In a bit of a twist, the MacNaughton Cup won’t be clinched during a series between Minnesota State and Bemidji State this year. That’s because the Mavericks won it already a week ago. Instead, MSU will look to keep its late-season win streak (five games) alive and close out the regular season without hurting its Pairwise position, currently still outside the bubble at No. 17.
“It will be a good test of maturity,” Mavericks coach Luke Strand said this week.
Indeed, less than a week after celebrating winning the CCHA championship — it seventh in eight years and ninth overall since 2015, Minnesota State is facing its chief rival in a series that means more to the Mavericks than it might appear at face value.
Trivia question: Where does Minnesota State rank on the list of all-time MacNaughton Cup championships in WCHA/CCHA history (answer below)?
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