SCSU Men’s Hockey Hosts #2 Minnesota State-Mankato

(KNSI) – Second-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato comes to town for a marquee early-season NCAA men’s hockey series.

Puck drop Friday with #8 St. Cloud State is 7:30 p.m. The teams will meet again Saturday, also at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, with a 6:00 p.m start. Huskies Head Coach Brett Larson says Minnesota State has reloaded after an NCAA title game appearance last season and presents some challenges for his team.

“They’ve got a great coaching staff and they have an identity. And they don’t get away from it. They play hard, they play fast, they play physical, they play the game the right way. You’re in for a street fight, you’re in for a battle when you play these guys.”

Minnesota State is coming off a sweep of the UMD Bulldogs. Last Friday night, the Mavericks rolled to a win, 6-0. After two periods of play Mankato had outshot then-#4 Duluth 31-7.

Larson says the Huskies-Mavs matchup is always an exciting one.

“It’s turned into a great rivalry. It’s been two really good hockey teams over the last decade or so, two teams that love playing each other. A lot of mutual respect, but also that feeling that you want to knock the other guy off.”

The energy inside the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center is just a taste of what’s planned.

Scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Funfest will play out on a stage near the building’s main entrance. It features a live performance from the HoneyBadgers.

The hockey series will be broadcast on the radio home of SCSU men’s hockey, KNSI AM 1450 and FM 99.3.

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