This Week: Minnesota State makes its 11th NCAA Appearance ... The Mavericks are 5-10 all-time in the NCAA Division I Tournament... MSU is 2-0 all-time in the Blue Arena, winning the West Regional in 2021... Minnesota State has made two appearances in the Frozen Four (2021, 2022; National Runner-Up)... All-time MSU is 28-31-11 in the postseason (1980 NCAA Division III National Champions)... Minnesota State head coach Luke Strand was named the CCHA Coach of the Year for the second straight season... Senior goaltender Alex Tracy was named the MVP of the CCHA Championship game after stopping 29 of 30 shots in MSU's 4-1 win over St Thomas... Junior defenseman Evan Murr was the second star of the game with a goal and two assists... Luigi Benincasa recorded a goal in the win, his fifth straight game with a goal. 

All-Time Series:  Minnesota State is 0-1 all-time against Western Michigan... Friday's game will be one year to the day that the two teams last met, a game that saw WMU win 2-1 in 2OT... Junior defenseman Evan Murr had an assist in the game... Senior goaltender Alex Tracy stopped 42 of 44 shots in the loss. 

CUPS DEFENDED

- The Mavericks captured the MacNaughton Cup for the 10th time in program history this season. Awarded annually to the regular season CCHA champion, the MacNaughton Cup was established in 1913 and weighs nearly 40 pounds.

RECENT MACNAUGHTON CUP CHAMPIONS
14-15: Minnesota State
15-16: Minnesota State/Michigan Tech
16-17: Bemidji State
17-18: Minnesota State
18-19: Minnesota State
19-20: Minnesota State
20-21: Minnesota State
21-22: Minnesota State
22-23: Minnesota State
23-24: Bemidji State
24-25: Minnesota State|
25-26: Minnesota State

-  Minnesota State secured its fourth Mason Cup in five seasons last Friday (3/20) as it defeated St. Thomas, 4-1, in front of a crowd of 4,892 in the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. 
Junior Tristan Lemyre opened the scoring with a wrap-around goal at the 6:24 mark of the first. St. Thomas would score at 16:44 of the first as the game entered the second period tied at two. Junior Evan Murr gathered his own rebound and scored an even strength tally at 15:07 of the second before junior Luigi Benincasa and senior Jack Smith scored in the third period to put the game away.  Senior goaltender Alex Tracy stopped 29 of 30 shots he faced in the win.

RECENT MASON CUP CHAMPIONS
2021-22:  Minnesota State
2022-23:  Minnesota State
2023-24: Michigan Tech
2024-25: Minnesota State
2025-26: Minnesota State

TEAM LEADERS
- The Mavericks are averaging 2.82 goals per game and 31.4 shots per game. Senior Tristan Lemyre (Edmonton, Alberta) leads the forward group with 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists). Junior Evan Murr (Stillwater, Minn.) leads MSU defensemen with 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists).