2025–26 Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey season

2025–26 Minnesota State Mavericks
men's ice hockey season
CCHA, Champion
Conference1st CCHA
Home iceMayo Clinic Health System Event Center
Rankings
USCHO#16
USA Hockey#16
Record
Overall21–10–7
Conference14–7–5
Home11–5–3
Road9–4–4
Neutral1–1–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachLuke Strand
Assistant coachesTroy G. Ward
Keith Paulsen
Cory McCracken
CaptainMason Wheeler
Alternate captain(s)Luigi Benincasa
Campbell Cichosz
Evan Murr
Finlay Williams
Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey seasons
« 2024–25 2026–27 »

The 2025–26 Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey season will be the 57th season of play for the program, 30th at the Division I level, and 5th in the CCHA. The Mavericks will represent Minnesota State University, Mankato in the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, play their home games at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center and be coached by Luke Strand in his 3rd season.

Season

Departures

Player Position Nationality Cause
Cade Alami Defenseman  United States Graduation (signed with Tahoe Knight Monsters)
Luke Ashton Defenseman  Canada Transferred to Cornell
Steven Bellini Defenseman  United States Graduation (signed with Asiago Hockey 1935)
Kaden Bohlsen Forward  United States Graduation (signed with Calgary Wranglers)
Brian Carrabes Forward  United States Graduation (signed with Adirondack Thunder)
Adam Eisele Forward  United States Transferred to Ohio State
Josh Groll Forward  United States Graduation (signed with Fort Wayne Komets)
Tyler Haskins Forward  United States Transferred to Mercyhurst
Will Hillman Forward  United States Graduation (signed with Toledo Walleye)
Zach Krajnik Forward  United States Graduation (signed with Savannah Ghost Pirates)
Andrew Miller Goaltender  United States Graduation (retired)
Brett Moravec Forward  Canada Signed professional contract (Indy Fuel)
Kade Nielsen Forward  United States Left program (retired)
Brenden Olson Defenseman  United States Graduation (signed with HC Nové Zámky)
Rhett Pitlick Forward  United States Graduation (signed with Bakersfield Condors)
Jordan Power Defenseman  Canada Graduation (signed with Greenville Swamp Rabbits)
Eli Pulver Goaltender  Canada Transferred to Wisconsin
Sam Rice Forward  United States Left program (retired)
Luc Wilson Forward  Canada Transferred to Rensselaer

Recruiting

Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Max Beckford Goaltender  Canada 22 London, ON; transfer from Bentley
Rylan Bonkowski Defenseman  Canada 19 Richmond, BC
Jacob Conrad Defenseman  United States 23 Green Bay, WI; transfer from Lake Superior State
Fēlikss Gavars Forward  Latvia 23 Riga, LAT; transfer from St. Lawrence
Easton Hewson Defenseman  Canada 20 Edmonton, AB
Liam Hupka Defenseman  United States 20 Minneapolis, MN
Mason LeBel Forward  United States 21 South Bend, IN
Tristan Lemyre Forward  United States 24 Mirabel, QC; transfer from Western Michigan
Charlie Lurie Forward  United States 22 Minnetonka, MN; transfer from Omaha
Reid Morich Forward  United States 20 Scottsdale, AZ
Jordan Ronn Forward  United States 20 Champlin, MN
Sawyer Scholl Forward  United States 23 Green Bay, WI; transfer from Wisconsin
Jack Smith Forward  United States 23 St. Cloud, MN; transfer from Minnesota Duluth; selected 102nd overall in 2020
Ean Somoza Forward  United States 22 Thousand Oaks, CA; transfer from Western Michigan
Bryce Strand Defenseman  United States 21 Green Bay, WI
Liam Watkins Forward  Canada 21 Okotoks, AB; transfer from Omaha
Alexander Zetterberg Forward  Sweden 19 Sundsvall, SWE; transfer from Boston University

Roster

As of August 24, 2024.[1]

No. Nat. Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
4 Jacob Conrad Sophomore (RS) D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-05-18 Green Bay, Wisconsin Lake Superior State (CCHA) —
5 Mason Wheeler (C) Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2001-09-29 Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota Tri-City Storm (USHL) —
7 Bryce Strand Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2004-02-10 Green Bay, Wisconsin Philadelphia Rebels (NAHL) —
8 Campbell Cichosz (A) Senior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2001-08-23 Albert Lea, Minnesota Anchorage Wolverines (NAHL) —
9 Luigi Benincasa (A) Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 159 lb (72 kg) 2002-10-07 Edmonton, Alberta Ferris State (CCHA) —
10 Evan Murr (A) Junior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 2003-02-27 Stillwater, Minnesota Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) —
11 Jordan Ronn Freshman F 6' 10" (2.08 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 2005-06-09 Champlin, Minnesota Fargo Force (USHL) —
12 Alex Zetterberg Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 2006-04-27 Sundsvall, Sweden Boston University (HEA) —
13 Tristan Lemyre Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-01-15 Mirabel, Quebec Western Michigan (NCHC) —
14 Mason LeBel Freshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2004-05-06 South Bend, Indiana St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL) —
16 Jacob Bonkowski Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2003-08-25 Richmond, British Columbia Coquitlam Express (BCHL) —
17 Ean Somoza Junior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 2003-02-08 Thousand Oaks, California Western Michigan (NCHC) —
18 Jakob Stender Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-08-07 Alexandria, Minnesota Fargo Force (USHL) —
20 Jack Smith Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-07-06 St. Cloud, Minnesota Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) MTL, 102nd overall 2020
21 Fin Williams (A) Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 186 lb (84 kg) 2003-04-21 North Vancouver, British Columbia Notre Dame (Big Ten) —
22 Liam Hupka Freshman D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2005-06-27 Minneapolis, Minnesota Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) —
23 Sawyer Scholl Junior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-02-14 Medford, Wisconsin Wisconsin (Big Ten) —
24 Charlie Lurie Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2003-03-11 Minnetonka, Minnesota Omaha (NCHC) —
25 Fēlikss Gavars Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 2002-05-15 Riga, Latvia St. Lawrence (ECAC) —
26 Rylan Bonkowski Freshman D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2006-04-26 Richmond, British Columbia Tri-City Storm (USHL) —
27 Liam Watkins Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 2004-07-13 Okotoks, Alberta Omaha (NCHC) —
28 Easton Hewson Freshman D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2005-06-08 Edmonton, Alberta Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) —
31 Matthew Syverson Junior G 6' 4" (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2003-04-22 Apple Valley, Minnesota Lindenwood (NCAA) —
33 Alex Tracy Senior G 6' 0" (1.83 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2001-05-04 Chicago, Illinois Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) —
35 Max Beckford Sophomore G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2003-01-30 London, Ontario Bentley (AHA) —
39 Ralfs Bergmanis Senior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2002-03-13 Liepāja, Latvia Vermont (HEA) —
44 Reid Morich Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 2005-04-11 Scottsdale, Arizona Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) —

Standings

2025–26 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#16 Minnesota State † 26 14 7 5 1 2 3 51 71 53 38 21 10 7 106 77
#15 St. Thomas 26 15 7 4 2 1 2 50 89 67 37 21 11 5 130 105
#18 Augustana 26 14 8 4 1 2 3 50 72 49 37 22 11 4 109 74
Michigan Tech 26 16 7 3 3 1 0 49 84 59 39 23 13 3 126 106
Bowling Green 26 15 7 4 3 2 1 49 80 59 36 18 11 7 107 88
Bemidji State 26 11 11 4 5 1 3 36 69 68 36 13 19 4 98 103
Lake Superior State 26 8 16 2 1 4 2 31 57 83 36 11 22 3 92 121
Ferris State 26 6 18 2 1 2 1 22 70 100 37 8 27 2 91 138
Northern Michigan 26 3 21 2 0 2 0 13 44 98 34 3 29 2 56 132
Championship: March 20, 2026
† indicates conference regular-season champion (MacNaughton Cup)
* indicates conference tournament champion (Mason Cup)
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 16, 2026
Source: CCHA

Schedule and results

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
October 10 7:07 pm at Omaha* #20 Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska   Tracy L 2–6  6,385 0–1–0
October 11 6:07 pm at Omaha* #20 Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska   Tracy W 4–1  5,921 1–1–0
October 16 7:00 pm at #17 Wisconsin* #20 Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin BTN+ Tracy T 1–1 OT 6,555 1–1–1
October 17 7:00 pm at #17 Wisconsin* #20 Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin BTN+ Tracy T 2–2 OT 8,478 1–1–2
October 24 7:07 pm Rensselaer* #20 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 4–2  3,968 2–1–2
October 25 6:07 pm Rensselaer* #20 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 2–1  3,897 3–1–2
October 31 7:07 pm at St. Thomas #18 Lee & Penny Anderson Arena • Saint Paul, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 3–1  2,544 4–1–2 (1–0–0)
November 1 6:07 pm St. Thomas #18 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy L 3–4 OT 4,184 4–2–2 (1–1–0)
November 7 7:07 pm Bowling Green #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy T 4–4 SOW 3,745 4–2–3 (1–1–1)
November 8 6:07 pm Bowling Green #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy T 1–1 SOL 4,119 4–2–4 (1–1–2)
November 14 6:07 pm at Lake Superior State #16 Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy W 2–1 OT — 5–2–4 (2–1–2)
November 15 5:07 pm at Lake Superior State #16 Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy W 4–2  — 6–2–4 (3–1–2)
November 21 7:07 pm Michigan Tech #14 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 3–0  4,222 7–2–4 (4–1–2)
November 22 6:07 pm Michigan Tech #14 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 3–2  4,054 8–2–4 (5–1–2)
November 28 6:07 pm at Northern Michigan #14 Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy W 4–0  1,670 9–2–4 (6–1–2)
November 29 5:07 pm at Northern Michigan #14 Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy W 3–2  1,645 10–2–4 (7–1–2)
December 5 7:07 pm Ferris State #13 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 5–1  3,888 10–3–4 (7–2–2)
December 6 6:07 pm Ferris State #13 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy L 1–4  3,971 11–3–4 (8–2–2)
December 12 7:07 pm at Augustana #14 Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota Midco Sports+ Tracy L 1–3  2,742 11–4–4 (8–3–2)
December 13 6:07 pm at Augustana #14 Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota Midco Sports+ Tracy T 4–4 SOL 2,898 11–4–5 (8–3–3)
Coachella Valley Cactus Cup
January 2 5:30 pm vs. Massachusetts Lowell* #14 Acrisure Arena • Thousand Palms, California (Cactus Cup Semifinal)   Tracy L 1–3  — 11–5–5
January 3 5:30 pm vs. Yale* #14 Acrisure Arena • Thousand Palms, California (Cactus Cup Consolation Game)   Beckford W 4–3  — 12–5–5
January 10 6:07 pm St. Thomas #15 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy L 2–4  4,765 12–6–5 (8–4–3)
January 16 6:07 pm at Michigan Tech #17 MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy L 1–3  3,375 12–7–5 (8–5–3)
January 17 5:07 pm at Michigan Tech #17 MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy L 1–4  3,400 12–8–5 (8–6–3)
January 24 6:07 pm #14 Augustana #20 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 4–1  4,808 13–8–5 (9–6–3)
January 30 6:07 pm at Ferris State #18 Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy W 6–1  1,823 14–8–5 (10–6–3)
January 31 5:07 pm at Ferris State #18 Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan Midco Sports+ Tracy W 4–3  2,016 15–8–5 (11–6–3)
February 13 7:07 pm Bemidji State #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 1–0  4,101 16–8–5 (12–6–3)
February 14 6:07 pm Bemidji State #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy L 0–1 OT 4,415 16–9–5 (12–7–3)
February 20 7:07 pm at Bowling Green #17 Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio Midco Sports+ Tracy W 5–4  3,262 17–9–5 (13–7–3)
February 21 6:07 pm at Bowling Green #17 Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio Midco Sports+ Tracy T 1–1 SOW 4,317 17–9–6 (13–7–4)
February 27 7:07 pm Northern Michigan #18 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy T 2–2 SOW 4,196 17–9–7 (13–7–5)
February 28 6:07 pm Northern Michigan #18 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota Midco Sports+ Tracy W 3–0  4,892 18–9–7 (14–7–5)
CCHA Tournament
March 6 7:07 pm Ferris State* #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota (CCHA Quarterfinal Game 1) Midco Sports+ Tracy W 5–1  3,068 19–9–7
March 7 6:07 pm Ferris State* #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota (CCHA Quarterfinal Game 2) Midco Sports+ Tracy L 1–2 OT 2,866 19–10–7
March 8 5:07 pm Ferris State* #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota (CCHA Quarterfinal Game 3) Midco Sports+ Tracy W 2–0  2,065 20–10–7
March 14 8:07 pm #19 Michigan Tech* #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota (CCHA Semifinal) Midco Sports+ Tracy W 7–2  3,520 21–10–7
March 20 7:07 pm #15 St. Thomas* #16 Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota (CCHA Championship) Midco Sports+       
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time.
Source:[2]

Scoring statistics

[3]

Rankings

Main article: 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 (Final)
USCHO.com 18 20 20 20 18 16 16 14 14 13 14 15 – 14 15 17 20 18 17 16 17 18 16 16 16
USA Hockey 18 20 19 20 19 18 18 14 14 13 14 14 – 14 15т 17 20 18 17 16 17 18 16 18 16

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12.[4]
Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.

References

  1. ^ "2024-25 Men's Hockey Roster". Minnesota State Mavericks. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "2025-26 Men's Hockey Schedule". Minnesota State Mavericks. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Minnesota State Univ. (Mankato) 2025-2026 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  4. ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
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