Men’s hockey nears 30-win regular season and MacNaughton Cup

The Minnesota State men’s hockey team returns to action this weekend against in-state Central Collegiate Hockey Association rival Bemidji State. 

The Mavericks enjoyed a week off from games this past weekend with the team previously defeating Bowling Green in both games the weekend prior. The Mavericks won 3-1 and 5-0 in the Bowling Green series, and, with a much needed break from the action, returned back to their home ice with a 27-5-0 overall record. 

MSU improved to 19-3-0 in conference play with the series sweep and now have a chance at clinching the MacNaughton Cup with a win over Bemidji State on Friday and a Michigan Tech loss in regulation. The Mavericks currently hold a seven point lead on the Michigan Tech Huskies, and if they are unable to clinch the Cup this weekend the regular season champion will be crowned in the preceding two-game series between the two teams.

The Bemidji State Beavers come into the series ranked third in the CCHA with a conference record of 12-10-0. BSU has claimed 37 points in their efforts but are followed closely behind by Bowling Green and Lake Superior State, who have 33 and 30 points respectively. 

Bemidji falls just short of .500 in overall record at 14-16-0 but can reclaim the feat with a sweep over MSU this weekend. 

Heading into the final two weeks of the season, Minnesota State remains the team to beat. The Mavericks hold an outstanding 101-24 goals for to goals allowed ratio which overshadows the next closest in Michigan Tech who holds a 83-42 ratio. 

With the 2022 Winter Olympics in full effect the past few weeks, it has given leeway for players from across college hockey to catch up in the total points standings for skaters. MSU’s junior center Nathan Smith led the nation in scoring until this most recent weekend at 41, but was just passed by Denver’s Bobby Brink for the lead. 

The Beavers are supported inside the top 10 in the scoring standings by senior forward Owen Silinger, who leads Bemidji in scoring with 36 points on 12 goals and 24 assists. The Mavericks have surely missed Smith, who was averaging 1.46 points per game before heading to Beijing to compete in the Olympics.

Maverick assistant coach Todd Knott mentioned in a press conference on Wednesday that Maverick Olympians Nathan Smith and head coach Mike Hastings still have an unknown return date back to the United States. The two are estimated to return to action against Michigan Tech or for the beginning of the CCHA playoffs. 

The Mavericks and Beavers played earlier this season in Bemidji, with MSU taking home a series sweep by scores of 5-1 and 3-1. Junior forwards Ryan Sandelin and Brendan Furry both collected two goals in the series and will look to continue their success again this weekend. 

Sandelin has been outstanding at finding the back of the net this season and is currently wrapped into a four-way tie for second in goals at 19. The junior winger has nine assists to go along with his 19 goals, which is fifth in total points on the Mavericks. 

Senior Dryden McKay remains the go-to goaltender for the Mavs. McKay is one of the best netminders in college hockey with a 27-4-0 record and .932 save percentage. 

McKay noted in Wednesday’s press conference “Bemidji is always a really tough team. All four years I have been here it has never been an easy game. Their power play is really good this year… they have some great offensive talent and they are really solid on the back end. We have to be ready right away on Friday.”

Saturday night also marks senior night for Minnesota State, where they will be honoring their current fourth and fifth year players on their last season with the Mavericks. Current seniors on the Mavs include Jack McNeely, Andy Carroll, Wyatt Aamodt, Benton Maass, Julian Napravnik, Reggie Lutz, and Dryden McKay.

The only things standing in the Mavericks’ way of a MacNaughton Cup and a 30-win regular season are the Bemidji State Beavers and the Michigan Tech Huskies. 

Header Photo: Senior netminder Dryden McKay (29) remains the go-to option for the Mavericks between the pipes, racking up an impressive 27-4-0 record and .932 save percentage in 31 starts. McKay and the Mavs are closing in on a 30-win regular season and another MacNaughton Cup. (Mansoor Ahmad/The Reporter)

Write to Kole Buelow at kole.buelow@mnsu.edu.