(RV) St. Cloud State Men's Hockey Opens Conference Play at Home Against (RV) Arizona State

Friday, October 30

St. Cloud, Minn.

7:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

Arizona State

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Photo by: Kayden Kircher

10/29/2026 2:58:00 PM | Men's Hockey

GAME NOTES

Huskies return to action with NCHC play at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center after bye week

THE MATCHUP

Midway through its nonconference schedule, St. Cloud State Men's Hockey will turn to conference play when the Huskies host Arizona State for a Halloween weekend series at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The series will begin on Friday with a 7:00 p.m. CT start and will conclude with a 6:00 p.m. CT game on Halloween. The series will be broadcast on The CW across the state of Minnesota and streamed on NCHC.tv with the voice of the Huskies Jim Erickson and former captain Geno Parrish on the call. Over the airwaves, HP alum Nick Maxson and SCSU Hall of Famer Dave Reichel will have the call on KNSI (1450 AM / 99.3 FM).
SCSU is coming off a split on the road against No. 16/15 Boston College, falling 4-0 to the Eagles on Thursday, Oct. 25 before rebounding and beating the defending Beanpot champions, 5-3, on Saturday, Oct. 17. Arizona State enters the series on a three-game win streak after a road series sweep of UMass Lowell (5-4, 4-2) in head coach Dave Hakstol's Sun Devil debut on Oct. 16-17.

EARLY SEASON OUTLOOK

Both teams are still looking to crack the top-20 for the first time in 2026-27, as both teams are receiving votes in the USCHO Poll and ASU is receiving votes in the USA Hockey Poll. Through the first month of games, SCSU is currently ranked No. 27 in the NPI while Arizona State checks in at No. 34.
The Huskies and Sun Devils will both be looking to start NCHC play off on the right foot after being picked in the bottom half of the NCHC Preseason Media Poll, as the Huskies were selected eighth and the Sun Devils ninth.

SERIES HISTORY

This weekend's series will be just the eighth and ninth meetings ever between the two programs and the third series as conference opponents with Arizona State joining the NCHC prior to the 2024-25 season. In the first conference series between the two programs, the Sun Devils made the trek up north to the Brooks Center and claimed a series sweep, winning 6-3 and 5-3 on Jan. 17-18, 2025, its first-ever victories over the Huskies.
SCSU got its revenge last season, earning a 4-1 and 4-3 sweep of the Sun Devils in its first-ever trip to Mullet Arena. Junior goaltender Patriks Berzins backstopped the Huskies to the sweep in Tempe and earned NCHC Goaltender of the Week honors for his performance, posting a 2-0-0 record with 30+ saves in each win, a 2.00 goals-against-average and a .948 save percentage. The Husky goaltender made 33 saves in a 4-1 win on Friday while stopping both power plays before making a career-high 40 saves in a 4-3 win on Saturday, including 19 in the final frame alone. He made nine short-handed saves in the series to help SCSU go 5-for-6 on the penalty kill against ASU's top-10 ranked power play.
A familiar face will be behind the bench for the Sun Devils with Dave Hakstol being named the program's head coach on Oct. 15. In 11 seasons as North Dakota's head coach (2004-15), Hakstol's teams went 27-16-7 against the Huskies.

NOTES FROM LAST SERIES

SCSU earned another split against a ranked opponent in its last time out on the road against No. 16/15 Boston College on Oct. 15, 17. The Huskies dropped the series opener 4-0 before rebounding to defeat the Eagles, 5-3, on Saturday behind goals from five different skaters and a career-high 43 saves from sophomore goaltender Yan Shostak.
4-0 loss at Boston College (10-15-26)
- In the loss, SCSU moves to 4-4-0 all-time against Boston College with the Eagles recording their third consecutive win over the Huskies.
- SCSU went 4-of-5 on the penalty kill to move their season total to 88.2 percent (15-of-17).
- Junior goaltender Patriks Berzins' 28 saves marked the second time this season and 13th time in his career he has made 25 or more saves.
- Sophomore defenseman Finn McLaughlin had a career-high three blocks in the game.
- Sophomore forward Nolan Roed's 10 faceoff wins marked the fourth time this season and 13th time in his career he has won 10 or more faceoffs in a game.
5-3 win at Boston College (10-17-26)
- With the win, SCSU moves to 5-4-0 all-time against Boston College while snapping a three-game losing streak to the Eagles. The Huskies are now 2-1-0 in the Conte Forum, with the other win coming in a 7-0 win on Oct. 25, 2018.
- The first two wins of head coach Nick Oliver's career have come against ranked opponents, matching Bob Motzko as the only two SCSU coaches to earn their first two wins against ranked opponents. In 2005-06, Motzko's Huskies beat No. 12 Northern Michigan (3-2 OT) on Oct. 15, 2005, and No. 7 Minnesota (3-2) on Oct. 28, 2005.
- Boston College outshot the Huskies 46-25 while SCSU won the faceoff battle, 33-30.
- The Huskies went 1-of-5 on the power play to move to 20.0 percent (4-of-20) on the man advantage this season. SCSU has scored on the power play in four of games this season.
- The penalty kill unit was solid once again, turning away 2-of-3 BC man advantages, with the only goal allowed coming with an extra attacker on the ice. On the season, SCSU is now 85.0 percent on the kill (17-of-20).
- Sophomore goaltender Yan Shostak's 43 saves matched his career-best from his performance at Minnesota Duluth on March 7, 2026, and marked the third time in his career he has made 40 or more saves.
- Five different Huskies scored for the second time this season as SCSU matched its season-high in goals from its 5-3 win over No. 12/16 Michigan Tech on Oct. 10.
- SCSU's top line of sophomore forward Noah Urness, sophomore forward Nolan Roed and junior forward Gavyn Thoreson combined for a goal and four assists for five points and six shots on goal. Roed and Thoreson have scored a point in four of five games while Urness has scored a point in three games.
- Roed's goal and assist for two points is his first two-point game of the season and fifth of his career.
- Roed also went 10-8 in the faceoff dot, marking the fifth time this season and 14th time in his career he has won 10 or more faceoffs in a game.
- Freshman defenseman Darels Uljanskis scored his first career goal in the closing minute of the first period and added an assist to record the first two points of his collegiate career.
- Junior defenseman Thor Byfuglien netted his second goal of the season and fourth of his career in the second period. His score ended as the game-winning goal, his second career game-winning score.
- In his 36th career game and fifth of his sophomore campaign, sophomore defenseman Finn McLaughlin scored his first career goal in the second period on the power play.
- Senior forward Jake Southgate netted his first goal at SCSU and 21st career goal in the first period.
- Thoreson recorded two assists for his second two-point game of the season and seventh of his career. His seven points on the season (2g/5a) currently rank 11th nationally.
- Senior defenseman Jacob Napier and sophomore forward Jamison Sluys recorded their first points as Huskies with assists on Roed and Byfuglien's goals, respectively.
- Junior forward William Ahlrik went 12-12 in the faceoff dot, marking the fourth time this season and 29th time in his career he has won 10 or more faceoffs.

NEW ERA OF HUSKY HOCKEY

After being hired as the fourth head coach in the Division-I era of St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, Head Coach Nick Oliver continues his initial campaign as bench boss of the Huskies. The former Husky captain is back for his third stint in the Granite City after playing in 145 career games over four seasons in the black and red, serving as team captain his senior season and alternate captain as a junior. He then returned to St. Cloud as an assistant coach from 2018-22, where the Huskies experienced one of the most successful four year runs in program history. He is the only coach or player to be a part of both NCAA Frozen Fours in SCSU history, playing in the 2013 Frozen Four and serving as an assistant on the 2021 team that reached the national championship game.
Oliver earned his first career victory as a head coach in SCSU's 5-3 win over No. 12/16 Michigan Tech on Saturday, Oct. 10 behind goals from five different Huskies and a three-point performance (1g/2a) from senior forward captain Gavyn Thoreson.
Oliver joined his college coach, Bob Motzko, as the only two SCSU head coaches in the Division-I era to earn their first win with the Huskies against a ranked opponent. Motzko's Huskies beat No. 12 Northern Michigan, 3-2, in overtime on Oct. 15, 2006 in Marquette.

IN GOOD COMPANY

The first two wins of the Nick Oliver era have come against ranked opponents, with the Huskies beating No. 12/16 Michigan Tech on Oct. 10 and No. 16/15 Boston College on Oct. 17, both by way of 5-3 score. Oliver joins Bob Motzko as the only two SCSU coaches in the Division-I to earn their first two wins against ranked opponents. In 2005-06, Motzko's Huskies beat No. 12 Northern Michigan (3-2 OT) on Oct. 15, 2005, and No. 7 Minnesota (3-2) on Oct. 28, 2005.
In its last two hires, SCSU has had tremendous luck in its first season under new bench bosses. Motzko led the Huskies to a 22-16-4 mark and a WCHA Final Five Championship Game appearance in 2005-06, while Brett Larson's Huskies recorded a program record 30 wins, NCHC Penrose Championship and No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19.

THE CAPTAIN PRODUCES

With SCSU losing its top three goal scorers and eight skaters who scored 10 or more points a season ago, someone was going to need to step up and produce for the Huskies. Enter junior captain Gavyn Thoreson, who has scored a point in four of five games and multi-point performances in both of SCSU's wins, scoring three points (1g/2a) in a 5-3 win over No. 12/16 Michigan Tech (Oct. 10) and two points (2a) in a 5-3 road win over No. 16/15 Boston College (Oct. 17).
Among NCHC leaders in the early going, Thoreson ranks tied for fifth in assists (five) and tied for ninth in points (seven). Thoreson is continuing his ascension in point production as his career goes along, improving from 0.28 points per game as a freshman in 2024-25 (6-4--10) to 0.56 ppg last season (11-9--20) and now 1.40 ppg (2-5--7) in seven games this season.

SOLID SPECIAL TEAMS

Special teams has been a strong point in the early going for the Huskies, posting a 85.0 perent (17-of-20) mark on the penalty kill and a 20.0 percent (4-of-20) mark on the man advantage.
The PK unit has been strong through five games this season, stopping all opponent's power play chances in three of five games. The Huskies have killed off seven consecutive penalties with perfect 5-for-5 and 2-for-2 performances in the Michigan Tech series.
In the goals surrendered on the PK, only one has come in true 5-on-4 fashion, with the Huskies allowing a overtime-winning goal against Bemidji State (Oct. 3) in 4-on-3 play and an extra-attacker, two-man disadvantage, 6-on-3 goal against Boston College (Oct. 17).
Often considered a team's best penalty killers, SCSU's goaltenders, sophomore Yan Shostak and junior Patriks Berzins have posted a 90.6 save percentage on kills this season with Shostak stopping 19-of-21 shots in three starts while Berzins has stopped 10-of-11 shots in two starts.
SCSU has scored on the power play in four of five games this season, clicking at a 20.0 percent (4-of-20) success rate. Sophomore defenseman Finn McLaughlin has led the way at the point, with all three of his season points coming on the man advantage (1g/2a). Junior forward Gavyn Thoreson and sophomore forward Noah Urness each have two assists to help lead the charge.

TOP LINE RETURNS

Although listed as the second or third line for a large majority of the second half of last season, the trio of junior captain Gavyn Thoreson, sophomore forward Nolan Roed and sophomore forward Noah Urness were arguably SCSU's best line for the final stretch of the season. The trio are SCSU's top-three returning scorers from a season ago, with each scoring 18+ points while accounting for 73.9 percent (54-of-73) of SCSU's production from its seven returning skaters.
Through five games this season, the trio has picked up right where they left off as the teams three-leading scorers. Thoreson is the top-scoring skater with seven points (2g/5a), while Roed has produced five points (2g/3a) and Urness three assists.
Thoreson's seven points (2g/5a) currently ranks tied for ninth among NCHC skaters.
Thoreson has been SCSU's leading scorer early on, scoring two goals and five assists for seven points, which includes a three-point performance (1g/2a) in the Oct. 10 win over Michigan Tech. Roed found the back of the net in the Huskies season-opener against Bemidji State (Oct. 3), while Urness had an assist in each game of the Michigan Tech series.
The group was able to grow together as the 2025-26 season went along, playing together for 14 of 36 games last season, including the last eight, and provided 40.7 percent of their production in the final 10 games of the season.
Thoreson led the way with 20 points (11-9--20) and made the jump from his freshman campaign where he only scored 10 points. Urness notched seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points while leading the team with four game-winning goals. Roed ranked fourth on the team in assists with 13 and added five goals for 18 points in his freshman campaign.
The trio picked up right where they left off a season ago, as Roed and Thoreson scored on the Huskies' first goal of the season, with Roed netting a power play goal in SCSU's season-opener at Bemidji State (Oct. 3) with Thoreson recording the secondary assist.

BLUE LINE PRODUCTION

St. Cloud State has received a big uptick in production from its blue line from a season ago, with 35.71 percent of its goals (5-of-14) and 28.95 percent of its points (11-of-38) coming from defensemen.
The production nearly double in goal production, up from 18.75 percent (21-of-112) in 2025-26 and slightly up in point production at 26.17 percent (78-of-298).
Junior forward Thor Byfuglien is the blue liners' leading goal scorers with two goals, while sophomore defenseman Finn McLaughlin and freshman forward Darels Uljanskis have each produced multi points through five games.

BUSY SUMMER

Coach Oliver has been busy since his return, as the coaching staff and roster have been near complete rebuilds, with the hiring of two assistant coaches, an assistant to the head coach and the recruitment of 17 newcomers. Clark Kuster serves as the lone returning member of the coaching staff and was joined by former Yale Interim Head Coach Joe Howe and former Husky captain Spencer Meier. Joining the trio is former Husky forward Daniel Tedesco, who will serve as the Assistant to the Head Coach, a position formerly known as the Director of Operations and Video Coordinator.
The coaching staff worked diligently throughout the summer to put together the 2026-27 Huskies, with 11 freshmen and six transfers joining the program. Included in the mix of newcomers are 10 forwards, six defenseman and one goaltender, as well as three NHL draft picks.
Through three games, all 17 newcomers have seen action for the Huskies this season. Among the six transfers, four have scored and all six have recorded a point, while three freshmen have found the back of the net and five have recorded a point.

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Tickets for the 2026-27 season are available at www.scsutickets.com, downloading the St. Cloud State Huskies app or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.