St. Cloud State Set for Showdown with Minnesota State

Friday, October 8

Mankato, Minn.

7:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

Minnesota State Mankato

10/7/2021 3:51:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Huskies and Mavericks each rank 1-2 in national polls

GAME NOTES
THE MATCHUP

St. Cloud State Men's Hockey heads south to in-state rival Minnesota State Mankato for its second weekend matchup of the season. The road series will be billed as the battle for who's No. 1, as the Huskies enter the weekend ranked No. 1 in the USA Today / USA Hockey Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the USCHO Poll, while the Mavericks rank No. 1 in the USCHO Poll and No. 2 in the USA Today / USA Hockey Coaches Poll. Friday's game will start at 7 p.m. CT from the Mayo Health System Event Center, while Satuday's game will start at 6 p.m. CT. Both games will be televised on FloHockey. A radio broadcast of both game's will also be available on KNSI (1450 AM / 99.3 FM) with Jim Erickson on and Dave Reichel on the call (Pat Micheleltti will fill-in on Friday). The Huskies are looking to build off an impressive opening weekend, where the Huskies won 12-2 and 2-0 over St. Thomas to open the season.

A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEKEND

St. Cloud State opened the 2021-22 season in style, defeating St. Thomas by a combined score of 14-2, including a 12-2 rout on Saturday at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The Huskies matched a program record with 12 goals in Saturday's game, equaling its mark against Western Ontario (12-3) on Jan. 19, 1992. All but two skaters for the Huskies recorded points in the season-opening victory, and 10 recorded at least two points. The Huskies posted an incredible 7-of-10 success rate on the power play in the game, including both goals from senior forward Kevin Fitzgerald. It marked Huskies first win over the Tommies since the 1979-80 season, when both programs were D-II members. In that season, the Huskies defeated St. Thomas, 8-7, in OT.

TOUGH SCHEDULE AHEAD

St. Cloud State's 2021-22 season will be one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, starting with this weekend's series against No. 1/2 Minnesota State. Starting this weekend, the Huskies will face opponents ranked or receiving votes in each of the national polls in nine of their next 10 series. It won't get any easier after this weekend, as St. Cloud State will have a home-and-home with No. 4/4 Minnesota on Oct. 15-16.

HRENAK ON TOP

With two victories to open the season, St. Cloud State Men's Hockey graduate goalie David Hrenak became the all-time winningest goaltender in program history with 68 wins. He surpassed Brian Leitza (1994-98), who posted a record of 66-56-7. In four seasons as the starter for the Huskies, Hrenak has posted a record of 68-33-9 with 12 shutouts and a 90.9 save percentage. Among program ranks, Hrenak ranks first in shutouts (12), second in total saves (2,690) and fifth in goals against average (2.41).

BRODZY REACHES 100

St. Cloud State Men's Hockey graduate forward Easton Brodzinski became the 37^th member of St. Cloud State's 100-point club (35^th with D-I stats only) with a pair of goals in the Huskies season-opening win over St. Thomas.
Brodzinski has led the Huskies in scoring in each of the last two seasons, including 13 goals in 2020-21 before his season was cut short due to a leg injury. As a senior, Brodzinski tallied 18 points thanks to his 13 goals and five assists, including game-winners against Colorado College, Minnesota-Duluth and Boston. The forward recorded five multi-point games, three against nationally ranked opponents, and ranked second on the team in power play goals (4).
He was named to the NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team in Albany after scoring two goals against Boston (March 27), including the game-winner.
Among program records, Brodzinski ranks fourth in game-winning goals (12) and 14^th in goals (55).