#1 Minnesota State Hosts Bemidji State in Last Home Games of 2021-22 Regular Season; Mavericks Lead Nation With 27 Wins
Top-rated Mavericks Enter Home League Series Riding Seven-Game Winning Streak and 16 Wins in Last 17 Games; Napravnik Moves into 11th on School's Career Scoring List and Lutz Stands 12th; Lutz and McNeely on the Cusp of Becoming Program's Career Record-Holders for Games Played; McKay Extends NCAA Career Shutouts Record to 33 & Ranks Third All-Time Nationally With 102 Career Victories

Off the Hop
Rated #1 by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine this week, Minnesota State (27-5-0 overall, 19-3-0 CCHA) hosts Bemidji State (14-16-0, 12-10-0 CCHA) in a two-game conference series this week.

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

The Last Time Out
Minnesota State, which has won its last seven games and 16 of its last 17 outings, stands 27-5-0 overall after picking up a two-game conference road sweep at Bowling Green Feb. 4 and 5.  Junior center Brendan Furry scored twice to help the Mavericks secure a 3-1 win in the first game. And in the second game, a 5-0 win, Minnesota State broke the game open following a scoreless first period by scoring three times in the second frame. Ryan Sandelin had two goals and an assist, Sam Morton had three assists and senior netminder Dryden McKay had 19 saves in picking up his ninth shutout of the year.

Mavericks vs. Bemidji State
One of its oldest-rivals and most-often played opponents, Minnesota State first played Bemidji State during the 1974-75 season. Minnesota State stands 64-61-21 in the all-time series vs. the Beavers. Including 5-1 and 3-1 wins in a pair of league games played in Bemidji earlier this year (Dec. 10-11), the Mavericks have gone 7-4-1 vs. BSU in the last 12 meetings between the two schools.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 263-95-24 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 Update
Minnesota State junior forward Nathan Smith is a member of Team USA competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Maverick head coach Mike Hastings is also serving as an assistant coach with Team USA.   Smith is 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).

The American team stands 3-0 following games vs. China (8-0 win, Feb. 10), Canada (4-2 W, Feb. 12) and Germany (3-2 win, Feb. 13).  Play-off round games begin Feb. 15 and the gold medal and bronze medal games are slated for Feb. 20. The U.S. faces the winner of Slovakia vs. Germany Wednesday in quarterfinal action.

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 19 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 ten times this year, are ranked first for the fourth consecutive week this week.

Blockade
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 27-4-0 for the season with a .932 save percentage and a 1.27 goals against average.

For his four-year college career, the Downers Grove, Ill., native stands 102-19-4 with a 1.47 GAA, and .932 Sv% in 128 games played.

His 102 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 33) and a Minnesota State record for career wins (102).  

J-Train
Senior forward Julian Napravnik, who has tallied at least one point in 10 of the last 11 contests (and owns a two-game point-scoring streak with 1-3--4), ranks second on the Mavericks with 14-23--37 on the season. His career totals of 41-70-111 place him 11th on Minnesota State's all-time scoring list.

Lutz Go
With 47-60--107 for his Minnesota State playing career, senior forward Reggie Lutz is 12th on the school's career scoring list.

Jack Be Nimble
Senior defenseman Jack McNeely has 1-12--13 on the year and has registered 7-41--48 and is +92 with 175 blocked shots in 160 career games.

In the Game
Senior forward Reggie Lutz stands tied with Bryce Gervais (MSU 2012-16) for the Minnesota State record for career games played with 163.  Senior defenseman Jack McNeely has played in 162 career games.

CBGB
Junior forward Cade Borchardt has racked up 5-10--15 in the last 12 games. The Burnsville, Minn., native  has 12-20--32 in 32 games on the season and owns 21-35--56 in 70 career games played.

Catcher in the Rye
Junior forward Ryan Sandelin leads the Mavericks with 19 goals on the season.  The Hermantown, Minn., native has reached career season-highs for goals (19), assists (9) and points (28) this year and his 19 goals stand tied for second in the nation.

Lucky 13
Junior center Brendan Furry ranks third on the Mavericks with 10-23--33 in 32 games on the season. The Toledo, Ohio native, who has 4-5--9 in the last seven games, has posted 15-31--46 in 60 career games.

Through the Looking Glass
Senior defenseman Andy Carroll has 2-10--12 in 31 games played this year and has reached career highs for assists and points.  Carroll, a native of Northfield, Minn., whose +28 on the year stands tied for second on the team, has registered 8-27--35 in 119 career games played.

Sam I Am
Junior forward Sam Morton had a career single-game high three assists in Minnesota State's 5-0 victory at Bowling Green Feb. 5.  Morton has 5-11--16 in 26 games this year and owns 10-15--25 in his two seasons with Minnesota State.

Living Room
Creston, B.C., native Jake Livingstone has 8-16--24 on the year and is tied for 10th in defensemen scoring nationally.  Livingstone, who has 12-26--38 in 60 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 27 wins, goals scored (132), scoring margin (2.84), and face-off percentage (58.3%).

The Mavericks are second in goals against average (1.28) and scoring offense (4.12) and are sixth in penalty killing (87.8) and ninth on the power play (24.4).

Nathan Smith is second the nation in scoring (15-26--41) and stands third in assists (26). Brendan Furry and Julian Napravnik are tied for 10th in assists (23). Cade Borchardt leads the country with a +31 and is tied for third with five game-winning goals. Ryan Sandelin's 19 goals are tied for second in the nation.

Dryden McKay's 27 wins lead the country and his nine shutouts ties for second. His 1.27 GAA is second and his .932 sv% is fourth.

Didja Know
Minnesota State has been outshot in a game only twice 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 and Bowling Green outshot the Mavericks 28-25 in a 3-1 Minnesota State win Feb. 4 in Bowling Green.

On the Docket
Following the Bemidji State series, the Mavericks conclude the regular season with a road series at Michigan Tech Feb. 25-26.