MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State begins a four-game road swing this weekend (Nov. 6-7) as it travels to Marquette, Mich., to take on the Northern Michigan Wildcats at Berry Events Center. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. (CST), with Saturday's puck drop set for 5:07 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 573-422-113 (.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 83-34-13 (.688) 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 battled Lake Superior State to a pair of 2-2 ties at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The Mavericks would go on to win the first shootout 2-0, before the Lakers won the second shootout 3-2 in the eighth round.

Friday's game saw the Mavericks rally from an early 2-0 deficit. Forward Sawyer Scholl netted MSU's first goal at the 17:22 mark of the first period, before forward Jack Christ tied the game at 2-2 just two minutes into the third period.

In the shootout, forwards Jordan Ronn and Luigi Benincasa would both scored, while goaltender Lassi Lehti stopped both shots he faced to give MSU the 2-0 win the shootout. In total, Lehti made 23 saves in the game, including four in overtime.

Saturday's game saw LSSU jump out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period, but a power play goal by forward Mason Kraft in the final minute of the second period tied the game at 1-1, before Ean Somoza put the Mavericks up 2-1 with just under five minutes to play in the third period. The Lakers pulled their goaltender in closing minutes and were able to get the equalizer with the extra skater with 22 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
After another scoreless overtime period, the game moved into a shootout that saw Lake Superior State come away with the 3-2 win in the eighth round.

History vs. Northern Michigan: This weekend's games between Minnesota State and Northern Michigan mark their 50th and 51st all-time meetings.

Minnesota State owns a 34-9-6 record against NMU, including a 14-5-3 record in Marquette. Last season, the Mavericks went 3-0-1 against the Wildcats, including a 2-2 tie that saw the Mavericks prevail in a shootout 2-0.
Mason LeBel notched one goal and three assists against the Wildcats last season, while Liam Watkins added two goals and two assists. Luigi Benincasa posted three assists also, while Bryce Strand recorded a goal and an assist.
Head Coach Luke Strand owns an 8-1-3 record against Northern Michigan, including a 3-1-1 record on the road.

About the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 2-4-2 record, including a 0-0-2 CCHA record. Last weekend at home, the Mavericks recorded a pair of 2-2 ties with Lake Superior State. MSU would win Friday's shootout 2-0, before the Lakers won Saturday's shootout 3-2 in the eighth round.

Freshman forward Mason Kraft leads the Mavericks in points this season with six as he has tallied two goals and four assists, including one goal and an assist against Lake Superior State. Junior forward Liam Watkins has tallied two goals and three assists for five points also, while junior forward Alex Zetterberg has recorded one goal and four assists for five points as well, including an assist in each game against Lake Superior State.

Goaltender Lassi Lehti owns a 2-1-2 record on the season, to go with a 1.83 goals against average and a .946 save percentage. 

As a team, the Mavericks are 4-for-27 (.148) on the power play, while its opponents are 4-for-27 (.148).  MSU is averaging 22.0 shots per game, while its opponents are averaging 33.4 a game.

Head coach Luke Strand owns an 80-74-24 (.517) career record, including a 69-39-16 (.621) 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 Northern Michigan: Northern Michigan enters the weekend the owner of a 2-6-0 record, including a 0-2-0 CCHA record. Last weekend on the road, the Wildcats were swept by Augustana by the scores of 12-0 and 4-1.
Merril Steenari scored the lone goal for the Wildcats this past weekend, while Max Weilandt stopped 35-of-38 shots he faced in NMU's 4-1 loss to Augie on Saturday.

On the season, Michael Burchill, Owen Pitters and Matthew Ward lead the Wildcat offense with four points each. Burchill has notched two goals and two assists, while Pitters and Ward have posted one goal and three assists each. Darik Olson has notched a team-leading three goals also.

In net, Oliver Auyeung-Ashton has made six starts and has put together a 2-4-0 record to go with a 2.66 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. In Northern Michigan's season opener vs. Miami (OH) he stopped all 30 shots he faced to secure the 3-0 shutout.

As a team, NMU is 5-for-28 (.179) on the power play this year, while its opponents are 11-for-34 (.324). The Wildcats are averaging 22.1 shots per game, while allowing 34.6 shots a game. 

Northern Michigan head coach Dave Shyiak owns a 90-239-37 (.296) career record in 11 seasons. In three seasons with the Wildcats, he owns a 10-62-4 (.158). He previously put together an 80-177-33 (.333) record in eight seasons at Alaska Anchorage.

Against the Mavericks, Shyiak owns an 8-24-8 record, including a 1-5-2 record as the head coach at Northern Michigan.

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 continues CCHA action on the road as it travels to Bemidji State for a pair of games on Nov. 13-14 at Sanford Center. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (CST), with Saturday's scheduled for 6:07 p.m. (CST).