MANKATO — Finally, back on home ice.
No. 20 Minnesota State hockey is set to make its 2025-26 home debut this weekend. The Mavericks will entertain RPI for a weekend series beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.
The series concludes at 6 p.m. Saturday. A pre-game ceremony will be held not only to honor the senior class, but to hang the banners from last season’s CCHA MacNaughton Cup and Mason Cup Championships.
“That crew of guys, they’re well deserved to stay up in the rafters here. They earned it,” MSU head coach Luke Strand said. “It’s an exciting time. I’m excited about just putting a cap on last year and moving forward.”
The Mavericks (1-1-2) are fresh off a series against No. 17 Wisconsin in Madison which resulted in 1-1 and 2-2 ties. It wasn’t a win or a loss against a Big Ten team Strand firmly believes will be one of college hockey’s best teams by the end of the season.
But it was a great test for the second weekend of the season.
“We’re learning, growing and taking strides. For me, that’s the direction we want to keep on,” Strand said. “We’re going to learn a lot from last weekend that didn’t involve a scoreboard at all, and we already have. It’s been good for our group. I think it actually has helped our standard around here.”
Through four games this season it’s junior Luigi Benincasa leading the team with two goals, two assists and four points. Sophomore Liam Watkins, a transfer from Omaha, has a goal and two assists while Charlie Lurie, also an Omaha transfer, has two goals and an assist.
Senior goaltender Alex Tracy currently boasts a 2.17 goals against average and a save percentage of .923.
As for RPI, well, they’re in a similar position as MSU in terms of roster turnover. The Engineers have 19 new faces on their 2025-26 roster, including former MSU forward Luciano Wilson, who is the team’s leading point producer with three assists.
Junior goaltender Bruno Bruveris is 0-2 this season and has allowed nine goals on 53 shots. Sophomore Carson Dorfman made 15 saves in a relief appearance against Boston College and allowed five goals off 38 shots against Providence. Freshman Nate Krawchuk coughed up five goals on 25 shots in the finale against Miami (Ohio).
Eric Lang is in his first season as head coach.
The Engineers enter the weekend at 0-4 and have been outscored 20-5. RPI dropped its opening series to Miami (Ohio) 5-3 and 5-0. Last weekend RPI fell to No. 9 Boston College 5-1 and No. 14 Providence 5-1.