MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State opens its CCHA schedule this weekend (Oct. 30-31) at home as it takes on the Lake Superior State Lakers. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m., at May Clinic Health System Event Center, with Saturday's scheduled for 6:07 p.m.

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 573-422-111 (.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.

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 receiving votes in both the USCHO and USA Hockey polls.

About Last Weekend: Last weekend, Minnesota State swept former CCHA rival St. Thomas in a home-and-home series by the scores for 3-1 and 2-0. 

Friday's game featured a 51-save performance by Maverick goaltender Lassi Lehti who allowed one power play goal in the first five minutes of the game, before shutting out the Tommies in the final 115 minutes of the weekend series. Lehti's 51 saves are the most in a game in the NCAA this season and the most by a Maverick goaltender in regulation during the Division I era, passing Phil Cook's 49 saves during MSU's 2-1 win over Minnesota back on Dec. 4, 2010. Austin Lee made 56 saves in MSU's 3-2 double overtime loss to Minnesota Duluth in the WCHA Playoffs back on March 10, 2012.

Maverick defenseman Sam Court netted a pair of goals in game one also, before forward Liam Watkins scored 7:36 into the third period to help MSU secure the win.

Saturday's game featured a raucous crowd of 4,961 fans in attendance at Mayo Clinic HSEC that witnessed Lehti secure his first career shutout as a Maverick as he stopped all 30 shots he faced, 18 of which came in the third period. Forward Sawyer Scholl put the Mavericks in front 1-0 with just over three minutes to go in the first period, before an empty netter by forward Alex Zetterberg with 1:10 to go secured MSU's 2-0 win.

For his efforts, Lehti was named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week. Lehti stopped 81-of-82 shots he faced as he boasted a 0.50 goals against average and a .988 saver percentage.

History vs. Lake Superior State: This weekend's games between Minnesota State and Lake Superior State mark their 48th and 49th all-time meetings.

Minnesota State owns a 40-5-2 record against LSSU, including a 22-3-1 record at home. The Mavericks have won their last nine games against the Lakers, including a pair of road wins (2-1 OT & 4-2) in Sault Ste. Marie during their only meetings last season.

MSU's 2-1 OT win saw senior Luigi Benincasa and junior Jacob Conrad record an assist on one of MSU's two goals from the game.

Game two saw both Benincasa and senior Fin Williams record a goal for the Mavericks, while Calem Mangone score one of LSSU's goals. LSSU goaltender Andrew Oke allowed three goals, while making 27 saves for the Lakers.
Head Coach Luke Strand owns a 10-1-1 record against Lake Superior State, including a 5-1-1 record at home.

About the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 2-4-0 record. Last weekend in a home-and-home series vs. St. Thomas, the Mavericks bested the Tommies 3-1 and 2-0.

Junior forward Liam Watkins leads the Mavericks in points this season with five as he has notched a pair of goals and three assists, including a three-point night (1-2--3) against St. Thomas in game one. Junior defenseman Sam Court has four points on the season also, including pair of goals in game one against the Tommies. Freshman forward Mason Kraft has tallied four points (1-3--4) also, including an assist against UST.

Goaltender Lassi Lehti owns a 2-1-0 record on the season, to go with a 1.82 goals against average and a .956 save percentage. 

As a team, the Mavericks are 3-for-18 (.167) on the power play, while its opponents are 4-for-21 (.190).  MSU is averaging 19.8 shots per game, while its opponents are averaging 35.3 a game.

Head coach Luke Strand owns an 80-74-22 (.517) career record, including a 69-39-14 (.623) record in his four seasons at Minnesota State.

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 Lake Superior State: Lake Superior State enters the weekend the owner of a 2-4-0 record, including a 0-2-0 CCHA record. Last weekend at home, LSSU was swept by Bowling Green in its CCHA opener as the Lakers fell by the scores of 6-2 and 4-2.

Casper Nassen scored a pair of goals against Bowling Green last weekend, while Ethan Moore and William Samuelsson each scored one. Andrew Oke made 31 saves in net in game one, while allowing five goals. Anders Miller allowed three goals in game two, while making 16 saves.

This season Charles Savoie has notched three goals and seven assists for a team leading 10 points for the Lakers. Nassen (3-4--7) has seven points on the season also, along with Cooper Foster who has notched one goal and six assists.

In net, Oke owns a 1-2-0 record this season, including a 4.05 goals against average and a .889 saver percentage. Miller is 1-2-0 on the season as well with a 3.71 goals against average and a .879 save percentage.

As a team, LSSU is 5-for-21 (.238) on the power play this year, while its opponents are 7-for-27 (.259). The Lakers are averaging 26.3 shots per game, while allowing 33.8 shots a game. 

Lake Superior State head coach Damon Whitten owns a 168-244-36 (.415) career record in 13 seasons with Lakers

Against the Mavericks, Whitten owns a 5-38-2 record, including a 3-22-1 record at Minnesota State.

Home Ice Advantage: Minnesota State is 1-2-0 this season when playing at home in Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Since opening prior to the start of the 1994-95 season, the Mavericks own a 362-167-58 (.667) on home ice.

On Oct. 24, 2026, 4,961 fans packed Mayo Clinic HSEC to witness Minnesota State's 2-0 win over St. Thomas. This is the largest home crowd for the Mavericks since Oct. 19, 2024 when 5,042 fans attended MSU's 3-0 win over North Dakota.

Up Next: Minnesota State begins a four-game road swing on the weekend of Nov. 6-7 as it travels to Marquette, Mich., to take on Northern Michigan at Berry Events Center. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. (CST), with Saturday's set for 5:07 p.m. (CST).