Off the Hop
Rated third this week both by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine and USCHO, Minnesota State (15-2-1 overall, 12-0-0 WCHA) takes on Bemidji State (9-6-3, 4-3-1 WCHA) this week in a home-and-home two-game league series. Face-off between the Mavericks and the Beavers at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (4,282) is slated for 7:07 p.m., CST Thursday.  Game two between the two teams is scheduled for 6:07 at BSU's Sanford Center (4,373) Saturday.

The Mavericks, who swept Ferris State in a pair of road games last weekend, have won their last six games and are unbeaten in 15 of their last 16 games.
 
Mavericks vs. Beavers
In a rivalry that dates back to the 1974-75 season, Minnesota State stands 57-59-16 in the all-time series vs. Bemidji State. Including a 2-1-1 mark vs. the Beavers this season, Minnesota State heads into Thursday having gone 12-5-2 in the last 19 games vs. Bemidji State.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 229-87-24 for a .709 winning percentage 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 (227) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench. Under his leadership, the Crookston, Minn., native has 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.

The Mavericks and the MacNaughton Cup
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.

Deny, Deny, Deny
Junior netminder Dryden McKay, who ranks second on the NCAA career shutouts list with 22, heads into this week ranking second in the nation with a 1.03 goals against, average, .946 save percentage, .933 winning percentage.  His eight shutouts rank first.  For his career, the Downer's Grove, Ill., native who is a Hobey Baker Award nominee and appears on the Richter Award Watch List, stands 68-12-4 with a .1.43 GAA, and .936 Sv% in 87 games played.

McKay, a First Team All-American in 2019-20, stands 6-3-0 all-time vs. Bemidji State. His goals against average in 9 appearances vs. the Beavers is 1.60 and his save percentage is .941 with two shutouts.

Settle the Score
Senior forward Reggie Lutz tallied his ninth career game-winning goal when he scored in overtime in last Friday's 5-4 win at Ferris State. Lutz, who stands tied for the Minnesota State goal-scoring lead with eight goals this year, owns a team-high 72 shots on goal.  In 130 career games, the Elk River, Minn., native has registered 35 goals and 49 assists for 84 points, which ties for 28th on the school's career scoring list.

Helping Hand
Senior center Jake Jaremko owns a five-game point-scoring streak heading in the Bemidji State series having registered two goals and five assists during that span.  With 33-55--88 in 119 career GP, Jaremko stands tied for 24th on the school's all-time point-scoring list.

How to Win Friends & Influence People
Junior defenseman Wyatt Aamodt registered his first career game-winning goal when he scored his second goal of the year in last Saturday's 5-1 win at Ferris State. Aamodt, who has 4-11--15 in 72 career games, ranks second on the Mavericks this year with 22 blocked shots.

Lucky 13
Sophomore center Brendan Furry scored twice and assisted on another in helping Minnesota State to a two-game road sweep at Ferris State last weekend. Furry has 3-5--8 in 18 games in 2020-21.

Bro-Cade
Currently in the midst of a five-game point-scoring streak (2-3--5), sophomore forward Cade Borchardt stands tied for first on the Mavericks in scoring with 8-12--20.  His points per game average of 1.11 ranks 18th in the nation.

Nik of Time
Junior forward Julian Napravnik stands tied for first on Minnesota State's scoring charts with 7-13--20 in 17 games played. Napravnik, whose 1.18 points per game mark ranks 12th in the nation, leads Minnesota State with three game-winning goals and stands tied for the team lead with four power play markers.

Keep Your Defense Up
Freshman defenseman Jake Livingstone registered two assists in last Friday's 5-4 overtime win at Ferris State and has 3-7--10 in 18 games played in his first season of college hockey.  Livingstone's 10 points stands tied for fifth in the nation amongst freshman defensemen.

Aim for the Center
Sophomore center Nathan Smith enters this week having tallied 2-6--8 in the last nine games.  Smith has 4-14--18 in 18 games played this year and his assists per game mark of 0.78 ranks 11th in the country.

First Defense
Freshman Akito Hirose is Minnesota State's top-scoring defenseman with 1-11--12 on the year. The Calgary, Alta., native  leads the Mavericks with a +15 rating - a mark that ranks second in the country amongst all freshmen.

Reaching Forward
Senior forward Todd Burgess had two assists in last Saturday's 5-1 win at Ferris State.  Burgess, a Phoenix, Ariz., native who has 4-8--12 in 17 games played for the Mavericks this year, has 35 shots on goal for the season.
 
Nationally-Speaking
Minnesota State has connected on 22 of 74 power play chances for a .297 power play percentage, a mark which ranks second in the nation. The Mavericks own an .873% success rate on the penalty kill which ranks ninth in the nation in having fended off 48 of 55 opponent chances with the man advantage.