MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State continues its season this weekend (Oct. 23-24) with a home-and-home series against former CCHA rival St. Thomas. Friday's puck drop is schedule for 7:07 p.m. (CST) at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, Minn. Saturday's game will be held at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, with puck drop set for 6:07 p.m. (CST).
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 571-422-111 (.567) 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.
The Mason Cup: The 2025-26 season saw the Mavericks secure their fourth Mason Cup Trophy as MSU bested St. Thomas 4-1 in the finals of the Mason Cup Playoffs. In total, Minnesota State has won the Mason Cup four times in 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026.
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 is unranked in the USCHO Poll. The Mavericks are receiving votes in the USA Hockey Poll.
History vs. St. Thomas: This weekend's games between Minnesota State and St. Thomas mark their 51st and 52nd all-time meetings.
Minnesota State owns a 32-15-3 all-time record against the Tommies, including a 2-2 record in their four meetings during the 2025-26 season.
In their most recent meeting in the finals of the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs, the Mavericks bested the Tommies 4-1. Senior
Luigi Benincasa scored MSU's third goal of the game, while junior
Liam Watkins and sophomore
Jordan Ronn recorded assists on MSU's first and second goals respectively.
Dylan Godbout scored the lone goal for UST, while Bauer Berry and Attila Lippai each recorded an assist on the goal by Godbout.
Head Coach
Luke Strand owns a 7-5-1 record against St. Thomas, including a 3-4-1 record at home and a 4-1-0 record in the road. Four of Strand's games against UST have gone to overtime. Strand owns a 2-1-1 record in overtime games against the Tommies.
About the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 0-4-0 record. Last weekend on the road, MSU fell to Merrimack 4-3 (OT) and 8-2 in North Andover, Mass.
Senior forward
Ean Somoza scored a pair of goals against the Warriors, while freshman forward
Mason Kraft notched a goal and an assist. Freshman goaltender
Raiden LeGall started both games for the Mavericks as he made a total of 46 saves, including 30 in MSU's 4-3 overtime loss in game one.
Kraft leads the Mavericks in points this season with 1-2--3, while Somoza has notched a pair of goals for 2-0--2. Senior forward
Luigi Benincasa has tallied a pair of assists as well, while junior defenseman
Will Skahan leads the team in blocked shots with seven. LeGall owns a 3.65 goals against average and an .876 save %.
The Mavericks are 1-9 (.111) on the power play this season and 6-for-9 (.667) on the penalty kill. MSU's opponents are outshooting the Mavericks 130-73 this season and MSU is 110-119 (.480) in the faceoff circle.
Head coach
Luke Strand owns a 78-74-22 (.511) career record, including a 67-39-14 (.617) record in his four seasons at Minnesota State.
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).
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 Somoza. If the Mavericks wear gold it will be Morich and when they wear purple it will be Hupka.
Scouting St. Thomas: St. Thomas enters the weekend the owner of a 1-1-0 record. The Tommies split their home series against Air Force back on Oct. 9-10. The Falcons won the first game 5-1, before the Tommies earned a split in the second game with a 4-2 win.
David Rozsiaval and Chase Cheslock each recorded a goal and an assist against Air Force, while Quinn Rudrud notched the game-winning goal in UST's 4-2 win in game two with 5:47 to go in the third period. UST's lone goal in its 5-1 loss came via Jakub Altrichter's short handed goal in the third period.
Ajay White owns a 1-0-0 record in goal this season. He made 24 saves in his only outing and owns a 2.00 goals against average and a .923 save%.
The Tommies are 0-for-6 on the power play this season and are 4-for-6 on the penalty kill. UST has outshot its opponents 80-54 this season and owns a 74-58 advantage in the faceoff circle.
St. Thomas head coach Rico Blasi owns a 468-413-91 (.528) career record in 26 seasons, including a 70-102-15 (.414) during his six seasons at St. Thomas.
Against the Mavericks, Blasi owns a 9-14-2 record, including a 1-0-1 record as the head coach at Miami (OH), and an 8-14-1 record as the head coach at St. Thomas.
Up Next: Minnesota State opens its CCHA schedule on the weekend of Oct. 30-31 as it hosts Lake Superior State at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (CST), with Saturday's set for 6:07 p.m. (CST).
