By Shane Frederick
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — With its season complete, the Minnesota State men’s hockey team had a short gathering on Monday afternoon at All Seasons Arena. Players got ballots to vote for team awards, and the seniors had short individual meetings with coach Troy Jutting.
Some of the seniors talked about turning professional in the coming weeks, while others talked about finishing school. They all wished that they were practicing on the for the WCHA Final Five on the smooth ice below them.
“It was a really fun group to work with,” coach Troy Jutting said.
The Mavericks were ousted in the third game of their opening-round WCHA tournament series at St. Cloud State on Sunday night, falling 3-2 in overtime. Minnesota State won the first game 5-4 in overtime on Friday and lost 3-2 in regulation on Saturday.
The Mavericks, who were the eighth seed in the tournament, finished the season with a 16-20-3 record.
“I told the guys last night to build off of what we did in these (playoff) games,” senior captain Geoff Irwin said on Monday. “They have the attitude and know what it takes every day and every night. They have to use the feeling of (Sunday’s loss) as fuel.”
Irwin is one of seven players — six forwards and one defenseman who are graduating from this year’s team. However, Minnesota State will return its top scorer along with two others who could get all-conference consideration this week.
“Obviously, we’ve got some holes to fill,” Jutting said. “But I like what we’ve got coming back.”
Junior defenseman Ben Youds ended up leading the Mavericks with 26 points, including 23 assists. He also logged a ton of minutes and rarely gave up an even-strength goal along with freshman partner Tyler Elbrecht.
Two more junior defensemen will also be back in Kurt Davis and Channing Boe. Freshman Evan Mosey showed that he made great strides as a rookie, getting a lot of playing time against St. Cloud.
Jutting said Youds and Davis (23 points) should get all-conference votes, while freshman forward Tyler Pitlick should be in the conversation for the all-rookie team.
Pitlick and junior forward Rylan Galiardi will be the top returning goal scorers with 11 apiece.
Pitlick, freshman Eriah Hayes and sophomore transfer Michael Dorr comprised a dangerous forward line late in the season. They combined for 49 points in their first season with the Mavericks.
“I was really impressed with them throughout the course of the year,” Jutting said. “If they work hard and demand a lot of themselves, they have the ability to really step up.”
Then there’s the big question mark from the beginning of the season: goaltending.
The Mavericks solidified that this season, as freshman Phil Cook had a strong playoff series against the Huskies. He won eight games and had a .908 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average. Sophomore Austin Lee won seven games and had a .907 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average. Freshman Kevin Murdock played in five games.
