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The Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks will open their 2007-2008 Season this Friday and Saturday, October 19th and 20th as they travel up to Houghton, Michigan to face off against the Michigan Tech Huskies. Michigan Tech played two games last weekend as part of the Inaugural Superior Showcase as they were defeated by Northern Michigan and then defeated Lake Superior State to bring their record to 1-1 on the season.

Last Weekend:
Minnesota State-Mankato
- Did Not Play
Michigan Tech
- Friday: Lost to Northern Michigan 2 to 3
- Saturday: Defeated Lake Superior State 4 to 3

Any thoughts or predictions on this WCHA match-up and the season opening games for the Mavericks?

I am going with Tech in a sweep.

Im going wit a split

The Mavericks left for Houghton, Mich., this morning for this weekend's season-opening series at Michigan Tech, and I won't be far behind (I'm leaving Friday morning, but in my mind, I'm already there).

All of the players I've talked to this week are itching to drop the puck. Minnesota State was the only WCHA team not in action last weekend, and they are getting tired of playing against themselves. Although official practice has been going on for only two weeks, the Mavericks were conditioning and going through captains practices basically since school started at the beginning of September.

A few things to know about this weekend:

Coach Troy Jutting said Mike Zacharias will start in goal Friday. "He's had a good fall," the coach said. "He deserves to play the first game." That's not a surprise. Zacharias was the best of the three goalies in the Purple-Gold game. Although Jutting was noncommittal about Saturday's starter, I wouldn't be shocked of Dan Tormey gets the nod.

The forward lines are basically the same as they were during the scrimmage (see below). The only exception is Matt Tyree moved up to the fourth line with Zach Harrison and Rylan Galiardi because Jason Wiley is out with an undisclosed injury.
I'm going to try my hand at pre- and postgame blogging for the first time this weekend, so I'll have all of the lineups tomorrow night. Who knows? There might even be some in-game posts, so keep checking. Also, be sure to read Friday's Free Press for a full preview, including a feature on senior captain Joel Hanson and a WCHA preview

Freshmen Mike Louwerse also made the trip.

I'll go with a Mankato sweep

Here were the lines from the purple and goal game (goals-assists in parenthesis):

Team White 4
Kalinski (0-1) -- Sackrison -- Hanson (1-1)
Galiardi (1-1) -- Harrison (0-1) -- Wiley

Youds (0-1) -- Boe (1-0)
Canzanello (1-0) -- Linder

Team Purple 6
Irwin (0-1) -- Berge (0-2) -- Mouillierat (1-0)
Gaulrapp (1-0) -- Bruess (1-0) -- Stewart (3-0)

Davis (0-1) -- Friesen
Gunderson -- Kilburg

The line of Tyree-Peterson-Louwerse (0-1) and defenseman Lompado played a period with each team, and the three goalies rotated around.

http://www.mankato-freepress.com/sports ... 03357.html

MSU's Hanson grows into captain role
Mavericks senior blossoms into first-line forward

Please let me know how Boe performs.
Thanks.

I don't know enough about either of these teams to provide any real thoughful insight, so I'll go with the home team in a sweep. Mankato has had trouble putting anything together with any real consistency over the last few years.

I'm going to predict a split in this series. Tech will have the advantage on Friday from playing last weekend and from being at home and will win the first game. Mankato will get their feet under them and play more in control on Saturday and will salvage a series split.

Friday Night Final:

Minnesota State-Mankato - 0
Michigan Tech - 2

FINAL

Game Two Saturday Night in Houghton, Michigan.

Weekend Wrap Up:
On Saturday night in Houghton, Michigan the Michigan Tech Huskies were able to complete the two-game sweep of the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks by winning the second game of the series by the score of 7 to 1. The dominating performance on Saturday night was led by Michigan Tech's goaltender, Rob Nolan, who made 35 saves on 36 shots and kept the Mavericks off the board on 5 powerplay opportunities. The same outcome wasn't there for the Mavericks between the pipes on Saturday night as Dan Tormey got the start and allowed 4 goals on 11 shots before giving way to Mike Zacharias who allowed 3 more goals on 19 shots.
The series sweep puts Michigan Tech at 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the WCHA whlie the Mavericks fell to 0-2 overall and in the WCHA.

Final Outcome:
Michigan Tech Sweep