College Men's Hockey

Men’s College Hockey Preview: Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks

Posted on by Let's Play Hockey

Minnesota State will be in their second season under the tutelage of new head coach Luke Strand. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MSU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

Strand begins second season as Mavs bench boss

by Dain Solberg, Let’s Play Hockey

MANKATO, Minn.— The Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks will begin their second season with Luke Strand at the helm of the coaching staff. This occurring after the departure of Mike Hastings to the Wisconsin Badgers two seasons ago.  With a roster overhaul due to the transfer portal the Mavs will welcome in two defensemen, one forward and one goaltender.

Strand announced on July 3 that Goaltender Matthew Syverson (Apple Valley, Minn./Lindenwood/Independent), Defenseman Cade Alami (Bedford, N.Y./ Arizona State/NCHC), Ralfs Bergmanis (Liepaja, Latvia/Vermont/Hockey East) and Forward Jacob Bonkowski (Richmond, British Columbia/Coquitlam Express/BCHL) would be joining the ranks.

Alami and Ralfs combined for 14 points a season ago at ASU and Vermont. On the backend, Bonkowski recorded six points with the British Columbia Hockey League’s Coquitlam Express. Whereas in net, Syverson started five games for the Lindenwood Lions recording a .853 save percentage and 6.10 Goals Against Average.

Three Keys to Success for the Mavs

Year two under strand

MSU finished with a record of 18-15-4 with Strand behind  the Maverick Bench. . Strand spent the previous season coaching as an assistant coach at Ohio State University, under the direction of current head coach Steve Rohlik. The upcoming season will be Strand’s fourth season on a NCAA Division I hockey staff.

Adam Eisele is one of several players returning on this year’s Mavericks.

Stillwater Firepower (Murr + Eisele)

The Mavericks lost one of their top five scorers in Sam Morton a season ago due to graduation and the transfer portal. MSU welcomes in three transfers from top schools around the nation that will bring in a lot of offensive firepower. These transfers will be paired with the likes of Adam Eisele (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater HS/Penticton/BCHL) and Evan Murr (Stillwater, Minn./Sioux Falls/USHL) who combined for 49 total points (14 goals, 35 assists).

Youth throughout lineup

The Mavs welcome in a new class of four freshman. The class includes Jacob Bonkowski (Tri City/USHL), Sam Rice (Madison/USHL), Tate Pritchard (Austin/NAHL), Luke Ashton (Vernon Vipers), and Eli Pulver (Powell River Kings)

Out of this recruiting class, Ashton led the group in scoring with 18 goals while playing junior hockey with the Langley Riverman in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). As far as total points Ashton combined for 18 goals and 18 assists.

 

Key Losses to Graduation

  1. Sam Morton (37 games, 24 goals, 10 assists, one game winning goal)
  2. Lucas Sowder (33 games, 13 goals, 14 assists, one game winning goal)
  3. Jordan Steinmetz (32 games, two goals, eight assists, one game winning goal)

 

2023-24 Scoring Breakdown

  1. Sam Morton- 24 goals
  2. Lucas Sowder- 13 goals
  3. Brian Carrabes- 10 goals
  4. Adam Eisele- 8 goals
  5. Evan Murr- 6 goals
Alex Tracy will compete for minutes in goal for a Mavericks team that is looking to build a solid roster under head coach Luke Strand.

2024-25 Roster

New Additions

TRANSFER- Cade Alami- Arizona State (NCHC)/ Boston College (Hockey East)

TRANSFER- Ralfs Bergmanis- Vermont (Hockey East)

TRANSFER- Matt Syverson- Lindenwood (Independent)

TRANSFER- Fin Williams- Notre Dame (BIG)

TRANSFER- Luigi Benincasa- Ferris State (WCHA)

Alaska native Zach Krajnik returns for his fourth season with the Mavericks and will be an assistant captain. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MSU ATHLETICS.

 

Jacob Bonkowski- Tri City Storm (USHL)

Jacob Bonkowski spent five seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Powell River Kings, Surrey Eagles, Salmon Arm Silverbacks and most recently with the Coquitlam Express where he posted three goals and three assists in 14 games.

Sam Rice- Madison Capitols (USHL)

Rice, a Prior Lake, Minn native, spent the past season in the USHL with the Madison Capitols where he recorded 19 points in 60 games. Prior to suiting up with Madison he spent two seasons with the Chippewa Steel. Before juniors, Rice’s Prior Lake Lakers qualified for the 2021 Minnesota State High School Hockey tournament where he earned all-conference honors as a freshman.

Luke Ashton- Vernon Vipers/Langley Rivermen

Ashton, a 2024 sixth round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets spent the bulk of last season skating with the Langley Rivermen after being acquired courtesy of the Vernon Vipers. In 53 games, Ashton recorded 18 goals and 18 assists where he tallied a goal in the Coastal West Division Playoffs (BCHL).

Eli Pulver- Powell River Kings

Pulver, a standup style Goaltender, spent last season backstopping the Salmon Arm Silverbacks where he was teammates with currently Maverick Jacob Bonkowski. Throughout the 2023-24 campaign Pulver posted a .924 save percentage accumulating a 23-12-2 record and a 2.23 goals against average, .924 save percentage to go 5-2-1 in the BCHL playoffs.

Non-Conference Schedule

Oct 5-6- @ Michigan

Oct 11-12- Merrimack College

Oct 18-19- North Dakota

Oct 25-26- Omaha

Feb 7-8- Augustana