Smith to wear red, white and blue
Friday Morning Skate
Friday Morning Skate
On Thursday, the U.S. Olympic men’s team was announced, and, as expected Mavericks forward Nathan Smith is on the team. Smith, who leads the nation in scoring with 33 points, will join Mavericks coach Mike Hastings, who will be a U.S. assistant coach, in Beijing this February. More here from the Mankato Free Press’ Kevin Dudley.
Although goalie Dryden McKay was left off the U.S. roster, there is another person with Mankato ties going to China, as North Mankato native Andrew Bruggeman will be an on-ice official during the Olympics.
For this weekend, still No. 1, Minnesota State heads out on the road for a series at Northern Michigan. The Mavericks have won 14 of their last 15 games and enter the series on a nine-game winning streak in which they’ve outscored opponents 35-6 (see more on this below). Minnesota State is 20-6-3 all-time vs. the Wildcats, including a pair of wins in Mankato earlier this season. Also No. 1 in the Pairwise, the Mavericks are beginning a second-half stretch they hope ends in Boston.
Per MSU sports information, Minnesota State ranks first in the nation with 20 wins, 97 goals scored, 2.88 goal-differential per game, and 58.5% faceoff wins They’re second with a 1.17 goals-against average.The Mavericks are first in the CCHA, and Northern is in sixth place. The Wildcats are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Hank Crone ranks second in the CCHA in scoring, behind Smith, with 32 points (9-23). AJ Vanderbeck is the league’s top goal scorer with 16 (28 points), with Smith in a four-way tie for second with 13.
Alumns ready for HDM
This week’s Maverick Hockey Live podcast was a special treat, as former MSU standouts and longtime NHL players David Backes and Ryan Carter joined a call, along with former Mavericks assistant coach Darren Blue, to talk about next week’s men’s hockey alumni game that will be played on the eve of Hockey Day Minnesota. You can see the rosters for the game, which include eight former NHLers and cover almost every era of MSU hockey, here.
Vote for Hobey
To no one’s surprise, Minnesota State has two players on the preliminary ballot for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in men’s college hockey. Forward Nathan Smith and goaltender Dryden McKay are on the list. Fan voting is underway in the first phase of balloting, which runs through March 6. Smith and McKay are two of 11 CCHA players on the first ballot.
Both McKay and Smith this week were honored by the CCHA as Goaltender and Forward of the Week, respectively.
Wait, what?
Great stat from the latest This Week in College Hockey column by College Hockey News: The last time Minnesota State allowed more than one goal in a game was Nov. 13. That's a run of 12 straight games allowing one goal or less.
Around the CCHA
This weekend’s CCHA schedule:
Friday and Saturday
Minnesota State at Northern Michigan
Bemidji State at Bowlin Green
St. Thomas at Ferris State
Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State