#1 Minnesota State Resumes CCHA Action With Road Series at Bowling Green; Winners of 14 of Their Last 15 Games, Mavericks Enter Weekend Owning 25-5-1 Mark; Smith, Hastings Head to Beijing for 2022 Winter Olympic Games
McKay Reaches 100-Win Plateau for College Career; Lutz Moves Into Second Place on Career Games Played List and Nets Two Goals in Sweep Over Arizona State; Napravnik Stands Tied With Lutz for 14th-Place on School Career Points List

Off the Hop
Rated #1 by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine this week, Minnesota State (25-5-0 overall, 17-3-0 CCHA) is at Bowling Green (13-10-3, 10-7-1 CCHA) in a two-game conference series this week.

The Mavericks and the Falcons play in Bowling Green, Ohio at the BGSU Ice Arena (5,000) Friday (6:07 p.m. CST) and Saturday (6:07 p.m. CST).

The Last Time Out
Minnesota State, which has won its last five games and 14 of its last 15 outings, stands 25-5-0 overall after picking up a two-game nonconference home sweep over Arizona State.  The Mavericks received goals from four different players in downing the Sun Devils 4-2 last Friday. Paced offensively by junior forwards Cade Borchardt (1-2--3) and Ryan Sandelin (2-0--2), Minnesota State picked up a 5-3 victory Saturday.  The victory was also the 100th career with for senior netminder Dryden McKay.

Mavericks vs. Bowling Green
In a series that dates back to the 2008-09 season, Minnesota State stands 20-10-3 all-time vs. Bowling Green. The Mavericks, who claimed 5-3 and 9-2 wins over the Falcons earlier this season (Nov. 12-13 in Mankato), have won seven meetings between the two schools. Minnesota State stands 6-5-3 vs. BGSU in games played in Bowling Green.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 261-95-24 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 (261) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench.

Beijing Bound
Minnesota State junior forward Nathan Smith has been selected to the participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics as a member of Team USA. Also, head coach Mike Hastings is serving as an assistant coach with Team USA.  

Competition for Team USA gets underway Feb. 10 with pool play vs. China.  The Americans also face Canada (Feb. 12) and Germany (Feb. 13) in Group A games (there are three groups). Play-off round games begin Feb. 15 and the gold medal and bronze medal games are slated for Feb. 20.

Smith, who leads the nation in scoring with 15-26--41 in 28 games, will become the second player from the Minnesota State men's hockey program to play in the Winter Olympics (David Backes played for Team USA in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014).

Associate head coach Todd Knott (Bemidji State '02) will guide the Mavericks in Hastings' absence.

Polling
Minnesota State has been rated in the top five in all 17 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 nine times this year, are ranked first this week.

On Guard
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, stands 25-4-0 for the season with a .927 save percentage and a 1.33 goals against average.

For his four-year college career, the Downers Grove, Ill., native stands 100-19-4 with a 1.48 GAA, and .931 Sv% in 126 games played.

His 100 career wins ranks third on the NCAA's all-time list, standing only behind the 127 wins by Marty Turco (Michigan 1995-98) and the 111 wins by Steve Shields (Michigan 1991-94).

Already this year McKay, who had three shutouts in a row in wins this  year over St. Thomas (9-0 and 5-0 Nov. 18-19) and Lake Superior State (3-0 Nov. 27), has established a NCAA standard for career shutouts (he has 32) and a Minnesota State record for career wins (100).  

Winging It
Senior forward Julian Napravnik, who has tallied at least one point in eight of the last nine contests, ranks second on the Mavericks with 13-20--33 on the season. His career totals of 40-67-107 place him in a tie for 14th on Minnesota State's all-time scoring list.

One Step Forward
Senior forward Reggie Lutz, who had missed the seven previous games due to injury, scored a goal in each win over Arizona State last weekend. With 47-60--107, the Elk River, Minn., native has moved into a tie for 14th on the school's career scoring list. His 161 career games played rank second all-time with the Mavericks (Bryce Gervais played in 163 games from 2012-16).

Alternate Universe
Alternate captain Jack McNeely has 1-11--12 on the year and has registered 7-40--47 and is +91 with 171 blocked shots in 160 career games. His 160 career games stands tied for third on Minnesota State's all-time list.

De-CADE
Junior forward Cade Borchardt has racked up 5-8--13 in the last 10 games. The Burnsville, Minn., native  has 12-18--30 in 30 games on the season and owns 21-33--54 in 68 career games played.

RS Feed
Junior forward Ryan Sandelin leads the Mavericks with 17 goals on the season.  The Hermantown, Minn., native has reached career season-highs for goals (17), assists (8) and points (25) this year and his 17 goals stand tied for 17th in the nation.

On the Mark
Sophomore center Ondrej Pavel, who had 0-4--4 in 11 games played last year, has posted 7-6--13 in 30 games in 2021-22. The Prague, Czech Rep., native has scored three times and assisted on five others for six points in the last 10 games.

Fur Coat
Junior center Brendan Furry ranks third on the Mavericks with 7-23--30 in 30 games on the season. The Toledo, Ohio native, who has 1-5--6 in the last six games, has posted 12-31--43 in 58 career games.

Tool Kit
Sophomore defenseman Akito Hirose, who has 1-7--8 in the last eight games, is tied for 22nd in the nation in scoring by defensemen this year with 2-16--18.

Hirose, last season's WCHA Rookie of the Year, has registered 3-30--33 in 54 games played over the course of his two seasons of college hockey.

Riding the Crest
Creston, B.C., native Jake Livingstone has 8-16--24 on the year and is tied for third in defensemen scoring nationally.  Livingstone, who has 12-26--38 in 58 career games, had an outstanding freshman campaign last year when he was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team, the CHN National All-Rookie Team and was a member of the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team.

Mavericks Statistically Nationally
Minnesota State ranks first in the nation with 25 wins, goal scored (124), scoring margin (2.80), and face-off percentage (58.1%).

The Mavericks are second in goals against average (1.33) and scoring offense (4.13).

Nathan Smith leads the nation in scoring (15-26--41) and stands second in assists (26). Brendan Furry is tied for sixth in assists (23). Cade Borchardt (+28) leads the country with five game-winning goals and is second the country in +/- rating.

Dryden McKay's 25 wins lead the country and his eight shutouts rank third. His 1.33 GAA is tied for second and his .927 sv% is eighth.

Didja Know
Minnesota State has been outshot in a game only once this year. Michigan Tech owned a 20-19 shots on goal advantage during a 3-1 Maverick victory on Dec. 4 in a game played in Mankato.

On the Docket
Following the Bowling Green series this weekend, Minnesota State has an off weekend (Feb. 11-12) which is followed by the final regular-season home series of the year when Bemidji State visits Feb. 18-19.  

The Mavericks conclude the regular season with a road series at Michigan Tech Feb. 25-26.