MANKATO, Minn. --- #19 Minnesota State opens its 2026-27 season at home this weekend as it hosts #7 Wisconsin at Mayo Clinic Health System Event. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m., with Saturday's set to follow at 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 29 seasons at Division I, the Mavericks have put together a 571-418-111 (.595) 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 was ranked 19th in the USCHO Preseason Poll.
The Mavericks are one of two CCHA teams to appear in the most recent USCHO Poll. Michigan Tech improved to 12th after sweeping Minnesota last weekend, while Augustana and Bowling Green received votes.
The USA Hockey Poll ranked the Mavericks 19th in their Oct. 5 poll. Michigan Tech climbed to 16th, while Bowling Green and Augustana received votes.
History vs. Wisconsin: This weekend's games vs. Wisconsin mark the 50th and 51st meetings between the Mavericks and the Badgers. Last season in Madison, MSU and UW tied in both outings (1-1 & 2-2), with the Badgers winning both shootouts 1-0 in the fourth and seventh rounds.
Minnesota State owns a 17-26-6 all-time record against Wisconsin, including an 11-8-3 home record.
Wisconsin's last visit to Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center came during the 2012-13 season. The Badgers bested the Mavericks 4-3 and 2-1 in their last trip to Mankato.
About the Mavericks: Minnesota State finished the 2025-26 season with a 22-11-7 record, including a 14-7-5 record in CCHA action. The Mavericks secured their 10th MacNaughton Cup Trophy as the team recorded 51 points in the CCHA standings, before winning their fourth Mason Cup Trophy. Minnesota State would then make its 11th appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament where it fell to Western Michigan 3-1 in the first round.
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 Wisconsin: Wisconsin enters the weekend with a 2-0-0 record as the Badgers defeated Robert Morris by the scores of 4-2 and 1-0 at the Kohl Center this past weekend.
Vasily Zelenov had a three-point weekend with three assists, while Luke Osborn recorded a goal and an assist for two points. Oliver Tulk notched a pair of assists for two points as well.
Goaltenders Daniel Hauser and Alexis Cournoyer each picked up a win for the Badgers this past weekend. Hauser stopped all 18 shots he faced in UW's 1-0 shutout win on Saturday, while Cournoyer allowed a pair of goals, while making 16 saves, in Wisconsin's 4-2 win on Friday.
Wisconsin is coached by Mike Hastings who is in his fourth season as head coach of the Badgers. He owns a 65-46-7 (.581) record at Wisconsin and a career record of 364-155-32 (.690). Hastings previously served as Minnesota State's head coach for 11 seasons (2012-23) where he put together a 299-109-25 (.719) record.
Along with coach Hastings, the Maverick fans will see more familiar faces behind the Badger bench including Todd Knott, Luke Regner and Tommy Inkrott. Knott, who was a member of the Maverick coaching staff for 14 seasons, was hired as an assistant coach in 2009, before being promoted to associate head coach in 2018. Regner served as MSU's director of hockey operations for four seasons (2019-23), while Inkrott finished his 14-year stint with the Minnesota State strength and conditioning department in 2023 as the Director of Sports Performance.
Connections: Maverick senior
Sawyer Scholl played in 67 games during his two seasons with the Badgers where he recorded nine goals and eight assists for 17 points.
