Mavericks sweep the Bulldogs, again
It has been an impressive stretch of games for the Minnesota State Men’s hockey team, where they have most recently found themselves the holders of a nine-game winning streak.
The win streak started way back in November, when the Mavericks took game two of their series against Lake Superior State on the road.
That streak has continued into the new year, where the team most recently extended it to nine with a home sweep over Ferris State to improve to 20-4-0 overall on the season. With the win, the Mavs remain atop the CCHA standings at 14-2-0 and continue to solidify their No. 1 spot in the USCHO Division I Men’s college hockey rankings.
Despite school being out for winter break, MSU still had some important games to play over the month of December, including a non-conference battle against No. 6 Minnesota Duluth.
First came an away series against CCHA opponent Bemidji State, whom the Mavericks defeated 5-1 and 3-1 in each of the contests to gain six more points in CCHA play.
The Mavs then played previously ranked No. 6 Minnesota Duluth in a home and home series in a highly anticipated battle. The two teams did not disappoint, with MSU coming out on top in both games of the series.
The Mavericks won their home game by the means of overtime, thanks to a beautiful half ice saucer pass from Brendan Furry to Cade Borchardt. Borchardt was able to corral the puck and go over Bulldog goaltender Ryan Fanti’s shoulder on the breakaway to win 2-1. Game two was a much different story, with the Mavs shutting out Duluth on away ice 3-0 to start the new year off right.
Minnesota State most recently returned to Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center this past weekend to face another CCHA opponent in the Ferris State Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were one of four teams to top the Mavericks to this point in the season, and the Mavs made sure that did not happen again to keep their win streak alive.
MSU came prepared to defend home ice in this one, with several outstanding performances over the weekend. The first game of the series was just as impressive as the second, with the Mavericks scoring seven goals in both of the contests.
Senior defenseman and captain of the Mavs Wyatt Aamodt squeaked in a hat trick in game one, scoring three goals with one coming with only 2:05 remaining in the third period. Junior forward Nathan Smith also had three points on the night in the form of one goal and two assists.
Ferris State’s lone goal came on the power play with 5:52 remaining in the second period, where Bradley Marek got the rebound off a Dryden McKay toe save for the Bulldog’s only goal of the weekend. Game two was just as successful for the Mavericks, with Nathan Smith totaling another three points off one goal and two assists.
Forwards Julian Napravnik and Zach Krajnik both had two goals in game two, with Krajnik’s both tallying in as his first goals as a Maverick. Senior goaltender McKay earned yet another shutout in game two, upping his season total to eight while extending the NCAA Division I men’s hockey shutouts record to 32.