Off the Hop:   Currently ranked #2 by USCHO.com and #3 by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine, Minnesota State (29-7-2 overall) hosts Lake Superior State (23-11-2 WCHA) in a best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association second-round play-off series this weekend.  Face-off between the Mavericks and the Lakers is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) at Verizon Center (4,832) in downtown Mankato.

About the Mavericks and the Lakers: In a series that dates back to 2013-14, Minnesota State is 19-3-1 all-time vs. Lake Superior State.  The Mavericks, who are 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings with the Lakers, are squaring-off vs. LSSU in the WCHA play-offs for the third time.  Minnesota State earned in a 2-0 best-of-three home first-round series win in 2014-15 and a 2-1 home first-round series win in 2015-16.

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 916-652-155 (.577). Minnesota State is the 31st NCAA DI team with at least 900 wins.

About Lake Superior State:  The Lakers, who stand 23-11-2 overall (they finished fourth in the league regular-season standings with a 16-10-2 WCHA record), earned a WCHA first-round series win over Bemidji State with 4-2 and 3-1 victories over the Beavers last weekend.  LSSU is led by head coach Damon Whitten.  Whitten, a 1997 Michigan State grad, who owns a 66-101-2 record in his five seasons with the Lakers.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  The Mavericks enter the weekend vs. Lake Superior State with a 29-7-2 record after posting 4-1 and 3-1 home wins last Friday and Saturday over Alabama Huntsville in a WCHA first-round series victory.

The Mavericks, who stand 18*-1-0 in home game this year (*18 wins are the most-ever home victories for Minnesota State), have gone 15-2-2 in the last 19 games.  

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:  8-5--13 in 29 games played this year...Has 24-26--50 in 144 career games played. Registered his eighth goal of the year in 4-1 win over the Bemidji State (March 1).  The goal is his third career game-winning goal and for his four-year Minnesota State career. 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 and all 39 games of 2016-17.

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 67 career games played.

Alec Vanko Notes: Senior forward Alec Vanko scored his first career game-winning goal in a 4-1 victory over Alaska Anchorage (12.07.2018).  The goal is the first for Vanko since Oct. 29, 2016 when he scored in a home game vs. Ferris State...Has 3-5--8 in 30 career games... 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.

Mathias Israelsson Notes:   Stands 8-1-0 on the year with a 1.65 goals against average and .915 save percentage on the year.  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.

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: Has 8-6--14 in 37 games played on the season.  French, who has 216 faceoff wins on the year, has 9-13--22 in 108 career games...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.

Charlie Gerard Notes:   Leads Minnesota State with 97 shots on goal, has a four-game point-scoring streak (1-3--4) going. He has recorded career highs for goals (10), assists (17) and points (27) this year...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)...Two-year letterwinner (2016-17, 2017-18)...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic selection...Posted 2-3--5 with 36 shots on goal and was +4 in 14 games played as a sophomore.

Edwin Hookenson Notes:  Leads Minnesota State and stands tied for second in the nation with 92 blocked shots. The Lampman, Sask., native, who ranks fourth on the team with a +16 rating, has registered 5-12--17 in 82 career games....Two-year letterwinner earned WCHA All- Academic and WCHA Scholar-Athlete honors as a sophomore...Spent three seasons with Nanaimo (BCHL) prior to joining Minnesota State.

Marc Michaelis Notes:  Enters the weekend riding a four-game point-scoring streak (3-2--5), leads Minnesota State in scoring on the year with 19-20--39 (t-18th in the nation) and stands tied for 14th in the country with a +21 rating. For his three-year Minnesota State career, the Mannheim, Germany native has 51-64--115 in 113 career games. 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)....2017-18 All-WCHA First Team...2017-18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic...Finished third on the Mavericks in scoring last year with 18-22--40 in 36 games played.

Nick Rivera Notes:  Has 8-9--17 in 35 games played this year and for his three-year Minnesota State career owns 22-23--45 in 112 GP...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...2017-18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2017-18 WCHA All-Academic...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: Owns 5-19--24 on the year, hasn't missed a game in his three-year Minnesota State career. The Coon Rapids, Minn., native has 22-52--74 in 117 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)...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.

Parker Tuomie Notes:  Has a four-game point-scoring streak (1-3--4) going and ranks second on the Mavericks in scoring with 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 32 games played this year.  Tuomie has 31-61--92 in 111 career games played and is tied for 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)...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, 2018)...Had a goal and two assists (assisted on GWG) in 3-2 overtime victory at Alabama Huntsville (Feb. 9, 2018).

Walker Duehr Notes:   Has 9-6--15 in 30 games played this year (all 15 of his points have come in the last 24 games)...Had 1-1--2 with three shots on goal and a +3 rating in two wins over Alaska Anchorage (Dec. 7-8)...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:  Has tallied 3-6--9 in  last nine games played...Owns 12-9--21 in 33 games this year, has registered career highs for goals and points. His 12 goals rank 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)...Totalled 7-7--14 in 27 games as a freshman last year...Scored first career goal and got the GWG in Minnesota State's 7-0 victory at Lake Superior State (Dec. 9, 2017)...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.

Jake Jaremko Notes:   Has 20-36--56 in 73 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:  Has totaled 6-8--14 in 36 games for the year...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...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 six goals and 17 assists for 23 points on the season, has 0-3--3 in the last three games.  The Tower Lakes, Ill., native hasn't missed a game in his Minnesota State career and has posted 10-25--35 with a +21 rating and 58 blocked shots in 78 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...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 1-8--9 in 38 games this season and has 1-14--15 in 61 career games played.  The Lakeville, Minn., native leads the Mavericks and stands tied for seventh in the nation with a +23 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)...Had 0-6--6 in 23 games played in first season of college hockey in 2017-18...Finished freshman year 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: Tied for third on the team in scoring with 7-20--27 in 37 games on the season... Has registered 11-35--46 in 77 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..Registered 4-15--19 and played in all 40 games in maiden season of college hockey.

Riese Zmolek Notes:  Has 1-7--8 in 35 games this year, owns a +18 rating to go along with 46 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...Had a goal and an assist in home league game vs. Northern Michigan (Dec. 29, 2017)...Had 32 shots on goal, +6 rating and blocked 33 shots for the year.

Andy Carroll Notes:  Has 1-4--5 in his last 18 games played.  Northfield, Minn., native has seen action in 27 games in his first season of college hockey...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...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 1-5--6 in 34 games in first season of college hockey...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...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 registered 3-3--6 in 30 games in his first year of college hockey...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)...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: Recorded his first career point when he drew an assist on Shane McMahan's power play goal in 8-2 win at Northern Michigan (Jan. 26). Saw first action as a collegian in 5-2 win over Ferris State (11.17.2018)...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:  Has 3-4--7 in last 11 games... Leads all Minnesota State rookies in scoring with 7-13--20 in 37 games played ...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...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:  Has 2-4--6 in 18 games played on the season...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...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.

Dryden McKay Notes:  Has started 24 of the last 26 games in goal for Minnesota State and stands 21-6-2 with a 1.72 GAA and .928 sv% for the year.  He leads all NCAA DI freshmen netminders in wins, goals against average and shutouts (3) and is a four-time WCHA Goaltender of the Week honoree this year...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.

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.

Noteables:  Now into his seventh season behind the Minnesota State bench, Mike Hastings has built a 180-79-21 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 50-year history of the program.  No team in the nation has produced more wins than Minnesota State's 180 victories in the last seven years.

Minnesota State, which leads the nation in wins (29), ranks first in the country with 42 power play goals, goal margin (+70) and lowest goals against average (1.76) and also stands tied for second in goals scored (130).

Minnesota State's 29 wins this year are tied for second on the program's list for most wins in a season (along with 29-win seasons in 2017-18 and 2014-15). Only the 30 wins by Minnesota State's NCAA DII championship team from 1979-80 rank ahead of this year on the school's single-season wins list.