Due Up

Coming off a weekend sweep over St. Cloud State in Mankato, Minnesota State (9-9-0, 5-9-0 WCHA) heads to Bemidji State (6-10-2, 3-10-1 WCHA) this weekend to close out the 2021 portion of its schedule with Western Collegiate Hockey Association action. Face-offs are scheduled for 6:01 p.m., CST Friday and 3:01 p.m., CST Saturday at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.


Last Action

Last time out, the Mavericks swept St. Cloud State while putting up three goals in a game for the third and fourth straight times during their current four-game winning streak. MSU won Friday's game 3-0 before defeating SCSU 3-1 on Saturday.

Junior goaltender Calla Frank secured WCHA Goaltender of the Week after her effort in last weekend's sweep for the Mavericks. Frank made 51 saves on 52 shots in the series for a .981 save percentage and 0.50 goals-against average as well as recording her third shutout of the season in Friday's victory.


Taking on Bemidji State

In the all-time series vs. the Beavers, the Mavericks are 35-45-13. In last season's series, the Mavericks had an upperhand on the Beavers with a 5-0-1 record and were undefeated in road contests, with a pair of wins (Jan. 8-9). When the Mavericks travel to Bemidji State, they hold an all-time record of 16-22-8.

The Beavers own a 6-10-2 overall record this season and are currently sixth in the WCHA standings with a 3-10-1 record in conference action. 


Minnesota State All-Time

Minnesota State, which began play in 1998-99, is in its 24th season of competition. The Mavericks have compiled a 212-524-71 (.307) record in 807 games played. MSU is in its 23rd year as members of the WCHA and hold a 130-420-56 (.261) record in 606 conference games played. 

In last season's shortened and pandemic-impacted slate of games, the Mavericks closed out the season with a 7-12-1 record for fifth in the WCHA standings.


The Captains

Coming off a stint with the USA Hockey Residency Program, senior defenseman Anna Wilgren is serving as captain of the Mavericks this year.

Jessica Kondas and Brittyn Fleming were renamed alternate captains prior to the season while Claire Butorac was named the Mavericks' newest alternate captain in the offseason. The senior trio is combining to assume Wilgren's role as head captain while she is away for the foreseeable future.


To be Frank...

Junior goaltender Calla Frank has appeared and started in all but three games for the Mavericks this season. Last time out, she recorded her third shutout of the season and seventh of her career with 27 saves in the Mavericks' 3-0 win over St. Cloud State. She wrapped up the series with 51 total saves on 52 shots and was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week for her effort in the series sweep. This year, Frank owns an 8-7 record with a 2.79 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.

As a Maverick, Frank has appeared in 51 games and made 49 starts with a career record of 20-25-4, a .909 Sv% and 2.72 goals-against average.


Fleming Finesses

Senior forward Brittyn Fleming returned to Minnesota State's roster this season after cashing in on her extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to last year's student athletes who had seasons impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In last weekend's series against St. Cloud State, the Oregon, Wis., native upped her all-time assists record at MSU to 62 with another helper in the Mavericks' 3-1 victory, Saturday. Also with a goal in the last game for a two-point weekend, she remains MSU's leading point-scorer this season with 23 points and a team-high 17 assists over 18 games. Fleming also leads the Mavericks with a +4 rating.

Fleming is also MSU's active career scoring leader with 30-62--92 and ranks tied for fourth all-time in games played (144). On the all-time list for MSU scoring, Fleming is first in assists (62), fourth in points (92) and tied for ninth in goal scoring (30).


The Kinger

Junior forward Kelsey King had two assists last time out vs. SCSU in the Mavericks' 3-1 win. She leads MSU in goal-scoring while remaining second on the team points with 9-7--16 in 18 contests. She scored a career-high four goals and had three assists for a seven-point series against Lindenwood, Oct. 8-9. In the first game of the series, King tied a pair of school records with four goals in a game, becoming the sixth player in program history to do so and the first since Kathleen Rogan (10-2 win over Lindenwood on Sept. 30, 2011), and by posting five points, which put her in a tie as the second athlete to do so alongside Kim Corona (11-0 win over Augsburg on Jan 23, 1999). King's third goal in the game was the eventual game-winner and marked the Mavericks' first natural hat trick since Corona accomplished the feat, which also last occurred on Jan 23, 1999, when MSU defeated Augsburg 11-0. King finished the big weekend with two more assists in the series finale, where the Mavericks won 7-6 in overtime.

As a result, King was named WCHA Forward of the Week on Oct. 11, marking her fifth time receiving a WCHA weekly honor and first since being named the Rookie of the Week four times during the 2019-20 campaign (Sept. 27-29, Nov. 1-2, Nov. 22-23 and Jan. 31-Feb. 1).


More Than Apples for Akervik

Junior defenseman Charlotte Akervik provided one assist in last weekend's 3-0 victory over SCSU, Friday, to up her scoring lead for Maverick defensemen to 4-11--15 in 18 games. She is also tied for second on the team and leads MSU blueliners with 50 shots on goal. The Eau Claire, Wis., native sports the best plus-minus rating of any defender on the roster at +2.


King Kondas

Senior defenseman Jessica Kondas recorded an assist in each of the Mavericks' victories, last weekend. The Calgary, Alta., native now owns a 1-9--10 scoring line in 17 games this season. A fearless presence in the defensive zone, Kondas leads the Mavericks' with 33 blocks this season and currently stands fourth all-time among Maverick shot blockers with 211 in her career.


Padding the Stats

Freshman forward Alexis Paddington leads Maverick rookies with 3-5--8 in 18 games this season. She collected her first goal when she opened the scoring in the Mavericks' 6-2 loss to #1 Wisconsin, Oct. 30.

The Maverick rookie has five assists this season after providing three in her first series dawning the purple and goal at Merrimack (Sept. 24-25) before collecting two more in MSU's series hosting Lindenwood (Oct. 8-9). As a result of her efforts in both series sweeps for MSU, Paddington was twice named WCHA Rookie of the Week (Sept. 27 and Oct. 11).


Minnesota State's Special Teams

The Mavericks' power-play unit is among the best in the nation so far this season with 12 goals in 18 games. In terms of percentage, MSU is second in the conference and fourth in the nation with a 12-for-44 (.273) success rate on the man advantage.

Despite their penalty-kill unit being a step slower compared to last year, the Mavericks have also been among the most productive offensive units while shorthanded. As a team, Minnesota State is third in the conference and fifth in the nation with a pair of shorthanded goals, both have come off Kelsey King's stick (two vs. Merrimack Sept. 24-25). Among the individual standings, King is second in the WCHA and NCAA with a pair of short-handed goals.


Looking Ahead

After winter break, the Mavericks resume action hosting Syracuse, Jan. 7-8.

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