, has tallied 24-29--53 in 100 career games with Minnesota State.

Jaremko Notes
Junior forward Jake Jaremko, who scored a goal in both games vs. Lake State last weekend, enters the series at Northern Michigan riding a four-game point streak during which he's racked up 4-1--5. The Nowthen, Minn., native has 27-69--66 in 85 career games with the Mavericks.

Mackey Notes
Junior defenseman Connor Mackey, who hasn't missed a game in his three years with Minnesota State, has 3-8-11 this year and stands tied for the team lead with a +12.  Mackey owns 14-34--48 in 98 career games and over the course of his time with the Mavericks has recorded 159 shots on goal, 75 blocked shots and owns a +36 rating.

Scheid Notes
Junior defenseman Ian Scheid, who collected two points on two assists in the series sweep vs. Lake State last weekend, hasn't missed a game in his four years with the Mavericks.  Scheid has 0-10--10 in 16 games played in 2019-20 and 22-63--85 in 137 career games. He stands eighth on Minnesota State's career scoring list for defensemen.  In terms of DI-era blue liners, he's fifth in career scoring.

Zmolek Notes
Junior defenseman Riese Zmolek (1-2--3 in 15 GP this year) stands tied for the team lead in blocked shots with 22. Zmolek has 4-15--29 in 81 career games played.

Spooner Notes
Junior center Jared Spooner, who scored twice and had an assist in last weekend's sweep over Lake Superior State, has 5-6--11 in 16 games played this year. The Bismarck, N.D., native, who stands tied for the team lead with a +12 rating, has registered 16-41--57 in 97 career games.

Lutz Notes
Junior forward Reggie Lutz, who has 5-5--10 in 16 games played this year, stands tied for the team lead with a +12 rating.  In his three years with the Mavericks, Lutz had recorded 19-34--53 in 91 games played.

Smith Notes
Freshman center Nathan Smith has now been named WCHA Rookie of the Week three times this year after drawing two assists, putting five shots on goal and putting up a +2 rating in last weekend's home league sweep over Lake Superior State.  With 4-11--15 in 14 games played on the season, the Hudson, Fla., native ranks second on the Mavericks in points and is tied for eighth nationally in freshmen scoring.

Hookenson Notes
Senior defenseman Edwin Hookenson (2-2--4 in 16 GP this year) stands tied for the team lead in blocked shots with 22.  Hookenson has 7-15--2 in 102 career games played and during that time has compiled 100 shots on goal, 177 blocked shots and a +32 rating.

McNeely Notes
Junior defenseman Jack McNeely recorded an assist in last Saturday's 5-1 win over Lake Superior State and has 0-3--3 in 16 games played this year to go along with a +9 rating and 17 blocked shots.

Gerads Notes
Junior winger Dallas Gerads picked up his second goal of the season and now has 2-7--9 in 12 games played this year.  For his three-year college career he's compiled 21-24--44 in 76 career games played.

Mavericks All-Time
Now in its 51st season, Minnesota State stands 933-654-156 all-time.