St. Cloud State Men's Hockey Hosts No. 12/16 Michigan Tech for Home-Opening Series

Friday, October 9

St. Cloud, Minn.

7:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

Michigan Tech

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Photo by: Kayden Kircher

St. Cloud State Men's Hockey Hosts No. 12/16 Michigan Tech for Home-Opening Series

10/8/2026 6:24:00 PM | Men's Hockey

GAME NOTES

Coach Oliver makes his home debut in newly renovated Herb Brooks National Hockey Center

THE MATCHUP

St. Cloud State Men's Hockey will host No. 12/16 Michigan Tech in a battle of old conference foes for its home-opening series for the 2026-27 season. 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 Saturday at the newly renovated Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. 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). Friday will serve as the home debut for new head coach Nick Oliver, who was hired as the fourth head coach in program history in April.
The Huskies are coming off a standalone game in Bemidji on Saturday, as they overcame a 2-0 deficit in the second period to tie the game at 2-2 before falling in overtime, 3-2, in its season-opener. Michigan Tech opened it season with a series sweep of Minnesota, winning 3-2 and 3-1 in Houghton.

EARLY SEASON OUTLOOK

SCSU is looking to pick up wins against a ranked nonconference opponents, as this weekend's stretch begins four consecutive games against ranked nonconference teams. The Huskies are not currently receiving votes in either the USCHO or USA Hockey Top-20 polls. After Michigan Tech's season-opening sweep of the Gophers, the Huskies from Houghton moved up to No. 12 in the USCHO poll and No. 16 in the USA Hockey poll.

BATTLE OF THE HUSKIES

Former WCHA rivals, St. Cloud State and Michigan Tech will play for the first time in more than a decade. Both teams are also named the Huskies with their mascot named Blizzard T. Husky. St. Cloud State holds a decisive 56-28-5 edge in the all-time series which includes a 33-9-3 mark in St. Cloud and a 8-2-0 mark in the last 10 meetings dating back to 2009.
In its last meeting, SCSU beat Michigan Tech in overtime, 3-2, in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament on March 27, 2015 in Fargo, N.D. The Huskies were captained by current head coach Nick Oliver and scored an extra attacker goal in the third period by Jonny Brodzinski before Judd Peterson scored in overtime to send the Huskies to the regional final. The two teams split the last series played in St. Cloud on March 1-2, 2013, a 5-3 SCSU win on Friday before a 5-1 MTU victory on Saturday.

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 will be making his long awaited home coaching debut on Friday. 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.

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.

NOTES FROM LAST SERIES

3-2 OT loss at Bemidji State (10-3-26)
- With the loss, St. Cloud State is now 58-47-7 all-time against Bemidji State. It snapped a seven-game win streak for the Huskies against the Beavers, with the Beavers last win coming on Oct. 28, 2022, a 3-1 win in Bemidji.
- The Huskies went 1-of-4 on the power play and 4-of-5 on the penalty kill to start the season.
- Sophomore forward Nolan Roed scored his sixth career goal and second career power play goal.
- Senior forward Charlie Lurie scored his eighth career goal in his first game as a Husky.
- Sophomore goaltender Yan Shostak's 31 saves marked the seventh time in his career he's made 30 or more saves in a game.
- Freshman defenseman Nolan Stevenson recorded his first career point with his secondary assist on Lurie's goal, while sophomore defenseman Finn McLaughlin posted his first assist as a Husky.
- Junior forward Gavyn Thoreson and junior defenseman Thor Byfuglien recorded their 14th and seventh career assists, respectively.
- Junior forward William Ahlrik went an impressive 12-5 in the faceoff dot.
- 11 Huskies – Ahlrik, freshman defenseman Garrett Frazer, Lurie, McLaughlin, senior defenseman Jacob Napier, freshman forward Hayden Paupanekis, freshman forward Carson Pilgrim, freshman forward Brock Souch, sophomore forward Jamison Sluys, Stevenson, freshman Darels Uljanskis – made their SCSU debuts in the game.
- Six Huskies – Frazer, Paupanekis, Pilgrim, Souch, Stevenson, Uljanskis – made their collegiate debuts in the game.

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.
The group was able to grow together as the 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.

MORE ON THE NEW BENCH BOSS

St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner announced Nick Oliver as the next men's hockey head coach in April 2026. Oliver returns to his alma mater to become the fourth head coach of the D-I era (since 1987-88) and 19th overall in program history.
A former Husky captain, Oliver ascended the coaching rankings quickly, spending seven seasons in collegiate hockey and four in the United States Hockey League (USHL) while helping his teams reach two NCAA Frozen Fours as an Assistant Coach and a USHL regular season championship as a head coach. 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 has played or coached in seven of nine NCAA Tournament wins for the Huskies and six of 17 NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.
Oliver returns to St. Cloud for the third time after spending the past three seasons at Wisconsin under SCSU alum Mike Hastings. The Badgers have reached the NCAA Tournament twice in Oliver's three seasons on the bench, including a trip to the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four and National Championship game, which was the program's first Frozen Four and national title game appearance since 2010. Oliver coached the forward group during his time in Madison with three Badgers earning All-Big Ten honors.
Before returning to the collegiate game, Oliver spent one season (2022-23) as head coach of the Fargo Force of the USHL, leading the organization to 40 victories, a league-best 88 points and the franchise's first Anderson Cup as USHL regular-season champions. Oliver was named USHL Coach of the Year for his efforts and helped lead the Force to the Clark Cup final.
Oliver spent four seasons (2018-22) on the bench for one of the most successful four-year runs of Husky Hockey, helping the Huskies to an 81-44-9 mark, three NCAA Tournaments, a NCHC Spencer Penrose regular season championship and a NCAA Frozen Four appearance. The Huskies first season with Oliver on the bench (2018-19) was one of the most successful in program history, with SCSU posting a 30-6-3 record while winning the NCHC regular season title with a conference record 19 wins and 66 points before earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies then advanced to its second-ever NCAA Frozen Four and first NCAA national championship game appearance in 2021 with Oliver helping behind the bench.
Oliver began his coaching career immediately after his collegiate playing career concluded, spending three seasons with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede (2015-18) as an assistant coach and director of scouting.
The Roseau, Minn., native played in 145 career games at SCSU from 2011-15, serving as a team captain his senior year and alternate captain as a junior. He earned three Academic All-Conference honors and was named the 2015 NCHC Sportsmanship Award recipient. The Huskies won the WCHA regular season title in 2013, the inaugural NCHC regular season title in 2014, made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament (2013-15) and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in program history in 2013. Oliver was a 2009 NHL draft pick of the Nashville Predators and played for the Fargo Force (USHL) from 2008-11.
Oliver is a 2015 SCSU graduate with a degree in business finance. He and his wife, Alex, have three children, Thomas, Lenna and Grant. His wife Alex (Makaric) played three seasons with the St. Cloud State Women's Hockey team from 2013-16.
2026-27 LEADERSHIP GROUP: In the 40th season of the Division-I era, senior forward Jack Reimann and junior forward Gavyn Thoreson will be the 40th and 41st Huskies to wear the "C" as captain, while senior forward Jake Southgate will be an alternate captain.
A mainstay in the lineup in his first three seasons, Reimann posted a career-best two goals and six assists for eight points in 35 games in 2025-26. The second-generation Husky scored twice, including the game-winner in a 5-1 win over No. 3 Western Michigan (Nov. 1). He has played both wing and center for the Huskies, posting a career-best 50.0 percent mark (54-54) in the faceoff dot last season. In the classroom, Reimann has been named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference list and has earned the NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award in each of his three seasons. In 95 career games, he has scored four goals and 11 assists for 15 points.
Thoreson is primed for another breakout season in his junior campaign after doubling his scoring output from 10 points (6-4—10) as a freshman to 20 points (11-9—20) as a sophomore in 2025-26. The Andover, Minn., native ended last season especially strong, scoring four goals and four assists for eight points with a +3 mark on the ice over the last six games. He scored twice in a game twice, netting two goals against Miami on Nov. 21 and at North Dakota on Feb. 21. In the classroom, Thoreson has been named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference list and has earned the NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award in each of his two seasons on the ice. In 72 career games, Thoreson has scored 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points with one game-winning goal and one shorthanded goal.
Southgate becomes the fourth Husky in the D-I era to wear a letter in his first season with the program, and just in the second since 1988-89. He joins Brian Cook and Scott Eichstadt, who served as captains in 1987-88, SCSU's first season as a Division-I program, and Seamus Donohue, who wore the "A" in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Southgate comes to St. Cloud for his senior season after spending three seasons at Lindenwood where he netted 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 88 games. The Saskatchewan native served as an alternate captain for the Lions in 2025-26, recording a career-high eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points with two power play goals. He has produced five or more goals and 12 or more points in each of his three collegiate seasons after 16- (7g/9a) and 12-point (5g/7a) performances in his first two seasons.

GOALIE TANDEM IS BACK

In an offseason filled with change, one consistent for the Huskies is the goaltender tandem of sophomore Yan Shostak and junior Patriks Berzins, who started all 36 games for the Huskies last season.
Both showed signs of flashes throughout the season, with Shostak taking one NCHC Rookie of the Week honors in October and NCHC Goaltender of the Week honors in January, while Berzins earned NCHC Goaltender of the Week honors in February.
The two split time almost right down the middle last season, with Shostak taking the slight edge in starts (20-16) and while getting the net for the final five games of the season, including starts in both games of the NCHC Quarterfinals series at Minnesota Duluth.
Berzins boasted the better win-loss record with a 10-7-0 record, 2.81 goals-against-average and .909 save percentage, while Shostak posted a 6-12-1 record with a 3.08 goals-against-average and .897 save percentage. Shostak had the only two shutouts of the season for SCSU, a 21-save performance in a 4-0 win over Vermont and a 42-save shutout in 6-0 win over No. 6 Minnesota Duluth.

HERB RENOVATION COMPLETE

Updates to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (HBNHC) have been completed on time and under budget, ensuring the facility will be ready for St. Cloud State University Men's and Women's Hockey home games this season.
Both ice sheets have been modified to new dimensions, and the dasher boards and spectator netting were replaced to improve player and guest safety. The ice rink cooling plant was upgraded for the first time since the building opened in 1989.
New LED lighting was installed in both rinks, and other upgrades in temperature controls and HVAC were completed to make the HBNHC more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Elrosa-based general contractor Breitbach Construction Co. led coordination on the $11 million project, while JLG Architects of Minneapolis were in charge of design. Over 16,000 on-site trade hours were required to finish the project.
Over 98 percent of the construction dollars were awarded to Minnesota companies, supporting local businesses, jobs and communities throughout the state.
"We are proud that so many local companies were able to be involved in completing this project," SCSU President Dr. Gregory Tomso said. "They did an excellent job, and we hope this investment from the state can benefit the economic development of our region for years to come."
Upgrades were possible due to Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funds appropriated by the state legislature. HEAPR money is awarded for maintenance and preservation of existing facilities at the seven universities and 26 colleges in Minnesota State.
A ribbon-cutting was held on Oct. 1 to honor the improvements. State representatives Dan Wolgamott and Bernie Perryman and state senator Aric Putnum each spoke at the event, highlighting the work across political lines to guarantee funding for a project that would be beneficial for the St. Cloud community and region.