Off the Hop
Rated #1 by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine this week, Minnesota State (29-5-0 overall, 21-3-0 CCHA) closes out the 2021-22 regular season with a two-game CCHA road series at Michigan Tech (19-9-3, 16-6-2 CCHA) this weekend.

The Mavericks and the Huskies play in Houghton, Mich., at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena (6,985) Friday (6:07 p.m. CST) and Saturday (5:07 p.m. CST).

The Last Time Out
Minnesota State, which has won its last nine games and 18 of its last 19 outings, stands 29-5-0 overall after picking up a two-game conference home sweep over Bemidji State last weekend.

Senior forward Reggie Lutz had a goal and assist in Friday's 5-1 win over the Beavers. The score stayed the game for game two with the line of Julian Napravnik, Brendan Furry and Cade Borchardt combined for nine points with four goals and five assists in the MacNaughton-Cup clinching victory.

Mavericks & the MacNaughton Cup
Minnesota State clinched the MacNaughton Cup as CCHA regular-season champions with the weekend sweep of Bemidji State.  The Mavericks have now won the last five MacNaughton Cups - four as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and this season as first-year members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Mavericks vs. Michigan Tech
Including 3-1 and 2-1 (overtime) wins in Mankato earlier this season, Minnesota State has won the last six meetings with Michigan Tech and owns a 48-23-10 record in the all-time series vs. the Huskies. The first meeting between the two programs dates back to the 1996-97 season and in games played in Houghton, the Mavericks stand 18-17-6.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 265-95-24 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 (265) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench.

Polling
Minnesota State has been rated in the top five in all 20 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 11 times this year, are ranked first for the fifth consecutive week this week.

In Your DMs
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 29-4-0 for the season with a .934 save percentage and a 1.26 goals against average.

For his four-year college career, the Downers Grove, Ill., native stands 104-19-4 with a 1.46 GAA, and .932 Sv% in 130 games played.

His 104 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 (104).  

Forward Progress
Senior forward Julian Napravnik, who has tallied at least one point in 12 of the last 13 contests (and owns a four-game point-scoring streak with 3-5--8), was named CCHA Forward of the Week after racking up four points in last weekend's home sweep over Bemidji State.

Napravnik stands tied for the team scoring lead with 16-25--41 on the season. His career totals of 43-72-115 place him 10th on Minnesota State's all-time scoring list.

Reg-ulate
With 49-62--111 for his Minnesota State playing career, senior forward Reggie Lutz is 13th on the school's career scoring list.

Jack of All Trades
Senior defenseman Jack McNeely has 1-12--13 on the year and has registered 7-41--48 and is +95 with 178 blocked shots in 164 career games.

In the Game
Senior forward Reggie Lutz ranks first and senior defenseman Jack McNeely second on Minnesota State's career games played list.











Barri-Cade
Junior forward Cade Borchardt has racked up 7-12--19 in the last 14 games. The Burnsville, Minn., native  has 14-22--36 in 34 games on the season and owns 23-37--60 in 72 career games played.

North Forty
Forwards Nathan Smith and Julian Napravnik top the Minnesota State scoring charts with 41 points each. The last time the Mavericks had at least two players with at least 40 points on the team in the same season was 2018-19 when Marc Michaelis (42) and Parker Tuomie accomplished the feat.

This year marks the seventh season for the school's DI-era that the Mavericks have had at least two players with 40 or more points.

Nathan Smith (41, 2021-22)
Julian Napravnik (41, 2021-22)

Marc Michaelis (42, 2018-19)
Parker Tuomie (40, 2018-19)

C.J. Suess (43, 2017-18)
Zeb Knutson (43, 2017-18)
Marc Michaelis (40, 2017-18)

Matt Leitner (45, 2013-14)
J.P. Lafontaine (40, 2013-14)

Travis Morin (42, 2005-06)
David Backes (42, 2005-06)

Shane Joseph (65, 2002-03)
Grant Stevenson (63, 2002-03)

Tyler Deis (46, 1996-97)
Ryan Rintoul (40, 1996-97)

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

Stoke the Fur-nace
Junior center Brendan Furry stands tied for  third in scoring on the Mavericks with 10-26--36 in 34 games. The Toledo, Ohio native, who has 4-8--12 in the last nine games, has posted 15-34--49 in 62 career games.
 
Kasota Stone
Creston, B.C., native Jake Livingstone has 9-17--26 on the year and is tied for ninth in defensemen scoring nationally.  Livingstone, who has 13-27--40 in 62 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 29 wins, goals scored (142), scoring margin (2.91), and face-off percentage (58.1%).

The Mavericks are second in goals against average (1.26) and scoring offense (4.12) and are sixth in penalty killing (88.4) and eighth on the power play (25.5).

Nathan Smith (15-26--41) and Julian Napravnik (16-25--41) are tied for third in the nation in scoring and stands third in assists (26). Brendan Furry and Nathan Smith are tied for third in assists (26) and Napravnik (25) is tied for sixth. Cade Borchardt leads the country with a +32 and is tied for third with five game-winning goals. Ryan Sandelin's 19 goals are tied for fourth in the nation.

Dryden McKay's 29 wins lead the country and his nine shutouts ties for second. His 1.26 GAA is second and his .934 sv% is third.

Didja Know
Minnesota State's 29 wins lead the country and stand tied for fourth on the school's single-season list.  The school record is 32 by the 2018-19 team.

On the Docket
As CCHA regular-season champions, Minnesota State will hold the #1 seed in the league playoffs, which are scheduled to begin next weekend (best two out of three quarterfinal series that runs March 4-6 at on-campus sites (high seed).