MANKATO, Minn. - Minnesota State (5-4-1, 3-1-0) is home for Thanksgiving weekend to host CCHA foe Michigan Tech (4-6-3, 2-2-0 CCHA) Friday at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CT. The Mavericks began the homestand with a series split against Bemidji State, winning 5-1 Friday but falling 7-6 Saturday. The Mavericks posted 11 total goals in a series for just the second time in two seasons. 

Senior Sam Morton extended his point streak to six games with three goals and one assist against the Beavers. Morton leads the team and ranks second in the CCHA with 10 goals. His 1.00 goals per game is tied for first in the nation. Tickets are available for the Michigan Tech series at the Mayo Clinic HSEC box office and online at ticketmaster.com. The Mavericks are averaging 4,648 fans in attendance at home games.

Following a slow start in non-conference play, the Huskies are 2-2 in the CCHA, including a home split against Ferris State last weekend. Tech was receiving national votes in Monday's USCHO.com Division I Ice Hockey Poll. Michigan Tech was selected to top the CCHA standings this season in the annual preseason coaches' poll.

The Matchup

• Minnesota State and Michigan Tech contended four times during the 2022-23 regular season. The Huskies collected three of four points at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in November, then took the Friday night game in Mankato on February 24 before the Mavericks rallied for a 3-2 win the following night. 
• Minnesota State leads the all-time series 51-25-11 in matchups dating back to 1996-97 and the Mavericks have won seven of the previous 10 meetings.

Scouting the Huskies 

• Michigan Tech finished 24-11-4 overall last season, 15-7-4 CCHA. The Huskies fell to Northern Michigan in the CCHA Semifinals, then made a trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Penn State 8-0.
• Head coach Joe Shawhan is in his seventh season at the helm. He is the second MTU coach to take the program to at least three NCAA Tournaments and was named the 2023 CCHA Coach of the Year.
• Freshman Isaac Gordon leads the Huskies with six goals, five assists, and 11 points in 13 games.
• Ryland Mosley brings a four game point streak into the series (4-3--7). 
• Fifth-year goaltender Blake Pietila holds the school record for career wins. Pietila has three wins so far this season. He leads the nation in wins (61), games played (115) and shutouts (19).
• Michigan Tech lost 3-2 in overtime Friday and won 3-2 Saturday against Ferris State. Arvid Caderoth, Matthew Campbell (first career), Logan Pietila, Tyrone Bronte and Marcus Pedersen scored goals for MTU. Max Vayrynen made 23 saves Friday and Blake Pietila stopped 26 shots Saturday.
• Michigan Tech has three NCAA titles (1962, 1965, 1964) along with 15 NCAA appearances.
• The Huskies were receiving votes in both USCHO.com and USA Hockey/The Rink Live Division I polls this week.
• MTU returned 20 players from last season with 12 forwards, five defensemen and three goaltenders.
• All three top scorers returned, including Mosley (31), Kyle Kukkonen (27) and Logan Pietila (22). Jack Works (17) and Jed Pietila (16) also crossed the 15 point mark. 
• Tech's roster features seven freshmen with four forwards and three defensemen.
• Logan and Blake Pietila are twins and are joined by younger brother Chase. Blake is a goaltender, Chase is a defenseman, and Logan is a forward.
• Cousin and next-door neighbor Jed Pietila is a defenseman.
• Other Pietilas to play for the Huskies were Phil Pietila (2002-05), Aaron Pietila (2009-13), Chad Pietila (2011-13), and Blake Pietila (2011-15).

Murr Continues to Impress

• Minnesota State freshman defenseman Evan Murr (Stillwater, Minn.) was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on November 13 after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Ferris State with 6.3 seconds remaining.
• Murr continued to make an impact in the Bemidji State series, with a empty net goal and an assist Friday night, followed by a single assist Saturday. Murr is 22nd in the CCHA in points (9).

A Glance at the Polls

• Minnesota State has been Nationally ranked as high as No. 20 in the USCHO Division I Ice Hockey Poll and No. 19 in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live Rankings Poll. The Mavericks are receiving votes in the USCHO.com poll this week.
• North Dakota (33 first place votes) ascended to the top position in Division I.
• The Fighting Hawks were ranked No. 2 last wee and hold a 9-2-1 overall record.
• Boston College, Quinnipiac, Denver and Boson University round out the top-five.

Top Line Minutes

• Coach Strand shuffled the lines Saturday due to injuries to Brian Carrabes and Brett Moravec.
• Luc Wilson started the year on the left wing with two former Penticton (BCHL) teammates but moved to the right side to play on the top line with Lucas Sowder centered by Sam Morton.
• Wilson managed a pair of assists in a 7-6 loss Saturday night.
• Last season, Wilson managed 1-6--7 in 26 games and was named CCHA Rookie of the Month.
• He already has five points with a pair of goals in 10 games as a sophomore.

Tracking Tracy

• Alex Tracy continued as the starter in goal against Bemidji State.
• He rewarded the decision with 31 saves on 32 shots, including 15 in the second period in a 5-1 win.
• Tracy came off a career high 40 saves last Saturday to help the Mavericks sweep Ferris State on the road.
• MSU struggled defensively on Saturday and Tracy allowed six goals on 20 shots.

MSU Team Summary

• Goals for: 3.50 (2nd)
• Goals against: 3.00 (2nd)
• Shots on goal: 29.30 (5th)
• Power Play Percentage: .171 (4th)
• Penalties per Game: 3.80 (5th)
• Penalty Kill Percentage: .806 (3rd)
• Faceoff Win Percentage: .491 (6th)
• Blocked Shots per Game: 11.50 (4th)

Good to Know

• The Mavericks, having won each of the last six regular season conference championships are in possession of the MacNaughton Cup (currently displayed in the Mayo Clinic HSEC alumni room).
• The trophy is named after James MacNaughton of Calumet, Michigan, who was a supporter of amateur hockey.
• Michigan Tech became the trustee of the Cup, which is hand-crafted of pure silver, stands three feet tall and weighs nearly 40 pounds.

FloHockey.TV

• 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.

Captains

• Fifth year senior forward Sam Morton (Lafayette, Colorado) was named team captain for the 2023-24 season.
• Alternate captains include sophomore Mason Wheeler (Rosemount, Minnesota), fifth year senior forward Jordan Steinmetz (Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin) and senior defenseman Tony Malinowski (Clarkston, Michigan).

CCHA Scores Last Week Friday:

• Alaska -1, Northern Michigan -3
• Bowling Green -5, Lake Superior State -3
• Ferris State -3, Michigan Tech -2 OT
• Bemidji State -1, Minnesota State -5

CCHA Scores Last Week Saturday:

• Alaska -1, Northern Michigan -3
• Bowling Green -3, Lake Superior State -4
• Ferris State -2, Michigan Tech -3
• Bemidji State -7, Minnesota State -6

CCHA Matchups Friday:

• Lake Superior State at St. Thomas 7:07 p.m. CT
• Northern Michigan at Bowling Green 7:07 p.m. ET
• Michigan Tech at Minnesota State 7:07 p.m. CT
• Augustana at Nebraska Omaha 7:07 p.m. CT
• Bemidji State at North Dakota 7:07 p.m. CT

CCHA Matchups Saturday: 

• Lake Superior State at St. Thomas 6:07 p.m. CT
• Michigan Tech at Minnesota State 6:07 p.m. CT
• Northern Michigan at Bowling Green 7:07 p.m. ET
• Bemidji State at North Dakota 6:07 p.m. CT
• Nebraska Omaha at Augustana 6:07 p.m. CT