Holiday in Houghton

Friday Morning Skate

Minnesota State, ranked 10th following last week’s home split against Northern Michigan, are on the road this weekend for a CCHA series against Michigan Tech. The Mavericks, who are 8-4-0 and 15th in the all-important Pairwise Rankings, have yet to find their form, according to The Free Press’ Kevin Dudley. They haven’t played much on the road so far this season, going 1-3 away from Mankato, with a win at St. Thomas and losses at Minnesota and St. Cloud State. The Mavericks have won seven straight against the Huskies, but MacInnis Arena is no easy barn to play in.

“We’re still trying to fix some of our own inadequacies and continue to build on some strengths that we’ve had lately,” coach Mike Hastings said in his weekly presser.

Michigan Tech, which is 8-3-2 and 18th in the Pairwise, is coming off a sweep at St. Thomas and is 3-1-2 at home. While some predicted a down or rebuilding year in Houghton, the Huskies have, according to USCHO’s Jack Hittinger, defied some of those predictions, thanks to forwards like junior Ryland Mosley, senior Logan Pietila and, of course, goalie Blake Pietila, one of the best in the CCHA. College Hockey News this week profiled freshman Kyle Kukkonen, who ranks second in scoring among league rookies.

For your listening pleasure

Don’t want to be bothered while doing your Black Friday shopping today? There are plenty of podcasting options involving yours truly! First, take a listen (or watch above) to Maverick Hockey Live with this week’s guest, MSU sophomore goaltender Keenan Rancier, who is coming off a solid week of play. Available wherever you get your podcasts. I also appeared on The CCHA Show, hosted by Perry Laskaris, this week, along with Tim Braun and Jack Hittinger. The episode also features interviews with Hastings and Michigan Tech junior captain Brett Thorne. I was also a guest on Braun & Co’s Chasing MacNaughton podcast, which is always a good time. Enjoy!

Around the CCHA

It’s a small but potentially exciting schedule in the CCHA this weekend. Too bad it’s a holiday weekend for the home crowds. Besides Minnesota State at Michigan Tech, Bemidji State hosts North Dakota in a nonconference game tonight and Lake Superior State goes to St. Thomas. FloHockey’s Tim Rappleye has a weekend preview.

Farewell to (the real) PA

Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention the big news of the week, and that’s the announcement of the retirement of Paul Allan, Minnesota State’s longtime sports information director (officially he’s retiring as the university’s Senior Deputy Athletic Director for External Operations). Allan — the original “PA” (just can’t call the radio guy who works a little ways north of Mankato by that nickname) — will step down on Dec. 16 after 37 years as the communications pro for Mavericks athletics. What a run!

I have been fortunate enough to work with PA for more than 22 of those years, 20 years while covering the MSU hockey beat for The Free Press. There were a lot of games over that time, including a lot of road trips with a lot of great stories being told and written in myriad hockey rinks, press boxes and, yes, hotel bars. PA’s been a staple in the college hockey world for a long, long time and will be missed well beyond Mankato. He’s influenced countless students, media members, young SIDs and many, many more. Congrats to him on a great career and good luck to him in his next endeavors!