MANKATO, Minn. - Luke Strand makes his regular season head coaching debut Friday at 7:07 p.m. CT at Mayo Health Clinic Event Center. The Mavericks finished last season 25-13-1 overall (16-9-1 CCHA). This year, with 10 new players and an entirely new staff, the team hopes to exceed preseason prognostications and continue to be the winningest Division I program over the last 11 seasons. The puck drops Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CT in Mankato.

The Mavericks host No. 10 St. Cloud State, a team they went 0-3 against last season. Most recently, the Huskies upended the Mavericks 4-0 on March 23 in Fargo, North Dakota in the NCAA Regional. SCSU's postseason came to a halt in the next round with a 4-1 loss to then No. 1 Minnesota.

Minnesota State returns 17 players, including all three goaltenders. MSU fell 1-0 to Nebraska Omaha in a home exhibition on Friday, October 7 in front of 4,145 fans.

In the Polls

• Minnesota State received votes in the DCU/USCHO Division I Preseason National Rankings Poll, which included 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country. 
• In the CCHA, only Michigan Tech was represented in the Top-20 rankings, checking in at No. 10. The Huskies feature returning fifth year All-America goaltender Blake Pietila and were also selected to win the CCHA this season in both coaches and media CCHA preseason polls. 
• The Mavericks checked in sixth and fourth  in those respective polls. 
• MSU broke a streak of 131 consecutive weeks ranked in the USCHO Top-20 prior to last Monday. The team also received votes (66) in Monday's USA Hockey/The Rink Live Division I rankings poll. 
• With some Division I teams already in regular season action over the weekend, the Mavericks again received votes in both national polls for week one.

Scouting the Huskies

• SCSU opened the regular season with a home-and-home series with St. Thomas on homecoming weekend for the Huskies. Both teams won on the road, with St. Thomas sneaking a 5-4 overtime victory on opening night, then St. Cloud State nabbing a 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon. Adam Ingram (West St. Paul, Manitoba) scored the lone goal (unassisted) and goaltender Dominic Basse (Alexandria, Va.) notched a 33-save shutout. Both teams had goals overturned in the third period due to offsides. Ingraham scored off a Tommie turnover in the neutral zone, then moved left to right and went forward, backhand, five-hole in the second period.
• St. Cloud State started the 2023-24 campaign ranked No. 8 in the USCHO Top-20 poll and No. 7 in The Rink Live/USA Top-20 poll.
• The Huskies finished the 2022-23 season with a 25-13-3 record and advanced to their 17th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. In the Fargo regional, SCSU beat Minnesota State 4-0 to advance to the NCAA regional championship game for the sixth time in program history. 
• This season, the Huskies return a talented core which includes Hobey Baker nominee and newly minted captain fifth-year defenseman Dylan Anhorn and two of its top-four goal scorers from a year ago in Zach Okabe (18-18-36) and Veeti Miettinen (12-24-36).
• Fifth-year senior forward Zach Okabe returns for one more campaign in the red and black, and is only five points away from joining an exclusive club in St. Cloud State Men's Hockey history. Okabe currently has 95 points (42 goals / 53 assists) and is five points away from becoming the 38th member of SCSU's 100-point club.
• Junior defenseman Jack Peart was named to the NCHC Preseason All-Conference team after solidifying his spot as one of the best blue liners in the conference in 2022-23, as he earned All-NCHC Second Team recognition and was named an NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year finalist. Peart produced three goals and 21 assists for 24 points with 42 blocks as a sophomore. His 21 assists led all Husky defensemen and ranked second among NCHC blueliners. He was a second round selection (54th overall) by the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
• Dylan Anhorn became the 35th SCSU team captain, while Josh Luedtke, Joe Molenaar, and Zach Okabe were selected as alternatives. 

Back-to-Back Tournament Champs

• The Mavericks won their second consecutive Mason Cup Championship when they defeated Northern Michigan University 3-2 in overtime (Mar. 18). In 2021-22, MSU defeated Bemidji State 2-1 in overtime to claim the postseason trophy.
• Minnesota State now has five conference tournament titles in the program's Division I history (2013-14, 2014-15, 2018-19, 2021-22, 2022-23). The Mavericks have advanced out of the first round in 11 straight seasons, which includes a 2-0 sweep of Lake Superior State in the 2022-23 quarterfinal series.
• MSU has played in six conference tournament championship games in the Division I era. In addition to their five wins, the Mavericks also played in the title game in 2015-16. 

Home Ice Advantage

• Last year, Minnesota State averaged 4,533 fans which is 93.8% capacity of the 4,832 seat Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The Mavericks reached 90% or higher capacity 13 times last season, with seven games reaching "standing room only capacity" and four of those being sell outs.
• The Mavericks ranked 13th nationally in average attendance and led the CCHA in attendance per game. In terms of capacity percentage, the Mavericks ranked tenth nationally and were one of 12 teams with more than 10 home games to have an average capacity of 90% or higher. In 2022-23, the Mavericks went 14-7-0 in Mankato, including four CCHA playoff wins.

How to Watch

• All Minnesota State home and CCHA games during the 2023-24 season will be live streamed on FloHockey.tv.
• Fans can purchase either annual ($150) or monthly ($30) subscriptions and will have access to all CCHA games along with the full USHL, Atlantic Hockey and ECHL schedule. Download the FloSports app today on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and the App Store.
• Local Television will show Maverick hockey this weekend on The Circle over air channel 7-3, Charter 193, Mediacom 140, Comcast 228, Midco 595

Preseason All-CCHA

• Preseason All-CCHA forwards include Andre Ghantous (NMU), Kyle Kukkonen (MTU) and Austin Swankler (MTU). Defensemen include Josh Zinger (NMU), Kyle Looft (BSU) and Jed Pietila (MTU).
• Preseason All-CCHA goaltender is Blake Pietila (MTU).

Last Time vs. SCSU

• Minnesota State failed to score on goaltender Jaxon Castor, as the St. Cloud State netminder posted his second consecutive shutout with a season-high 34 save to advance at the NCAA Fargo Regional 4-0 on March 23, 2023.
• The teams were scoreless through 32 minutes, the the final eight minutes of the second period provided two tallies for the Huskies heading into intermission.
• Defenseman Akito Hirose hit both posts on a shot with 3:28 to play in the game, but an empty net tally after a turnover sealed the Mavericks' fate and ended their 25 win season.

CCHA Champions

• The Mavericks needed overtime for the second straight year in the CCHA Championship to claim the Mason Cup, as a goal by forward Zach Krajnik just 1:08 into the extra session lifted the home team to the title.
• Forward Cade Borchardt added an assist to Krajnik's first-career game-winner. 
• After failing to score for more than 55 minutes of game time and trailing 2-0, the Mavericks came alive in the final minutes of the third to tie the game and then score early in overtime.
• Forward Ondrej Pavel scored for the second straight game with 2:19 remining in regulation.
• Forward Simon Tassy and defenseman Andy Carroll picked up the assists.
• Then with the extra attacker on the ice, forward Christian Fitzgerald found the back of the net with helpers from defenseman Jake Livingstone and forward Brendan Furry. 
• Goaltender Keenan Rancier recorded 23 saves in the win. 
• Fitzgerald scored in each of the four CCHA postseason games.

20-Plus Dubs

• With MSU's 4-1 win at Bemidji State (Feb. 17), the Mavericks secured their 23rd 20-win season, and the 12th in the Division I era.
• The Mavericks have hit the 20-win plateau in 11 straight seasons and 30 wins in four of the last five years.
• The 25 wins last season was tied for 11th most in program history (7th in the Division I-era) with the 1978-79 squad.

Newcomers

• Head Coach Luke Strand announced the signing of ten student-athletes joining the team in 2023-24 on August 18. Among the new recruits are six players from the state of Minnesota. "We are excited to announce a class of players that will bring our lineup a balance of experience, ability and competitiveness. The players that have joined our program show a combination of compete, work ethic, skating and skill."
• Last year the Mavericks fielded the oldest (by age) team in NCAA Division I. This fall, players average 22.7 years, dropping them to seventh eldest.
• Minnesota State is also one of the smallest teams in Division I. At an average player height of 5-feet-11.6-inches, MSU ranks fourth shortest and is the smallest squad by average weight (179.5 pounds) in the country.

Behind the Bench:

• Upon being named just the fifth head coach in Maverick men's hockey history on April 10, 2023, Luke Strand filled out his staff with associate head coach Troy G. Ward, and assistant coaches Keith Paulsen and Cory McCracken.

Ranc Returns

• Junior goaltender Keenan Rancier was named CCHA Goaltender of the Week following an outstanding weekend at Arizona State (Jan. 13-14). He stopped 56 of 57 shots and posted a .982 save percentage.
• Rancier recorded his first career shutout Jan. 14 with a 26-save performance in a 5-0 Maverick victory. 
• He won eight straight games to start 2023 and owned a 19-10-1 record in 33 games, including 29 starts as a sophomore.
• He also owned a 1.86 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
• Rancier allowed 55 goals in 1,777 minutes on the ice, recording 587 saves for the Mavericks.

Tracing the Lines

• Sophomore goaltender Alex Tracy was named CCHA Goaltender of the Week following his performance in MSU's conference road sweep at Bowling Green (Dec. 9-10). A native of Chicago, Ill., Tracy stopped 42 of 45 shots for a .933 save percentage in backstopping Minnesota State to the two league wins against the Falcons. 
• He had a career-high 25 saves in a 2-1 win over BGSU, then stopped 17 of 19 shots in the 6-2 Maverick victory to close the series.
• Last season the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) product posted a 6-3-0 record with a 2.24 goals against average and a .879 save percentage.
• He started 10 games prior to the holiday break and totaled 12 games played with 562 minutes, allowed 21 goals with 153 saves for a 2.24 goals against average and .879 save percentage.
• Tracy also spent two seasons with Sioux City, playing under then head coach Luke Strand. He was named a Krampade All-American Scholar in 2022-23.

NHL Training Camp:

• Fourteen former Minnesota State hockey players were at NHL Training Camps.
• Blueger, Duehr, and Pitlick were named to their respective teams' opening night NHL rosters.

Non Conference

• Minnesota State will play 10 non-conference games this year.
• The Mavericks host St. Cloud State (Oct. 13-14) and UMass (Oct. 20-21), then travel to play North Dakota (Oct. 27-28). 
• MSU plays at RPI (Dec. 15-16) and Augustana - (Jan. 5-6). Augustana will be a full CCHA member beginning in 2024-25.

Meet the Transfers: 

• Kaden Bohlsen (Center) spent the last three seasons at Neraska Omaha. This past season he appeared in 26 games, scored two goals and added one assist. "Kaden is a big body that plays a competitive game utililizing his size, skating and ability to add to our forward group," Strand said.
• Brian Carrabes (Center) spent the last two seasons with Boston University of Hockey East. Last year, he played 11 games with a goal and assist. He also played 24 games as a freshman with four goals and four assists. Carrabes also played for Luke Strand for three seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers along with fellow Mavericks Brenden Olson and Alex Tracy. "Brian adds speed, skill and offensive awareness to our group. His competitive style and skating will grow our team with his pace of play."
• Tyler Haskins (Left Wing) played in 13 games last season for Denver and recorded one assist. In 2020-21 he skated in 51 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL and recorded 27 points on nine goals and 18 assists. He spent the 2021-22 season with the Madison Capitols where he played in 52 regular season games scoring 20 goals, 25 assists for 45 points. "Tyler brings our team a balance of speed and skill. We feel his pace will add to our overall team speed and style of play."
• Brandon Koch (Defenseman) spent four years at Air Force Academy, where he appeared in 121 games, scored 18 goals, and registered 59 assists for 77 career points. He tallied 22 goals in 2021-22 and scored six goals as a freshman and as a senior. He previously played with teammate Lucas Sowder for the Wenatchee Wild. "Brandon brings a blend of offense and complete defenseman play after his experience at the Air Force Academy. His maturity and style of play will allow our team to grow our transition game."
• Jordan Power (Defenseman) played three seasons at Clarkson and will be an athletic junior. While with the Golden Knights, he appeared in 95 games, had eight goals and registered 23 points. In 2021-22 he scored four goals. "JP is a two-way defending defenseman that will increase our transition play through his skating and puck abilities.
• Jordan Steinmetz (Forward) is a grad-transfer to Minnesota State. He played four years at St. Lawrence, was team captain and skated in 122 games and scoring 16 goals with 19 assists for 35 career points. He also spent the 2018-19 season with the Sioux City Musketeers where he played for Coach Strand. "Jordan is a competitive leader on and off the ice. His gritty play with offensive ability will be utilized up and down our lineup."

Returners

• Minnesota State returns 17 players from last season with 10 forwards, four defensemen, and three goaltenders. Twelve saw significant ice time last season.
• Lucas Sowder scored 14 points last season to lead all returners. Other top returning point getters include Josh Groll (5-9--14), Adam Eisele (4-6--10), Zack Krajnik (4-6--10), Steven Bellini (1-8--9), Sam Morton (6-2--8), and Will Hillman (4-4--8).

Meet the Freshmen: MSU features four freshmen.

• Forward Brett Moravec (Airdrie, Alberta) joins the Mavericks as a true freshman after two seasons with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League. During this past regular season, he played in 54 games, scoring 29 goals and recording 28 assists for 57 total points The Vees also won the BCHL Championship. He has previously played with current Mavericks Luc Wilson and Adam Eisele and skated with Eisele on MSU's top line Saturday.
• Defenseman Evan Murr (Stillwater, Minn.) played for the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) last season where he appeared in 62 games, scored four goals and contributed 19 assists for 43 points. He was also an All-Conference player at Stillwater Area High School.
• Forward Kade Nielsen (Burnsville, Minn.) joined the Mavericks from the Chippewa Steel (NAHL), where he appeared in 79 games over two seasons. He scored 27 goals with 29 assists for 56 points in 58 games in 2022-23. Nielsen's father Paul played hockey at Gustavus Adolphus (1978-81). 
• Defenseman Jakob Stender (Alexandria, Minn.) comes to MSU with two full years of experience playing for the Fargo Force (USHL). He appeared in 62 games (2021-22) and scored three goals, along with 18 assists (21 pts). Stender played hockey for former Maverick and NHL player Tim Jackman at Northstar Christian Academy.

Around the CCHA Thursday:

• Ferris State at Western Michigan (7 p.m. ET)

Around the CCHA Friday:

• Alaska at Michigan Tech (7 p.m. ET)
• Alaska Anchorage at Lake Superior St. (7:07 p.m. ET)
• Western Michigan at Ferris State (7:07 p.m. ET)
• Wisconsin at Bemidji State (7:07 p.m. ET)
• St. Cloud State at Minnesota State (7:07 p.m. CT)
• Northern Michigan at Minnesota Duluth (8:07 ET)
• Minnesota at St. Thomas (7:37 p.m. CT)

Last Week Saturday Scores:

• Michigan Tech -2, Minnesota Duluth -2
• Lake Superior State -2, Michigan State -5
• St. Thomas -5, St. Cloud State -4 OT
• Bowling Green -3, Robert Morris -0
• Nebraska Omaha -1, Minnesota State -0 (Exh.*)
• Miami (Ohio) 4, Ferris State -5 OT
• Augustana -0, Wisconsin -4

Last Week Sunday Scores:

• Lake Superior State -2, Michigan State -4
• St. Cloud State -1, St. Thomas -0
• Robert Morris -3, Bowling Green -0
• Miami (Ohio) 5, Ferris State -2
• Augustana -0, Wisconsin -3
• Bemidji State -2, Minnesota -5 (Exh.*)