#1 Minnesota State Hosts Arizona State in Nonconference MatchUp; Winners of 12 of Their Last 13 Games, Mavericks Enter Weekend Owning 23-5-1 Mark; McNeely Named CCHA Defenseman of the Week; Silye Earns CCHA Forward of the Week Accolades
Napravnik Now Tied for 14th on Minnesota State's Career Scoring List; Smith Extends Point-Scoring Streak to Seven Games; McKay Closes in on 100-Career Wins Mark

Off the Hop
Rated #1 by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine this week, Minnesota State (23-5-0 overall, 17-3-0 CCHA) hosts Arizona State (15-12-0) in a two-game nonconference series this week.

The Mavericks and the Sun Devils play in downtown Mankato at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (4, 832) Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Saturday (6:07 p.m.).

The Last Time Out
Minnesota State, which has won its last three games and 12 of its last 13 outings, stands 23-5-0 overall after picking up a two-game league sweep over St. Thomas.  The Mavericks downed the Tommies 5-1 last Thursday in Mendota Heights, Minn., before claiming a 7-1 victory in Hockey Day Minnesota action outdoors Saturday at MSU's Blakeslee Stadium.  Sophomore center David Silye's three goals in the game helped deliver the win for the Mavericks.

Mavericks vs. Arizona State
In a series that dates back to the 2018-19 season, Minnesota State stands 2-0-1 in the all-time vs. Arizona State. The Mavericks claimed 5-0 and 4-1 wins over the Sun Devils in 2019-20.  Minnesota State also faced Arizona State in the third-place game of the Sun Devil Classic - a four-team tournament hosted by ASU in late December of 2018. The Mavericks and the Sun Devils skated to a 2-2 overtime tie (ASU won the shootout following OT).

Arizona State is in its seventh year playing as a NCAA Division I independent, while Minnesota State is in its 26th year of DI-men's hockey.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 259-95-24 under the tutelage of head coach Mike Hastings (St. Cloud State '93), who is in his 10th season in charge of the Mavericks. Including a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2020-21, Hastings has led the Mavericks to six NCAA tournament appearances and no program in the nation has won more games (259) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench.

Polling
Minnesota State has been rated in the top five in all 16 polls issued by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine this year.  The Mavericks, who have been rated #1 in the USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey polls eight  times this year, are ranked first this week.

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.  

Gatekeeper
Senior netminder Dryden McKay, a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist and a finalist for the Mike Richter Award in 2020-21 and a two-time All-American, McKay stands 23-4-0 for the season with a .930 save percentage and a 1.24 goals against average.

Earlier this season, McKay put up three shutouts in consecutive games played, marking the third time in his career he has accomplished the feat.

02.08.20    Dryden McKay vs. Northern Michigan (1-0)
02.21.20    Dryden McKay vs. Alabama Huntsville (10-0)
02.22.20    Dryden McKay vs. Alabama Huntsville (8-0)

01.02.21     Dryden McKay @ Northern Michigan (5-0)
01.03.21    Dryden McKay @ Northern Michigan (4-0)
01.15.21    Dryden McKay @ Lake Superior State (3-0)

11.18.21    Dryden McKay vs. St. Thomas (9-0)
11.19.21    Dryden McKay @ St. Thomas (5-0)
11.27.21    Dryden McKay @ Lake Superior State (3-0)

For his four-year college career, the Downers Grove, Ill., native stands 98-19-4 with a 1.47 GAA, and .932 Sv% in 124 games played.

Already this year McKay has established a new NCAA standard for career shutouts (he has 32) and a Minnesota State record for career wins (96).  His 98 career wins ranks fourth on the NCAA's all-time list.

Floridian Force
A three-time CCHA Forward of the Week honoree this year, junior forward Nathan Smith has been named to the U.S. Men's Hockey Olympic Team and once he hits the ice in Beijing, will join David Backes (Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014) as men's hockey players from Minnesota State to have played in the Olympics. Also, Smith joins Mike Hastings in Beijing as Hastings has been selected to serve as an assistant coach with Team USA.

Smith, who leads the country in scoring with 15-23--38 on the year and enters the St. Thomas series riding a seven-game point-scoring streak (4-8--12), has moved into a tie for 25th place on Minnesota State's career scoring list with 33-57--90 in 89 games played.

Ascending
Senior winger Julian Napravnik, currently in the midst of a seven-game point-scoring streak (5-8--13), ranks second on the Mavericks with 12-20--32 on the season. His career totals of 39-67-106 place him in a tie for 14th on Minnesota State's all-time scoring list.

Cade-Ence
Junior forward Cade Borchardt has racked up 4-6--10 in the last eight games. The Burnsville, Minn., native  has 11-16--27 in 28 games on the season and owns 20-31--51 in 66 career games played.

Sands of Time
Junior forward Ryan Sandelin stands tied for the team lead with 15 goals on the season.  The Hermantown, Minn., native has reached career season-highs for goals (15), assists (8) and points (23) this year.

Czech Mate
Sophomore center Ondrej Pavel, who had 0-4--4 in 11 games played last year, has posted 6-5--11 in 28 games in 2021-22. The Prague, Czech Rep., native has scored twice and assisted on four others for six points in the last eight games.

Furious
Junior center Brendan Furry, who had four assists in the two games vs. St. Thomas last weekend, ranks third on the Mavericks with 7-23--30 in 28 games on the season. The Toledo, Ohio native, who enters the ASU series riding a four-game point-scoring streak (1-5--6), has posted 12-31--43 in 56 career games.

Silye String
Sophomore center David Silye's first career hat trick helped power Minnesota State to its 7-1 win over St. Thomas last Saturday in Hockey Day Minnesota action played outdoors at Blakeslee Stadium.

Silye, who had five shots on goal with a +2 rating and won 19 of 26 faceoffs for a .731 mark in the two wins over St. Thomas,  was named the CCHA Player of the Week for his performance vs. the Tommies.

For the season, the Amprior, Ont., native has posted 5-6--11 in 28 games played.

Lumber Jack
Senior defenseman Jack McNeely picked up CCHA Defenseman of the Week accolades after a four-point weekend on a goal and three assists in the two wins vs. St. Thomas.

McNeely, who has 1-10--11 on the year, has registered 7-39--46 and is +91 in 156 career games.

Mavericks Statistically Nationally
Minnesota State ranks first in the nation with 23 wins, goal scored (115), scoring margin (2.86), and face-off percentage (58.4%).

The Mavericks are second in goals against average (1.25) and third in scoring offense (4.11).

Nathan Smith leads the nation in scoring (15-23--38) and stands fourth in assists (23). Brendan Furry is tied for fourth in assists (23). Cade Borchardt (+28) leads the country in +/- rating.

Dryden McKay's 23 wins lead the country and his eight shutouts ranks second. His 1.25 GAA ranks second and his .930 sv% is sixth and his 1.24 goals against average is second.

On the Docket
Following the Arizona State series this weekend, the Mavericks face Bowling Green on the road Feb. 3-4. An off weekend (Feb. 11-12) is followed by a home series vs. Bemidji State Feb. 18-19.