Off the Hop:   Ranked #3 by USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine this week, Minnesota State (32-7-2 overall) has earned the #1 seed at the NCAA Division I men's hockey East Regional, which takes place in Providence, R.I., this Saturday and Sunday.  Minnesota State plays fourth-seeded Providence (22-11-6). Northeastern (27-10-1) and Cornell (20-10-4) play in the other game.  

Minnesota State and the NCAA Postseason:  This weekend marks Minnesota State's sixth NCAA tournament appearance.  The Mavericks also played in the 2003 East Regional in Providence, R.I., the 2013 Midwest Regional in Toledo, Ohio, the 2014 Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass., the 2015 Midwest Regional in South Bend, Ind., and the 2018 West Regional in Sioux Falls, S.D.  A complete listing of Minnesota State's postseason appearances appears on page 19 of this document.

About the Mavericks and the Friars:  In a series that dates back to the 2002-03 season, Minnesota State owns a 2-6-0 record in games vs. Providence.  This will be the first meeting between the two schools in the post season.  

Vs. the Huskies and the Big Red:  The Mavericks are 0-1 vs. Cornell, having lost to the Big Red in the 2002-03 East Regional 5-2.  Minnesota State and Northeastern haven't played each other.

Minnesota State All-Time:  The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, is in its 50th season.  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 919-652-155 (.577). Minnesota State is the 31st NCAA DI team with at least 900 wins.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  Minnesota State claimed the Western Collegiate Hockey Association postseason tournament championship with a come-from-behind 3-2 overtime win over Bowling Green in Mankato Saturday.  Trailing 2-0 late in the third period and with goaltender Dryden McKay on the bench for an extra attacker, the Mavericks got goals from Jake Jaremko at 18:16 and Connor Mackey at 19:04 to force the extra session.  Nick Rivera scored the game-winner at 1:37 in overtime, allowing the Mavericks to claim the Jeff Sauer Trophy as league champions.

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 three seniors, nine 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:  Recently named the 2018-19 WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year (3.85 GPA and majoring in Psychology), Max Coatta has 8-7--15 in 32 games played this year...Has 24-28--52 in 147 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 8-8--16 in 40 games played on the season.  French, who has 239 faceoff wins on the year, has 9-15--24 in 111 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 107 shots on goal, has 1-5--6 in the last seven games. The Rocky River, Ohio product has reached career highs for goals (11), assists (18) and points (29) while playing in all 41 games this year..Had a goal and an assist for two points as the Mavericks swept its WCHA semi-final series vs. #20 Lake Superior State.  Scored the game-tying goal in Friday's 2-1 victory and assisted on the 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)...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:  Ranks second in the nation with 96 blocked shots. The Lampman, Sask., native, who is tied for fourth on the team with a +15 rating, has registered 5-12--17 with a +28 rating and 154 blocked shots in 84 career games...Three-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 with 3-4--7 in the last seven games, leads Minnesota State in scoring on the year with 19-22--41 (t-17th in the nation) and stands tied for 19th in the country with a +22 rating. For his three-year Minnesota State career, the Mannheim, Germany native has 51-66--117 in 116 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)....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:  scored his eighth career game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-2 overtime victory over Bowling Green, has 9-9--18 on the year.  Rivera has tallied 23-23--46 in 115 career games with Minnesota State...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 5-20--25 on the year, hasn't missed a game in his three-year Minnesota State career. The Coon Rapids, Minn., native has 22-53--75 in 120 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:  Ranks second on the Mavericks in scoring with 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in 35 games played this year.  Tuomie has 31-63--94 in 113 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)...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 10-6--16 in 33 games played this year (all 17 of his points have come in the last 7 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 12 games played...Owns 12-9--21 in 36 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 22-36--57 in 76 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 7-8--15 in 38 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 seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points on the season, has 1-4--5 in the last six games.  The Tower Lakes, Ill., native hasn't missed a game in his Minnesota State career and has posted 11-26--37 with a +23 rating and 64 blocked shots in 81 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 1-9--10 and has played in all 41 games this season. McNeely, who has 1-15--16 in 64 career games played, leads the Mavericks and stands tied for seventh in the nation with a +26 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: Ranks fourth on the team in scoring with 7-20--27 in 40 games on the season... Has registered 11-35--46 in 80 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:   Assisted on Minnesota State's first goal of the game in last Saturday's 3-2 overtime win over Bowling Green, has 1-8--9 on the season and 3-13--16 in 73 career games.  Zmolek ranks third on the team this year with a +19 rating...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 20 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 35 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 3-4--7 in 33 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:  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 last weekend.  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.  He leads Minnesota State freshmen in scoring with 8-13--21 in 40 games played this season...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 27 of the last 29 games in goal for Minnesota State and stands 24-6-2 with a 1.66 GAA and .931 sv% for the year.  McKay, the WCHA Goaltending Champion this year with a 1.35 GAA in 22 league games, leads 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...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:  Minnesota State, which leads the nation in wins (32) and have reached the 20-win plateau for the seventh consecutive season, have gone 18-2-2 in the last 22 games.  The Mavericks, who lead the country with 44 power play goals, goal margin (+74) and lowest goals against average (1.71), stand third in goals scored (144).  

Heading into the regional, Minnesota State has allowed two or fewer goals in 16 consecutive games.  Minnesota State has allowed one power play goal in the last eight games and have killed off 23  of the last 24 opponent power plays.

Minnesota State's 32 wins this year have established a school record for most wins in a season, besting the 30 wins by Minnesota State's NCAA DII championship team from 1979-80.

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