MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State opens its 2026-27 road schedule this weekend as it travels to North Andover, Mass., to take on the Merrimack Warriors at Lawler Arena. Friday's puck drop in scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CST), with Saturday's set for 5:00 p.m. (CST). Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Minnesota State History: The 2026-27 season marks the 58th season of men's hockey at Minnesota State, including the 30th season at the NCAA Division I level. In 30 seasons at Division I, the Mavericks have put together a 571-420-111 (.568) record and have advanced to the NCAA Division I Tournament 11 times, with the most recent outing coming during the 2025-26 season.
In the CCHA: The 2026-27 season marks Minnesota State's sixth season as a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks own an 83-34-11 (.691) all-time record in CCHA regular season action. Minnesota State owns an 18-2 all-time record in CCHA Mason Cup Playoff games. Last season, the Mavericks hoisted their fourth Mason Cup Trophy as they bested St. Thomas 4-1 in front of 4,892 fans at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
The MacNaughton Cup: The 2025-26 season saw the Mavericks secure their 10th MacNaughton Cup Trophy in team history, as MSU recorded 51 points behind a 14-7-5 CCHA record. The MacNaughton Cup, which was established in 1913 and weighs nearly 40 pounds, is awarded annually to the regular season champion of the CCHA.
Preseason Predictions: Minnesota State was picked to finish third in the CCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll and second in the CCHA media poll.
The coaches' poll saw the Mavericks receive 59 points to secure the third spot in the poll. Michigan Tech topped the poll with 65 points, with Bowling Green following in second with 62 points.
In the media poll, the Mavericks received 113 points. As in the coaches' poll, Michigan Tech topped the media poll with 116 points.
Senior forward
Luigi Benincasa and junior defenseman
Will Skahan were named to the Preseason All-CCHA Team. Benincasa played in all 40 games last season as he finished in a tie for second in goals with 11, while ranking third on the team in points with 29. Skahan played in 61 games during his two seasons at Boston College where he recorded three goals and five assists for eight point.
In the Polls: Minnesota State fell out of both the USCHO Poll and the USA Hockey Poll after suffering a pair of losses to Wisconsin last weekend.
MSU and Merrimack are receiving votes in both polls.
History vs. Merrimack: This weekend's games between Minnesota State and Merrimack mark their ninth and tenth all-time meetings.
Minnesota State owns a 2-6 all-time record against MC, including a 1-1 record in their most recent outings during the 2024-25 season at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
The Warriors bested the Mavericks 1-0 in game one, before the Mavericks put together a 4-1 win in game two.
Luigi Benincasa netted the Mavericks' third goal in game two.
This will be MSU's first trip to North Andover, Mass., since the 1981-82 season (March 12-13) when the Mavericks took on MC in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Warriors won both games by the scores of 5-3 and 6-4.
About the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 0-2-0 record. Last weekend at home, the Mavericks dropped a pair of games to the Wisconsin Badgers (4-0 & 4-1).
Junior defenseman
Sam Court recorded the lone goal for the Mavericks last weekend, with assists coming from senior forward
Luigi Benincasa and freshman forward
Mason Kraft.
Freshman goaltender
Raiden LeGall saw action in both games against UW. LeGall stopped all four shots on goal he faced in game one, before making 28 saves in his first career start in game two.
Returning Mavericks: Fifteen Mavericks who saw the ice during their 2025-26 return for Minnesota State this season including:
Maverick Leadership: Senior forward
Jakob Stender and senior forward
Sawyer Scholl were named team captains on Sept. 30 for the 2026-27 season. They take over the mantle from
Mason Wheeler (2025-26).
Stender played in all 40 games for the Mavericks last season as he recorded four goals and five assists for nine points. Stender recorded a pair of assists in MSU's win against Ferris State (1/30) and blocked a total of 25 shots during the season. Stender, who is entering his fourth season with the Mavericks, has played in 105 games during his three seasons with the Purple and Gold and has notched seven goals and 10 assists for 17 career points.
Scholl played in 39 of Minnesota State's 40 games last season. He notched a pair of goals and four assists for six points, which included an assist during MSU's 7-2 win over Michigan Tech in the semifinals of the CCHA Playoffs.
Assistant captains during the season will include senior forward
Luigi Benincasa, senior forward
Fin Williams, senior forward
Ean Somoza, sophomore defender
Liam Hupka and sophomore forward
Reid Morich.
Benincasa and Williams will be permanent assistant captains. If the Mavericks wear home whites the third assistant captain will be Somozo. If the Mavericks wear gold it will be
Reid Morich and when they wear purple it will be Hupka.
Scouting Merrimack: Merrimack enters the weekend with a 0-1-1 record, including a 0-0-1 record in Hockey East action. Last weekend against New Hampshire, the Warriors tied the Wildcats 3-3. MC would win in the shootout 1-0. Caelan Fitzpatrick, Trevor Hoskin and Simon-Pier Brunet each recorded a goal for the Warriors against New Hampshire.
Fitzpatrick leads MC with two goals on the season, while Parker Lalonde has tallied a goal and two assists for three points. Ty Daneault and Nathan King have each recorded two points also.
The Warriors are 1-for-6 on the powerplay this season and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Up Next: The weekend of Oct. 23-24 will see the Mavericks take on St. Thomas in a home-and-home series. MSU will travel to St. Paul on Friday to take on the Tommies at 7:07 p.m. at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. The Mavericks will then host St. Thomas at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on Saturday at 6:07 p.m.
