MANKATO, Minn. - Head Coach Luke Strand makes his Mankato debut Saturday, October 7 at 6:07 p.m. against Nebraska Omaha (exhibition), after spending the last year as an assistant coach at Ohio State University. 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 predictions and continue to be the winningest Division I program over the past 11 seasons. Minnesota State begins its regular season at home October 13-14 against St. Cloud State.

Mavericks vs. Mavericks

• Minnesota State holds a 20-15-5 overall record in the matchup with Nebraska Omaha. UNO won the last regular season meeting (Oct. 10, 2015) between the two, 2-0 in Mankato.
• Nebraska Omaha was ranked No. 10 at the time and shut out MSU behind goaltender Evan Weninger, who recorded 40 saves.
• UNO posted a pair of goals on 18 shots in the contest. A night prior, UNO won 3-2 at Mayo Clinic HSEC.
• The teams squared off in exhibition play to open last season. Nebraska Omaha won 7-2 at Baxter Arena.
• UNO jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the 2:51 mark of the second period before MSU answered with David Silye's second period goal, assisted by Luc Wilson and Jake Livingstone.
• A pair of power play tallies lifted Nebraska Omaha to a four goal advantage before Adam Eisele got on the board with an assist from Silye.
• Nebraska Omaha took advantage of nine power play opportunities, with three extra man goals.
• The announced attendance in Omaha was 4,597.
• The teams did not play in any capacity between the 2015-16 series and last season's exhibition.

Spirit of the Mavericks Trophy

• Nebraska Omaha will travel to Mankato with the Spirit of the Mavericks Trophy, awarded to the Maverick team that wins the annual series. Former presidents of the MSU and UNO Blue Line Clubs Brad Reeves and Jim Semerad came up with the idea to award a trophy to make the rivalry feel more special.
• When the game ends and teams have gone through the handshake line, players will line up on their respective blue lines and the athletic director of the home team awards the trophy to the winner.

Streaming/Radio Information

• 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.
• Radio: Mike Sullivan is back as the voice of the Mavericks with games airing on KTOE AM1420.
• For live in-game statistics, click HERE.
• For Saturday's game program, click HERE. 

If You're Going

• Single game tickets for the 2023-24 home schedule went on sale on September 12 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center box office and online at ticketmaster.com. 
• Saturday, the box office will be open 4 hrs. prior to puck drop until the end of the second period.
• For season tickets for football, men's hockey and basketball fans can purchase and and renew by logging onto www.msumavericks.com/SeasonTickets
• All student tickets have been distributed for Saturday's game against Omaha. Students can purchase a reserved seat for $3 at the MCHSEC Box Office with a MavCard. (Note: Any seat purchased at the box office is an assigned seat and NOT a general admission seat in the student section)

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 sellouts.
• 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.

Preseason Polls

• Minnesota State received votes in the DCU/USCHO Division I 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.

Last Time Out 

• 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 a 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. 
• Goaltender Keenan Rancier recorded 23 saves in the win. 

CCHA Players of the Week

• Minnesota State led the league with 21 player of the week awards last season. Ten different players were honored, as the Mavericks claimed seven forward, eight defensive, two goaltenders and four rookie of the week honors in 2022-23. Livingstone led the team with four awards last season.

Meet Coach Strand

• Luke Strand was named Minnesota State's head coach on April 10, 2023 by Minnesota State President Dr. Edward Inch and Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman.
• Strand comes to Minnesota State after spending the last year as an assistant at Ohio State where he helped lead the Buckeyes to a 21-16-3 record, including a third-place finish in the Big Ten Conference and a berth in the 2023 NCAA Tournament that included a convincing 8-1 opening round win over Harvard.  While at Ohio State, Strand played a key role in the Buckeye's success as he helped orchestrate the top-ranked penalty kill unit (.887).  The Buckeyes allowed just 18 power play goals this season.
• Prior to his time at Ohio State, Strand coached in the highly competitive United States Hockey League (USHL) for the Sioux City Musketeers for five seasons, guiding them to an impressive Clark Cup title in 2022 behind a 41-16 record.  The USHL is regarded as one of the top producers of college hockey talent, including current Maverick Alex Tracy, who starred for Strand on that Clark Cup championship team, and Maverick forward Brendan Olson who also played for Strand in Sioux City. More than a dozen former Musketeers who played under Strand have been selected in the NHL draft.  While with the Musketeers, Strand also served the organization as President of Hockey Operations.
• Since taking over the head coaching position at MSU, Strand has hired assistant coaches Troy Ward (May 22), Keith Paulsen (May 30), Cory McCracken (July 24), as well as Director of Hockey Operations Tyson Sowder. Strand was also named head coach of the USA Under-18 Select Team that participated in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August in Czechia and Slovakia. There he represented USA Hockey on the national stage in the prominent preseason showcase for NHL prospects. The tournament took place August 1-6 in Breclav, Czechia, and Trencín, Slovakia. Team USA finished third with a 5-3 win over Finland and went 4-2 overall.
• Upon returning to the states, Strand was named one of the coaches for the Crazy Game of Hockey fundraising event to benefit the Minnesota Wild Foundation. The event comprised of more than 40 athletes, musicians, celebrities, and VIP personalities and was played at TRIA Rink (Wild practice facility) in St. Paul.

Also 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.
• Ward spend last season as General Manager of the Sioux City Musketeers and played against the Mavericks in the NCHA as a player and coach dating back to the Don Brose era. Ward's extensive coaching background includes stops in junior, collegiate, and professional hockey.
• Paulsen came to Minnesota State after serving as video coach for the AHL's Iowa Wild from 2016-23.
• Prior to his time with the Wild, Paulson served as the assistant general manager and associate head coach with the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League from December 2013 to May 2016.
• McCracken, who owns a degree from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, has served as head coach for Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay since 2006.
• Named the 2012 Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year, McCracken helped guide NDA to championships in 2012 and 2016. 
• During his time with Notre Dame Academy, McCracken has seen four players go on to be NHL draft picks, 18 pursue NCAA Division I playing opportunities as student-athletes and 41 former players have junior hockey careers.

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.

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 skating 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."

Freshmen

• MSU features four freshman on its roster.
• 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.
• 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.

The Six-Peat

• With a 3-2 victory Feb. 25 against then-#11 Michigan Tech, the Mavericks claimed their sixth straight outright MacNaughton Cup.
• MSU is now the only team among any conference to ever win six straight conference titles.
• In 2021-22, MSU's championship was the first time a program claimed five straight outright (Boston University had a five-year run that included shared titles).
• Now with six, the Mavericks are alone in the record books for most consecutive championships. 

Maverick Hockey History

• Now into the 55th year of its existence, Minnesota State owns an all-time record of 1,035-682-159 (.602).
• The Mavericks are in their 28th year as members of NCAA Division I and are in their third season as members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. 

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.

Lead Up to the Season 

• The Mavericks hosted a pair of scrimmages in the lead up to Saturday's exhibition against Nebraska Omaha.
• The first was a 3-on-3 intersquad scrimmage at the Pond on Madison on Tuesday, September 26.
• The event was free to the public and featured an autograph session during the two 20-minute running halves.
• The Mavericks played on UNRL Rink, a smaller than NHL sized sheet of ice inside a building which also contains Crooked Pint Ale House, golf simulators, duckpin bowling, arcade, coffee shop, and Green Mill takeout pizza.
• The Mavericks host a second interquad scrimmage Thursday night downtown, open to members of the Blue Line Club.

NHL Training Camp

• Fourteen former Minnesota State hockey players were at NHL Training Camps.
• Teddy Blueger (Vancouver)
• Akito Hirose (Vancouver)
• Ryan Sandelin (Colorado)
• Ondrej Pavel (Colorado)
• Wyatt Aamodt (Colorado)
• Walker Duehr (Calgary)
• Brendan Furry (Philadelphia)
• Jake Livingstone (Nashville)
• Tyler Pitlick (Nashville)
• Connor Mackey (New York Rangers)
• Julien Napravnik (Washington)
• Benton Maass (Washington)
• CJ Suess (Winnipeg)
• Nathan Smith (Arizona)

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.

Blueger Wins the Stanley Cup

• Former Minnesota State standout Teddy Blueger and the Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup Final (June 12, 2023), defeating the Florida Panthers 9-3 in game five.
• Blueger was a four-year standout for the Mavericks from 2012-2016, appearing in 155 games, collecting 108 points on 31 goals and 77 assists.
• His 108 points is tied for the 14th most in program history. 
• As a senior, Blueger was named the team's MVP and was a First-Team All-WCHA selection as he led the Mavericks in scoring and assists with 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points.
• Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2012 draft, Blueger made his NHL debut January 30, 2019.
• He has appeared in 268 NHL games, scoring 35 goals to go with 63 assists for 98 points.

Leadership Group

• Coach Strand and the Maverick coaching staff will announce its team captain and assistant captains in a team meeting Thursday afternoon.

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).

Around the CCHA Saturday:

• Michigan Tech at Minnesota Duluth (7:07 p.m. CT)
• Lake Superior State at Michigan State (4 p.m. ET)
• St. Thomas at St. Cloud State (6 p.m. CT)
• Bowling Green St. at Robert Morris (7:05 p.m. ET)
• Omaha at Minnesota State (6:07 p.m. CT)
• Miami (OH) at Ferris State (7:07 p.m. ET)
• Augustana at Wisconsin (7 p.m. CT)

Around the CCHA Sunday:

• Lake Superior State at Michigan State (4 p.m. ET)
• St. Cloud State at St. Thomas (4:07 p.m. CT)
• Robert Morris at Bowling Green St. (5:07 p.m. ET)
• Augustana at Wisconsin (5 p.m. CT)
• Miami (OH) at Ferris State (6:07 p.m. ET)
• Bemidji State at Minnesota (6 p.m. CT)