Off the Hop
Fifth-rated Minnesota State (2-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) hosts Bemidji State (1-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) Friday and Saturday in a pair on nonconference contests this weekend. Face-off between the Mavericks and the Beavers at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (4,832) is slated for 7:37 p.m., Friday and 5:07 p.m., Saturday.

Mavericks vs. Beavers
In a rivalry that dates back to the 1974-75 season, Minnesota State stands 56-58-15 in the all-time series vs. Bemidji State. Including the 5-0 season-opening win on Nov. 22 and a 3-2-0 mark vs. the Beavers last year, Minnesota State heads into this weekend's series having gone 10-4-1 in the last 15 games vs. Bemidji State.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 216-85-23 under the tutelage of head coach Mike Hastings (St. Cloud State '93), who is in his ninth season in charge of the Mavericks. No program in the nation has won more games (216) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench. Under his leadership, the Crookston, Minn., native had guided the Mavericks to five NCAA tournament appearances, five WCHA regular-season titles and three WCHA postseason tournament championships.

The Group
In his first year serving as captain of the Mavericks is senior defenseman Riese Zmolek. Senior defenseman Jack McNeely, and senior forwards Dallas Gerads and Jared Spooner are serving as alternate captains. All three are in their first seasons wearing an "A" for the Mavericks.

For the Ages
The 31 wins last year by the Mavericks ranks second on Minnesota State's all-time single-season list, ranking only behind the 32 victories by the 2018-19 team. The 30 wins the last two years mark the first time the Mavericks have won at least 30 games in back-to-back seasons. Minnesota State has won at least 30 games in a season three times (2019-20, 2018-29 and 1979-80).

Big Mac
Minnesota State won the MacNaughton Cup as 2019-20 WCHA regular season champions - marking the third season in a row the Mavericks have accomplished the feat and fifth time in the last eight years.

Roster Check
Minnesota State returns 17 skaters off of last year's roster who played in at least one game.  Those returnees, who entered the season having accumulated a total of 1,107 career games played, registered 69 goals and 204 points last year.

Net Flicks
Junior netminder Dryden McKay 19-save shutout at Michigan Tech on Dec. 7 extended his school career shutout record to 16.  His 16 shutouts stand tied for ninth all-time in NCAA DI men's hockey history. McKay, who has registered two shutouts in Minnesota State's three games so far in 2020-21, was named First Team All-American and the WCHA Goaltender of the Year last season after posting a 30-4-2 mark, .942 save percentage and 1.31 goals against average. His career numbers entering the games this weekend stand at 56-12-4, .149 and .936.

McKay stands 5-3-0 all-time vs. Bemidji State and owns a career 1.29 goals again average and a .953 save percentage vs. the Beavers.  he has two shutouts in eight games vs. BSU.

Wing Man
Senior forward Reggie Lutz stands tied for the team lead in points with four on two goals and two assists in three games played for the season.  The Elk River, Minn., native has 29 goals and 42 assists for 71 points in 116 games over the course of his four-year college career after recording an assist in both games at Michigan Tech Dec. 6-7.

To Your Point
Senior centerman Jake Jaremko assisted on Minnesota State's game-winning goal by Todd Burgess in the 2-0 win at Michigan Tech on Dec. 7.  The Nowthen, Minn., native has four assists on the season and his four points stands tied for the team lead. He also leads the Mavericks with a +4 rating.

Jaremko is Minnesota State's leading active career scorer with 30-48--78 in 104 games and his point total stands tied for 36th on Minnesota State's career scoring list.

Burgeoning
Senior forward Todd Burgess, who spent the first three seasons of his college hockey-playing career at RPI, scored his first goal as a Maverick when he tallied the game-winner in Minnesota State's 2-0 win at Michigan Tech on Dec. 7. The goal was the first power play goal of the season for the Mavericks. Burgess now has 23-28--51 in 105 career games as a collegian. His three points on the season on a goal and two assists places him third on the Mavericks through three games.

First Things First
Sophomore forward Cade Borchardt recorded his first career goal when he scored Minnesota State's second goal in the 2-0 win at Michigan Tech.  The Burnsville, Minn., native has appeared in 13 games over the course of his two seasons with the Mavericks.

Pay it Forward
Senior forward Dallas Gerads tallied his first goal of the season when he scored Minnesota State's lone goal vs. Michigan Tech Dec. 6.  The Blaine, Minn., native has posted 28-33--61 in 100 career games with the Mavericks.

Century Club
Gerads' 100 career games gives the Mavericks six players with at least 100 career games played in the Purple and Gold on this year's roster - Reggie Lutz (116), Jared Spooner (115), Riese Zmolek (114), Jack McNeely (106), Jake Jaremko (104) and Gerads (100).

#2
Freshman defenseman Akito Hirose recorded his first career point when he assisted on the goal by Dallas Gerads in Minnesota State's game at Michigan Tech on Dec. 6.  The Calgary, Alta., native, last year's BCHL Defenseman of the Year, has six shots on goal and is +3 in the first three games of his college career.

Through the Looking Glass
Junior defenseman Andy Carroll is Minnesota State's top-scoring defenseman through the first three games of the year with two points on a goal and an assist.  The Northfield, Minn., native, who has 4-12--16 in 65 career games, owns a +2 rating and has put three shots on goal in 2020-21.

On Deck
Minnesota State jumps right back into it following the holidays with a pair of WCHA contests slated at Northern Michigan Jan. 2-3.