The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

November 16, 2008

Mavericks earning respect in WCHA

Opponents feel lucky to get by MSU

By Shane Frederick

MANKATO — Colorado College hockey coach Scott Owens felt fortunate to escape the Alltel Center with a win after Saturday night’s 4-3 win over Minnesota State.

Before the series, Owens told The Gazette newspaper of Colorado Springs, Colo., that MSU “is not your father’s Mankato,” and said he put the Mavericks in the upper half of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings in his preseason ballot. He reiterated that sentiment after the series split.

“(Mike) Zacharias is a good goaltender, and I think they’re a better team than they were picked in the preseason poll,” Owens said of the Mavericks, who ended up seventh in the coaches poll. “I’m just happy to get out of here with two points (for the WCHA standings).”

Minnesota State won Friday’s game 2-1 and has won four of its last six meetings with the Tigers. Colorado College’s win Saturday was its first victory in Mankato since the 2005-06 season.

Difference of a day
The Mavericks are undefeated on Friday night’s this season, with a record of 4-0-1.

Saturday has been a different story, however, as they are 1-3-1, with the lone win coming opening weekend against Bemidji State.

The Mavericks will play four of their next five games on the road, including a pair of long road trips.

This week, they will head to Houghton, Mich., to face Michigan Tech, which is coming off a one-point weekend at Minnesota. Over Thanksgiving weekend they will be in Ohio, taking on Bowling Green of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

“We gotta get back at it this week,” captain Mick Berge said Saturday. “We have to work on the little things.”

Lots of shots
When the Mavericks played at Alaska-Anchorage a week ago, they escaped with three points despite putting 33 shots on goal for the series. That included a measly 14 on Saturday.

Against Colorado College Friday, the Mavericks put 37 shots on goal, including 19 in the second period alone.

“We played much better than we did last weekend,” coach Troy Jutting said. “That was closer to the way we’re capable of playing.”

It was the first time the Mavericks had outshot an opponent in seven games. On Saturday, Colorado College outshot MSU 23-21, thanks to a 12-4 advantage in the second period.

Storied program
Saturday night’s game was the 1,300th in Minnesota State hockey history.

Since starting in 1969, the Mavericks’ all-time record is 684-497-119.

Loose pucks
No word on how long forward Kael Mouillierat will be out. His arm was in a sling on Saturday. … With an assist each night, defenseman Kurt Davis extended his point-scoring streak to 10 games during the series. … Forward Jason Wiley returned to the lineup Saturday after missing three games with an injury. … Defenseman Brian Kilburg, who was a healthy scratch on Friday, also returned.

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