Women's Hockey returns home to play MSU-Mankato

Friday, January 18

St. Cloud, Minn.

3:07 p.m.

St. Cloud State

Minnesota State

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Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane

1/17/2019 11:09:00 AM | Women's Hockey

By: Maddie MacFarlane

ST. CLOUD, MINN. - The St. Cloud State University women's hockey team (7-16-2, 2-12-0) returns home to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center to face the Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks (8-10-4, 3-9-2-1) on Jan. 18 at 3:07 p.m.

Last Games Out: St. Cloud State had a bye week in the first full week of the New Year. The Huskies were part of the first ever WCHA Minnesota Cup in their most recent games. In the tournament SCSU tied MSU-Mankato 2-2 on Saturday, January 5 and won in a shootout to move onto the championship game. On Sunday, Jan. 6 against Minnesota the Huskies were defeated 1-5.

SCSU totaled 48 SOG in the weekend tournament and the Huskies' goaltenders Janine Alder (Sunday-45 against Minnesota) and Emma Polusny (Saturday-39 against Mankato) made 84 saves. St. Cloud went 0-4 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill.

Junior goaltender Janine Alder and junior defenseman Abby Thiessen were each named to the Minnesota Cup All-Tournament Team.

Hockey Day Minnesota: The St. Cloud State Huskies will once again be on the ice for the weekend celebration of Hockey Day Minnesota (Saturday, Jan. 19); this is the 13^th year of the event. While Friday's game will not be a part of the main #HDM2019 coverage, the Huskies vs. Mavericks matchup will be broadcast on Fox Sports North Plus. Last time St. Cloud State played MSU on Hockey Day Minnesota was Jan. 21, 2017. In that game, the teams tied 3-3 and SCSU won the shootout 3-2. The Mavericks will then travel Saturday, Jan. 19 to play in one of the featured games on Hockey Day against Bemidji State in an outdoor rink next to Lake Bemidji.

Shot Blockers: St. Cloud State ranks first in the nation for team saves with 937 this season. Goaltenders Emma Polusny (So.) and Janine Alder (Jr.) have split most of their time on the ice this season. Polusny is 4-6-1 and Alder is 3-10-1 on the season. Of note, Polusny had a career-high 48 save game on Saturday, Oct. 27 and Alder had another season-high game in saves against Wisconsin with 46 Dec. 8, 2018 (her previous two years of season-high save games have been vs. the Badgers).

Goaltender Janine Alder ranks first in the WCHA and seventh in the nation in save percentage. She has allowed 33 goals on 543 shots in 14 games played this season, averaging a .939 SV%. Alder also ranks seventh in WCHA GAA at 2.35.

Follow the Huskies vs. Mavericks:
Watch: Flo Hockey or Fox Sports North Plus
Stats: SCSU Huskies
Live Game Updates: SCSU Women's Hockey Twitter

All SCSU students get in FREE to Huskies athletic events! For complete ticket information regarding any SCSU home games in 2018-19, please visit www.scsutickets.com or call 1-877-SCSUTIX.