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The Minnesota State women's hockey team plays host to #5/6 Minnesota Duluth this weekend at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Face-offs are scheduled for 6:01 p.m., Friday, and 3:01 p.m., Saturday.


Past and Present

MSU swept a nonconference series vs. the Merrimack College Warriors away from home to open the season, last weekend. The Mavericks won the games 3-0, Friday, and 9-3, Saturday.

While the Mavericks (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) now have some action under their belt, the visiting Bulldogs enter this weekend's series with a fresh slate having not competed in a game yet this season. UMD is coming off a season in which they finished 12-7 (11-5 WCHA) and made it to the national semifinal game before suffering an overtime defeat to Northeastern.


WCHA Rookie of the Week

Freshman forward Alexis Paddington opened the season with three assists in her first weekend sporting the purple and gold. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native assisted on two goals in the Mavericks' 3-0 win during her debut, Friday, which included one helper on MSU's first goal of the season and eventual game-winner. On Saturday, Paddington provided another assist in the Mavericks' 9-3 victory over the Warriors. Aside from her three-point weekend, Paddington put two shots on net and blocked two others while finishing her first series with a +1 rating.


WCHA Coaches' Poll

In the 2021-22 WCHA Coaches' Poll, the Mavericks were slotted fifth in the rankings with 25 points, as announced by conference officials prior to the season. This comes a step up from the 2020-21 predictions, where MSU was placed sixth with 13 points.


Akervik's Apples

Junior defenseman Charlotte Akervik leads MSU with five points and four assists following one week of action. Akervik found herself tied for sixth in MSU's single-game assists chart after providing three helpers in the Mavericks' 9-3 win last Saturday at Merrimack. The Eau Claire, Wis., native finished the series with a team high +8 rating.


Bryant Snipes

Senior forward Brooke Bryant leads the Mavericks in goals scored after one week of play. The Linden, Calif., native led the charge in MSU's 9-3 victory over Merrimack, last Saturday. After scoring one goal, Friday, Bryant scored two more times and provided an assist in Saturday's game for a three-point afternoon. She leads the Mavericks at a .429 mark in shooting percentage after week one.


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. The Oregon, Wis., native tied for the team lead in playmaking last season with seven assists. Last weekend, Fleming had four points with two goals and two assists. Fleming MSU's active career scoring leader with 26-47--73 in 128 games. On the list of all-time Maverick scoring, Fleming now stands fifth in assists (47), eighth in points (73) and 11th in goal scoring (26).


Kondas the Kid

Similar to Fleming, senior defenseman Jessica Kondas opted to use her extra year of eligibility to compete one more season with the Mavericks. The right-shot defenseman led MSU in goals scored by defensemen last season with three tallies. Kondas finished last season with a 3-2--5 line, including a pair of game-winning goals which stood tied for team lead, and 36 blocked shots. Despite not having a point in last weekend's series at Merrimack, the Calgary, Alta., native led the MSU with seven blocked shots in two games.


To be Frank...

Last Friday, sophomore goaltender Calla Frank started between the pipes for the season opener where she earned her fifth career shutout with a 16-save showing at Merrimack during the Mavericks' 3-0 victory over the Warriors. 

As a Maverick, Frank owns a career record of 13-18-4 with a .912 save percentage and 2.61 goals against average.


Rookie of the Year

Sophomore forward Jamie Nelson finished her first season as the Maverick's leading point scorer with 8-7--15 in 18 games. The Andover, Minn., native finished the season second in WCHA  regular-season rookie scoring and garnered WCHA All-Rookie Team honors as well as being named the Mavericks' first-ever WCHA Rookie of the Year. In the conference standings, Nelson closed out the season pacing WCHA freshman with three power play goals, 57 shots and 26 blocks. In her last action, Nelson led the Mavericks in a series at Minnesota Duluth (Feb. 20-21) with a pair of goals. The multi-goal weekend saw her crown her self as MSU's leading point scorer for the 2020-21 season. Nelson also tied for MSU's team lead in goals and assists last season. Nelson did not see any action in week one.


The Captains

Senior defenseman Anna Wilgren was promoted to MSU's head captain before the 2020-21 season and remains in the role this year. Senior defensemen Jessica Kondas and forward Brittyn Fleming were also renamed alternate captains for this season. Junior forward Claire Butorac was named the Mavericks' newest alternate captain.


Minnesota State All-Time

Minnesota State, which began play in 1998-99, enters its 24th season of competition. The Mavericks have compiled a 205-515-71 (.304) record in 791 games played. MSU heads into its 23rd year as members of the WCHA and hold a 125-411-56 (.258) record in 592 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 which was good for fifth in the WCHA standings.


Looking Ahead

The Mavericks play host to the Lindenwood Lions, Oct. 8-9, following this weekend's slate at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.

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