The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Shane Frederick

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September 30, 2009

For MSU hockey, experience is valuable asset

By Shane Frederick

When it comes to men’s college hockey, there is no midnight madness, no countdown to kickoff, no out-of-town training camp.

The sport just kind of sneaks up to you early in the fall before the snow flies. Next thing you know, it’s hockey season.

Officially, it all begins this Saturday. But, like the start of a new business, that’s more of a ceremonial grand opening, more of a ribbon-cutting day.

While it will be the first day teams are put on their full-time, coaches-and-pucks practice schedule, the NCAA has allowed a bit of a soft opening over the last couple of years.

Since the middle of the month, coaches and their assistants have been able to conduct real practice for two hours a week. Before that, they were allowed to lead conditioning skates (no pucks allowed) or work on skills with small groups.

Throw in captain- or senior-led practices with no coaches around, and teams have had plenty of ice time to be more than ready to go come Oct. 3.

Like many teams, Minnesota State is going right ahead and playing an exhibition game on that first day, rather than go through a rigorous practice or even a two-a-day session. The Mavericks will play the University of Lethbridge, a Canadian college team, on Saturday night at the house of many names — now called the Verizon Wireless Center.

Coach Troy Jutting’s team certainly should be prepared for that game and the start of the year but not just because of all of those preseason practices and workouts.

With the exception of a new crop of goaltenders, this might be the deepest, most-experienced team Jutting, who is entering his 10th season, has ever had.

Four of the six senior forwards — Kael Mouillierat, Geoff Irwin, Zach Harrison and Jerad Stewart — on the roster have played more than 100 collegiate games, while the other two — Jason Wiley and James Gaulrapp — have played at least 80 each.

Defensively, there is only one senior, Nick Canzanello, and he has played in 88 career games. However, juniors Kurt Davis, Ben Youds and Channing Boe have played in nearly 200 games combined.

This team has been around the block.

“I don’t remember a time with both sides (forwards and defensemen) have had that amount of experience,” Jutting said. “We have a lot of veteran kids.”

Don’t forget junior Rylan Galiardi and Andrew Sackrison and sophomore Mike Louwerse up front, either.

“Our older kids have come in prepared and have done a great job of acting like experienced players,” Jutting said.

The goaltending situation and the fact that the Mavericks don’t appear to have any superstars on their roster are valid reasons why they were picked to finish seventh in a tough Western Collegiate Hockey Association by the league coaches and eighth by the media that cover the league.

If they exceed those expectations, it will be the Maverick veterans who get them there.

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Shane Frederick