THIS WEEK
The top three teams in the nation gather this weekend in Maryland Heights, MO, for three games each. #1 University of Mary will play host and 3^rd-ranked Lindenwood University twice while facing #2 Liberty University once.
 
The Marauders open their three-game set against the Lions on Thursday, March 4, at 4:20 pm. UMary then faces the Flames for the fourth time this season on Friday, March 5, at 3:42 pm. The Marauders conclude the trip with a second meeting against the Lions on Sunday, March 7, at 10:02 am. All three games will be played at the Centene Community Ice Center.
 
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For the Marauders, who spent five weeks atop the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 poll last season and have been #1 in both polls released this year, this will be the first time they have played the nation's second ranked team while being the top-ranked team themselves.
 
HISTORY
The Marauders have not previously played the Lindenwood Lions… UMary played three games earlier this season against Liberty, earning a draw in the opener before winning the next two contests.
 
MARAUDERS MAINTAIN HOLD ON TOP SPOT IN ACHA M2 NATIONAL RANKINGS
The University of Mary hockey team is once again ranked first in the nation. The American Collegiate Hockey Association released its third Men's Division 2 ranking of the 2020-21 season and the Marauders have claimed the top spot for the third straight time.
 
Following the Marauders in the top ten of the third ACHA M2 rankings of 2020-21 are Liberty, Lindenwood, Iowa State, North Carolina State, Dakota College at Bottineau, Williston State College, Marian, Florida Gulf Coast and the University of Jamestown. The second ten are Adrian, East Texas State University, Brigham Young University, Davenport, Aurora, Providence, Trine, North Dakota State, Concordia and the University of Minnesota Crookston.
 
RANKED FOES
#1 UMary has a record of 24-1-3-0 against teams currently ranked in the 3^rd ACHA M2 poll released March 4. The Marauders records against currently-ranked foes: #2 Liberty (2-0-1-0 W-L-T-OTL)… #4 Iowa State (4-1-1-0)… #6 Dakota College (5-0)… #7 Williston State (3-0-1-0)… #10 Jamestown (4-0)… #16 Providence (4-0)… #20 Minnesota Crookston (2-0)… The Marauders have upcoming games against #2 Liberty (1 game), #3 Lindenwood (2), #10 Jamestown (2) and #16 Providence (2).
 
SCHEDULE CHANGES | MARCH 4-7
The Marauders weekend in Missouri has undergone some changes as Maryville and Davenport are unable to play. UMary now plays three games instead of four and will face Lindenwood twice instead of once while still skating once against Liberty.
 
UMARY TO HOST ACHA M2 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
The American Collegiate Hockey Association, the governing body for non-NCAA college hockey in the United States, will hold the 2021 Men's Division 2 (M2) National Championships in the cities of Bismarck and Mandan, ND, from April 15-20, 2021. Games will be held at Schwan Cadillac Rink at Starion Sports Complex in Mandan and Wachter Arena at Capital Ice Center in Bismarck. Details regarding the form and structure of M2 Nationals, including the number of teams competing and game dates and times, are currently being assessed by the ACHA staff and ACHA M2 leadership.
 
MARAUDERS HOCKEY GAMES OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC
All spectators are welcome to attend Marauders hockey games. Tickets will be sold to the general public at the gate only, beginning one hour prior to face off. Attendance is limited to 75% capacity of the Schwan Cadillac rink. Tickets are $10 for adults. Tickets for students ages 13-18 are $5. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Additionally all UMary student and faculty & staff are admitted free with their MCard.
 
Masking is required for all spectators in attendance regardless of state and local guidance. Additionally, fans must follow all Covid-19 safety, sanitation, and social distancing guidelines. Fans in attendance are not permitted to sit or stand within at least twelve feet of the bench area, working staff, and playing surface. Visiting Spectators are asked to abide by the University of Mary campus social distancing rules, which can be found at www.umary.edu/COVID.
 
FREE LIVE STREAMS AVAILABLE FOR HOME GAMES
Fans unable to watch home UMary hockey games in person are encouraged to watch Marauders home games live online and free of charge at www.GoUMary.com/coverage
 
RECORD
The Marauders are 27-2-4-1 (W-L-T-OTL) this season.
 
SWEET 16
The Marauders set a school record with a 16-game unbeaten streak. During a run that started with a 6-1 win over Dakota College Dec. 5 until a 4-1 road loss to #6 Iowa State loss on Feb. 26, the Marauders won 15 games and had one tie.  
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
131 | Marshall Tschida and Drew Lenertz have played in every Marauders game since the program took to the ice in September 2018, a streak of 131 straight games
 
99 | Seth Cushing owns 99 career points in his two seasons with the Marauders. He is set to join Alex Flicek, Zach Garett, Marshall Tschida, Garrett Moore and Andrew Huber as 100 point scorers for UMary.
 
 
PULLING THE PLUG
The Marauders penalty kill unit has overwhelmed the opposition this season. During one recent stretch UMary had skated off 23 straight shorthanded situations over the span of six games, all victories. In UMary's last 26 games, opponents are 6-for-96 on power play opportunities… For the year the Marauders have allowed the opposition to score on just 8.8% (10-for-114) of their power play opportunities… Conversely the Marauders have scored on 30.7% (36-of-117) of their power play opportunities.
 
SUCCESS
In just three short seasons as a program, Marauders head coach Dan Huntley has led the UMary to a record of 105-16-6-4 (W-L-T-OTL) overall. The Marauders finished 39-5-2-1 in their inaugural season of 2018-19 and 39-9-0-2 in 2019-20. UMary is 27-2-4-1 in 2020-21 (W-L-T-OTL).
 
GOAL SAVANT
In his second season with the Marauders, Seth Cushing continues to pile up the goals. Through 34 games he has a team-best 27 goals. Cushing also has 15 assists and 42 points. Six times he has posted the game-winning goal. Cushing is the fastest UMary player to reach 50 goals, needing just 61 games, ahead of Alex Flicek (68 games) and Andy Huber (89).
 
FLICEK FLYING
All-American Alex Flicek is off to an outstanding start. Through 34 games he is second on the team in goals (24), first in points (51) and second in assists (27). The Bismarck, ND, native earned 2019-20 ACHA D2 All-American honors after tallying 34 goals and posting 33 assists for a team-high 67 points. He scored nine game-winning goals, added two on power plays and one shorthanded.
 
RUSH TIME
Marshall Tschida is incredibly adept at both stopping the opponent's offensive rush and leading the Marauders charge towards the opposing goal. The defenseman owns 25 assists this season – including eight on power play goals – and eight goals. His play on both ends the rink has led UMary to outscore the opposition 624-232 in three seasons, including a 168-63 mark this year.
 
OLD FACES
The Marauders return 15 players from last season… Nine skaters are original members of the program entering their third season at UMary (Drew Lenertz, Alexander Horner, Marshall Tschida, Alex Flicek, Cyril Nagurski, Andrew Heckaman, Andrew Huber, Zach Garrett, Kyler Moore)… Six players are in their second year with the Marauders (Seth Cushing, David Ruiz, Cody Shepard, Noah Scordato, Johnny Witzke, Kyle Hayden)… The Marauders have nine players in their first season with UMary.
 
I WANT MOORE
Third-year player Kyler Moore has reached triple digits for career points at UMary. The native of Firestone, CO, owns 116 career points. This season he has produced 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points. Moore has four power play goals and owns four game-winners.
 
CAPTAIN
Team captain Zach Garrett entered the 2020-21 season second all-time in points at UMary with 116. Able to both find the net and teammates, Garrett had 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points last season after contributing 54 points (19 goals and 35 assists) in 2018-19. This year he owns 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points. He is sitting at 57 career goals and owns 160 points.
 
POWER PLAYER
Drew Lenertz directs a potent power play for the Marauders. The third-year defenseman has 79 career points in 131 games. Seven of his goals have come on the power play, along with a program-record 31 assists. He has four goals (two on a power play) and 14 assists (four on a power play) this season.
 
BRICK WALL
The Marauders net-minding duo of Kyle Hayden and Conan Hayton have been spectacular and own incredibly similar numbers. In his second season at UMary, Hayden us 13-0-3-1 with a 2.01 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and a four shutouts. His four shutouts is one shy of the school record of five, established by both Aaron Nelson and Lance Knutson… Hayton, in his first season at UMary, is 14-2-1-0 with a 1.69 goals against average, a .937 save percentage and two shutouts.
 
A PLUS PLUS PLUS
Johnny Witzke is +35 this season to rank second on the Marauders in +/- rankings. The dynamic skater has been on the ice for 35 more UMary goals than opponent's goals when teams are at even strength or while scoring a shorthanded goal. Individually the multi-dimensional Witzke has 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points this season… Alex Flicek now leads the Marauders at +41, followed by Witzke (35), Seth Cushing (33), Marshall Tschida (33), Drew Lenertz (31) and Kyler Moore (30).
  
NEXT UP
After closing out their February home schedule against Williston State, the Marauders head back to Ames, IA, for a pair of games against #6 Iowa State University on February 26-27, before stopping at #10 University of Jamestown on Feb. 28.   
 
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