Off the Hop
#1-rated Minnesota State (3-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 CCHA) continues nonconference action with a pair of games at the 2021 Ice Breaker Tournament this weekend. The Mavericks square-off vs. #10 Providence (3-0-0) at AMSOIL Arena (6,800) Friday at 4:00 p.m., CST Friday. Then will play either #3 Michigan or #4 Minnesota Duluth Saturday at either 4:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

About Last Weekend
The Mavericks, who entered last weekend's series vs. #2 St. Cloud State ranked first in the nation after starting the year with a pair of road wins over defending national champions Massachusetts. Led by a 20-save effort from senior goaltender Dryden McKay and a goal from junior center Nathan Smith, Minnesota State picked up a 1-0 win over the visiting Huskies in Friday's tilt. SCSU earned a split by claiming a 3-1 win in Saturday's rematch.

Mavericks vs. Providence
Minnesota State has played Providence seven times since starting the series in 2002-03.  The Mavericks stand 2-7-0 all-time vs. the Friars. Providence has won the last three meetings between the two schools, including the last time, which was a 6-3 win for Providence in the first round of the 2018-19 NCAA East Regional played in Providence, R.I.  MSU's last win in the series was in 2012-13 when the Mavericks swept the Friars in a pair of games played in Mankato (4-3 ot - Chase Grant GWG, 4-0).

Ice Breaker Notes
This is Minnesota State's first appearance in the Ice Breaker. The Mavericks have played UMD 57 times dating back to the first meeting between the two schools in 1997. Minnesota State has won the last two meetings with the Bulldogs, but trail in the all-time series 22-29-6.  

Minnesota State has never played Michigan.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 239-91-24 under the tutelage of head coach Mike Hastings (St. Cloud State '93), who is in his tenth season in charge of the Mavericks. No program in the nation has won more games (239) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench.

For the Ages
Minnesota State went 22-5-1 in 28 games in last year's CoVID-shortened season en route to the WCHA regular-season title, the NCAA West Region championship and the program's first-ever trip to the Frozen Four.  Last year marked the ninth season in a row of having at least 20 wins.  Minnesota State has won at least 20 games in a season 20 times in 52 seasons.

Big Mac
Minnesota State won the MacNaughton Cup as 2020-21 WCHA regular season champions - marking the fourth season in a row to accomplish the feat and sixth time in the last nine years.

WCHA - CCHA
The conclusion of the 2020-21 season signalled the end of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.  Minnesota State had been a member of the league since the 1999-2000 season and during that time constructed a 306-249-64 mark for a .561 winning percentage in 619 league games.  The Mavericks won six MacNaughton Cups as regular-season champions in their 22-year association with the WCHA.

Minnesota State begins play in the newly-formed Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in 2021-22, joining Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Bowling Green and St. Thomas as members of the eight-team conference.

Roster Check
Minnesota State returns 17 skaters off of last year's roster who played in at least one game.  Those returnees, who have accumulated a total of 67 goals and 187 points last year.

On Guard
Senior netminder Dryden McKay, a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist and a finalist for the Mike Richter Award in 2020-21, earned his second shutout of 2021-22 when he stopped all 20 shots in last Friday's 1-0 home nonconference win over St. Cloud State.  The shutout marked his 26th career shutout and moves him into a tie for the NCAA record of 26 established by Ryan Miller (Michigan State 1999-2002).

Last season's WCHA Player of the Year and a two-time WCHA Goaltender of the year, McKay stands 3-1-0 for the season with a .924 save percentage and a 1.53 goals against average.

For his four-year college career, the Downers Grove, Ill., native stands 78-16-4 with a .1.53 GAA, and .932 Sv% in 101 games played.

The only goaltender in NCAA history to record double-digit shutout seasons (10 in 2020-21, 10 in 2019-20), McKay is one of two goaltenders in the history of the WCHA to lead the league in goals against average for three straight seasons, with the other being the late Tony Esposito who accomplished the feat while tending the net for Michigan Tech (1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67).

Smith Leads Mavericks in Points
Junior center Nathan Smith picked up his fourth career game-winning goal when his third goal of the year helped lift Minnesota State to a 1-0 victory over St. Cloud State last Friday. For the season the Hudson, Fla., native has registered three goals and three assists for a team-high six points through the first four games.

For his three-year Minnesota State career, the Winnipeg Jet draftee has registered 21-37--58 in 67 games.

Taking a Nap
Senior forward Julian Napravnik heads into the Ice Breaker riding a four-game point-scoring streak, during which he's posted 2-3--5.

Napravnik, last year's WCHA Forward of the Year, stands tied for 36th on Minnesota State's career-scoring list with 30-49--79 in 109 games played.

Reg
Senior forward Reggie Lutz, who has 2-0--2 in four games this year, ranks as Minnesota State active career scoring leader with 39-51--90 in 142 games played. His 90 points ties for 22nd on Minnesota State's all-time list.

Captaincy
Senior defenseman Wyatt Aamodt is serving as this season's team captain (his first year as a captain).  Senior forward Reggie Lutz is in his first year as an alternate captain and senior defenseman Jack McNeely is in his second season as an alternate captain.

On the Docket
Minnesota State will have the weekend of Oct. 22-23 off before beginning CCHA action Oct. 29-20 when Northern Michigan visits the Key City for a pair of games.