#1 Minnesota State Entertains St. Thomas in CCHA Quarterfinal Series; Mavericks Riding 11-Game Winning Streak & Lead Nation with 31 Wins
Top-rated Mavericks have 21 Wins in Last 21 Games; McKay Named CCHA Goaltender of the Week for Seventh Time and Ranks Third All-Time in NCAA History With 106 Career Victories; Smith Extends Point-Scoring Streak to 11 Games; Napravnik Has Six-Game Point-Scoring Streak

Off the Hop
Rated #1 by USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine this week, Minnesota State (31-5-0 overall, 23-3-0 CCHA) hosts St. Thomas (3-30-1, 3-22-1 CCHA) in Central Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinal action this weekend.

The Mavericks and the Tommies square-off in best-of-three playoff action at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (4,832) in downtown Mankato Friday (7:07 p.m. CST), Saturday (6:07 p.m. CST) and Sunday (5:07 p.m. CST, if necessary).

Mavericks vs. Tommies
In a series that dates back to the 1971-72 season, Minnesota State stands 20-9-2 in the all-time vs. St. Thomas.

The Mavericks have gone 4-0-0 vs. UST this year, claiming 9-0 and 5-0 wins over the Tommies Nov. 18 and 20 and 5-1 and 7-1 wins Jan. 20 and 22. The 7-1 win Jan. 20 was played outdoors at MSU's Blakeslee Stadium for Hockey Day Minnesota.

St. Thomas is in its first year of DI, Minnesota State is in its 26th year of DI-men's hockey and both teams are first-year members of the CCHA.

The Last Time Out
Minnesota State, which has won its last 11 games and 20 of its last 21 outings, stands 31-5-0 overall after picking up a two-game conference road sweep at Michigan Tech last weekend.

Senior forward Julian Napravnik tallied in overtime for the Mavericks' 2-1 win Friday, while junior forwards Nathan Smith and Lucas Sowder tallied goals in Saturday's 2-1 victory. Senior netminder Dryden McKay registered 46 saves on 48 shots in the two games.

Behind the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 267-95-24 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 (267) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench.

Polling
Minnesota State has been rated in the top five in all 21 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 13 times this year, are ranked first for the sixth consecutive week this week.

Save Tonight
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 31-4-0 for the season with a .936 save percentage and a 1.24 goals against average.

For his four-year college career, the Downers Grove, Ill., native stands 106-19-4 with a 1.45 GAA, and .933 Sv% in 132 games played.

One of 11 players named a 2021-22 Richter Award semifinalist last week, McKay's 106 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).

McKay's 31 wins this year stands tied for sixth on the NCAA DI men's hockey single-season list. Minnesota's Robb Stauber (1987-88) and Michigan's Marty Turco (1995-96) stand atop the list with 34 wins. Turco also had 33 wins in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

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 (106).  

Including last week, McKay has been named CCHA Goaltender of the Week seven times this year.









Nap Time
Senior forward Julian Napravnik, who has tallied at least one point in 14 of the last 15 contests (and owns a six-game point-scoring streak with 4-7--11), registered a goal and two assists in last weekend's sweep at Michigan Tech.

Napravnik stands tied for the team scoring lead with 17-27--44 on the season. His career totals of 44-74-118 place him 10th on Minnesota State's all-time scoring list.

Crazy 8
Junior center Nathan Smith, who spent three weeks in China at the 2022 Winter Olympics with the U.S. men's national team, picked up where he left off with two goals and an assist in last weekend's sweep at Michigan Tech.

Smith, who heads into the postseason riding an 11-game point-scoring streak (6-13--19), stands tied for the team lead in scoring with 17-27--44.

Elk Hound
With 49-63--112 for his Minnesota State playing career, senior forward Reggie Lutz  (Elk River, Minn.) is 13th on the school's career scoring list.

For the Defense
Senior defenseman Jack McNeely has 1-12--13 on the year and has registered 7-41--48 and is +95 with 19 blocked shots in 166 career games.

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











Slow Burn
Junior forward Cade Borchardt has racked up 7-13--20 in the last 16 games. The Burnsville, Minn., native  has 14-23--37 in 36 games on the season and owns 23-38--61 in 74 career games played.

Fortification
Forwards Nathan Smith and Julian Napravnik top the Minnesota State scoring charts with 44 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 (40) 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 (44)    2021-22
Julian Napravnik (44)    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

Holy Toledo
Junior center Brendan Furry ranks fourth  in scoring on the Mavericks with 10-26--36 in 36 games. The Toledo, Ohio native, who has 4-8--12 in the last 11 games, has posted 15-34--49 in 64 career games.

Mavericks Statistically Nationally
Minnesota State ranks first in the nation with 31 wins, goals scored (146), scoring margin (2.81), and face-off percentage (58.1%).

The Mavericks are second in goals against average (1.25) and scoring offense (4.06) and are fifth in penalty killing (89.0) and 10th on the power play (25.0).

Nathan Smith (17-27--44) and Julian Napravnik (17-27--44) are tied for second in the nation in scoring. Brendan Furry, Smith and Napravnik  are tied for third in assists (27). Ryan Sandelin's 19 goals are tied for sixth in the nation.

Dryden McKay's 31 wins lead the country and his nine shutouts ties for second. His 1.26 GAA is second and his .934 sv% is fourth.

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