MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State concludes its four-game road trip this weekend as it heads north to take on the Bemidji State Beavers at Sanford Center. Friday's puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. (CST), with Saturday's scheduled 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 574-423-113 (.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 84-35-13 (.685) 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 and receiving votes in the USA Hockey poll.

About Last Weekend: Last weekend, Minnesota State split its road series against Northern Michigan at Berry Events Center. NMU won Friday's game by the score of 2-1, before MSU shutout the Wildcats 3-0 in Saturday's game.
Friday's game saw defenseman Easton Hewson net his first career goal as a Maverick to tie the game at 1-1 with just under six minutes to go in the second period. The Wildcats managed to score the game-winning goal a little over four minutes into the third period to secure the 2-1 win.

As a team, MSU outshot the Wildcats 36-30 in Friday's game. The Mavericks also killed off all three NMU power plays in the game, while going 1-for-3 with the man advantage themselves.

Saturday's game saw the Mavericks score a goal in each period as goaltender Lassi Lehti stopped all 23 shots he faced to secure his second shutout of the season as the Mavericks claimed the 3-0 win.

Forward Sam Kappell scored his first goal as a Maverick just over 11 minutes into the first period, before forward Alex Zetterberg netted his second goal of the season in the second period. An empty netter by forward Liam Watkins with just under two minutes to go in the game helped secure MSU's 3-0 win.

Lehti earned his second CCHA Goaltender of the Week award for his efforts against Northern Michigan. In total, Lehti stopped 51-of-53 shots on the weekend as he boasted a 1.01 goals against average and a .962 save percentage. 

History vs. Bemidji State: This weekend's games between Minnesota State and Bemidji State mark their 155th and 156th all-time meetings.

Minnesota State owns a 72-65-17 record against BSU, including a 27-39-5 record in Bemidji. Last season, the Mavericks went 1-1-0 against the Beavers, with both games taking place at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (Feb. 13-14, 2026). MSU won game one by the score of 1-0, before BSU won game two 1-0 in overtime. 

Ean Somoza and Alex Zetterberg each recorded an assist on MSU's lone goal in game one.

Head Coach Luke Strand owns a 5-5-1 record against Bemidji State, including a 1-3-0 record at Sanford Center.

About the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 3-5-2 record, including a 1-1-2 CCHA record. Last weekend on the road, the Mavericks split its weekend series against Northern Michigan. The Wildcats won Friday's game 2-1, before the Mavericks shutout NMU 3-0 in Saturday's game.

Freshman forward Mason Kraft leads the Mavericks in points this season with seven as he has tallied two goals and five assists, including an assist against Northern Michigan. Junior forward Liam Watkins has tallied three goals and three assists for six points also, while junior forward Alex Zetterberg has recorded two goals and four assists for six points as well, including a goal in MSU's 3-0 win over Northern Michigan.

Goaltender Lassi Lehti owns a 3-2-2 record on the season, to go with a 1.60 goals against average and a .950 save percentage. 

As a team, the Mavericks are 6-for-33 (.182) on the power play, while its opponents are 4-for-33 (.121).  MSU is averaging 23.9 shots per game, while its opponents are averaging 32.0 a game.

Head coach Luke Strand owns an 81-75-24 (.517) career record, including a 70-40-16 (.619) 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 Bemidji State: Bemidji State enters the weekend the owner of a 2-6-1 record, including a 1-2-1 CCHA record. Last weekend on the road, the Beavers were swept by Bowling Green by the scores of 5-2 and 5-3.

Jiri Klima scored three of BSU's five goals last weekend, including both tallies in Friday's 5-2 loss. Max Namestnikov and Oliver Peer each scored a goal as well. Max Hildenbrand was in goal for both games as he allowed a total of eight goals on 54 shots.

On the season, Peer leads the Bemidji State offense with nine points (3-6--9), with Namestnikov following in second with eight (2-5--8). Klima leads the team in goals with five as he has notched seven points on the season.

In goal, Hildenbrand has made eight starts for the Beavers as he has put together a 2-5-1 record, to go with a 3.00 goals against average and a .895 save percentage.

As a team, BSU is 5-for-30 (.167) on the power play this year, while its opponents are 8-for-27 (.296). The Beavers are averaging 27.4 shots per game, while allowing 30.7 shots a game. 

Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore is in his 26th season as head coach of the Beavers. He owns a 418-403-109 (.508) career record.

Against the Mavericks, Serratore owns a 26-48-6 (.362) record against Minnesota State, including a 15-21-1  (.418) record in Bemidji.

Home Ice Advantage: Minnesota State is 1-2-2 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 362-167-60 (.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.

That's a Lot of Saves: MSU's game vs. St. Thomas on Oct. 23 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. Letti would go on to earn CCHA Goaltender of the Week honors for his efforts against St. Thomas.

Up Next: Minnesota State returns home on the weekend of Nov. 20-21 as they Mavericks host the Michigan Tech Huskies 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).