MANKATO, Minn. - Minnesota State (2-3-1, 0-0-0) begins play in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association this weekend with a series against Ferris State (3-4-1, 1-1-0) in Big Rapids. The Mavericks take on the Bulldogs Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11 at 7:07 p.m. The Mavericks were idle last week and last played at No. 4 North Dakota October 27-28. After falling 6-2 on night one, Minnesota State tied the Fighting Hawks 2-2, then won an exhibition shootout 1-0. Fans can stream the Ferris State series on FloHockey and listen locally on AM 1420 KTOE radio.

Memorable Weekend in Grand Forks

• The first period of play Friday against North Dakota was the low point of the weekend for the Mavericks as they allowed four goals on 15 shots and goaltender Alex Tracy was replaced by Keenan Rancier. Play- ing catchup the rest of the game, Sam Morton and Luc Wilson scored a pair of second period goals and MSU posted 30 shots but still came up short 6-2.
• The team made a poignant response the next night. Back in the starting role, Alex Tracy made 37 saves to help Minnesota State preserve a 2-2 overtime tie at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Tracy also stopped all three shots in the shootout.
• Minnesota State scored the first goal of the game at the 8:20 mark of the first period. Kaden Bohlsen left the puck behind the net and Will Hillman swung out in front, turned and fired it for a 1-0 lead. Jordan Steinmetz collected the second assist. North Dakota evened things up at 6:14. Cameron Berg provided a screen in front of Tracy and Riese Gaber's shot found its way through from inside the right circle on the power play.
• In the final minute of the opening frame, the Mavericks pinned the Hawks in their own zone for more than a minute Then Brett Moravec intercepted a breakout pass and fed Sam Morton in front of the net for his fourth goal of the season on a wrister. The Mavericks nearly scored a third time in the first period but a point shot deflected down by Brendan Olson was deemed a high stick by the officials.
• UND's tying goal came on an individual effort by Hunter Johannes 8:29 into the third period. Johannes walked around a defender in the neutral zone and then scored on a wrist shot from the high slot. Dylan James and Garrett Pyke assisted.
• Morton broke up a scoring opportunity but was sent to the penalty box for hooking 1:52 into overtime. As a result, the Mavericks began the 4-on-3 kill with freshmen Moravec and Evan Murr, along with sopho- more Mason Wheeler.
• All three were effective and Jordan Steinmetz blocked a shot late to help Minnesota State hold on. Tracy made eight saves in the extra session.

Scouting the Bulldogs

• Ferris State split a home series against St. Lawrence last weekend with a 2-1 overtime win Saturday. Antonio Venuto scored the game-winning goal to cap off a three-point weekend, while Stepan Pokorny also posted a three-point series. Both players now have points in four consecutive games.
• Logan Stein earned his first win of the year, saving 22 of 23 shots Saturday. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in overtime games this year.
• Antonio Venuto leads the team with eight points on six goals. He also has two power play goals and one game winner. Stepan Pokorny has seven points (six assists).
• The Bulldogs finished 14-19-4 overall in 2022-23, including 9-14-3 in CCHA play.

Last Time They Met

• Minnesota State met Ferris State five times last year, including a CCHA semifinal matchup on March 11 in Mankato. The Mavericks won 7-2 to advance to the championship after the teams split regular season bouts 2-2. Seven different Mavericks scored in the semifinals as MSU went 3-for-4 on the power play and scored three unanswered goals in the third period. Minnesota State dominated shots on goal 39-21 and Keenan Rancier stopped 19 of 21 shots for his 17th victory of the season.

A Quick Check of the Polls

• Minnesota State has been Nationally ranked as high as No. 20 in the USCHO Division I Ice Hock- ey Poll and No. 19 in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live Rankings Poll. The Mavericks are receiving votes in both polls this week. Boston College took the top spot in both rankings polls on Monday. Michigan Tech was selected to win the CCHA this season in both coaches and media CCHA pre- season polls. The Mavericks checked in sixth and fourth in those respective polls.

Offensive Consistency

• Captain Sam Morton and freshman Brett Moravec were the only players to record a point in both games in the North Dakota series.
• Moravec has a goal and two assists this season while Morton leads the team in points and goals with four, along with a plus-3 rating.

Wheeler In the Way

• Sophomore defenseman Mason Wheeler leads the Mavericks with 11 blocked shots. The left shot Rosemount, Minnesota native plays on the top pairing with freshman Evan Murr.
• He appeared in 37 games as a freshman and held a plus-9 rating with five assists and five points.
• Last year, Wheeler ranked sixth on the squad in blocks with 29.

Pavel Makes NHL Debut

• Forward Ondrej Pavel, 23, became the 22nd for- mer Maverick men's hockey player to make his National Hockey League debut when he skated for the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night (Nov. 7).
• Pavel played 10 games for the Colorado Eagles (AHL) before his call-up on Monday, November 6.
• He held a plus-5 rating with six penalty minutes in Loveland. Pavel was the fifth NCAA player to make his NHL debut this week.
• The last Maverick to make his NHL debut is Jake Livingstone (2022- 23).

• Minnesota State leads the all-time series 32-10-2 in games dating back to 1992-93. The Mavericks have won seven of the previous ten matchups, scoring at least five goals on six occasions. MSU swept Ferris State in Big Rapids January 27-28, 2023 with scores of 4-1 and 5-1.