THIS WEEK
After gaining a weekend split on the road against the #3 team in the nation, #19 University of Mary returns home to host #1 Minot State University in a midweek bout. The Highway 83 battle between the Marauders and the Beavers is set for 7 pm on Wednesday, November 1, at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink.   
 
MARAUDERS VS BEAVERS GAME NOTES

• This is the second meeting between the two programs with the Marauders competing at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division 1 level. Prior to this season the Marauders faced the Beavers as an ACHA MD2 program.
• The Beavers defeated the Marauders 5-3 in UMary's home opener on October 7. Johnny Witzke, Derek Dropik and Tanner Eskro all had goals for UMary.  
• The Marauders and the Beavers played four times during the 2022-23 season. Both teams were ranked #1 in their division each time.
• The two teams have played 17 times since UMary hockey started in 2018-19
• The Marauders won for the first and only time December 3, 2022. Riley Scanlon scored with 3:16 left in the game as UMary overcame a 2-0 deficit on the way to a 3-2 win.
• The Beavers own 14 wins, two ties and a loss in the series
• The Marauders have suffered three of the losses in overtime

 
RANKED
The University of Mary continues to move up in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 coaches poll and are now #19 in the nation. Ranked #23 in the ACHA MD1 preseason poll, the Marauders moved up to #21 in the first regular season poll. In the 2^nd ACHA MD1 poll of the season the Marauders move up one more spot to #20… Missouri State, swept by the Marauders two weekend's ago, moved up to #21… UMary's opening weekend foe – Illinois State – remains entrenched at #15… Minot State, the defending national champion and the Marauders opponent in UMary's home opener, remains #1 in the poll… Last weekend's foe – the University of Central Oklahoma – is #3.  
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 6-2-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOW-SOL) after the first five weeks of the season, including a mark of 3-0-0-0-1 in MCH play… Minot State is 9-0-0-0-0.
 
LAST WEEKEND
Facing #3 University of Central Oklahoma for the first time in program history, the Marauders earned a split with the previously undefeated Bronchos. UCO won the opener 3-0 despite a 43-38 UMary edge in shots… The Marauders rallied for three goals in the final five minutes of the game to upend the Bronchos 4-2. Andrew Huber tied the game with 4:33 to play. Seth Cushing scored the game-winning goal 38 seconds later. Cushing added an empty-netter with 33 seconds left to seal the victory.
 
NAGURSKI FINDS HIS NICHE
Defenseman Cyril Nagurski, UMary's lone 6^th year player and the only skater besides Andrew Huber who played in the Marauders inaugural season, has scored six goals this season and added an assist. He is tied with Tanner Eskro for the team lead in goals and is fifth in points (7). His season-high is seven last year. Nagurski has scored three power play goals; no one else has more than one.
 
ESKRO ROLLING
Tanner Eskro has scored six goals and is tied for the team lead with Cyril Nagurski. He tallied in each of the first five UMary games this season, including two in the first game against Missouri State. He is tied with Johnny Witzke and Isaiah Thomas for second on the team points list with eight.
 
ROCKET START
Johnny Witzke is off to an incredible start. The Marauders All-American defender has two goals and six assists in nine games and is tied for second on the team in scoring with eight points.
 
TOPS
With a pair of goals in the win over Central Oklahoma, Seth Cushing now tops the Marauders scoring chart. The forward has four goals and five assists for nine points.
 
MINDING THE NET
Conan Hayton and Kyle Hayden have been tremendous between the pipes for the Marauders this season. Hayton owns five wins – including a shutout – with a 2.17 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. All-American Kyle Hayden has a shutout win with a 1.95 GAA and a .936 save percentage in three games. Combined the two are allowing just 2.09 goals/game with a .932 save percentage.
 
TESTED TOUGH
The Marauders return 19 skaters from last season… Playing his 6^th season is D Cyril Nagurski… Playing in their 5^th seasons are D Johnny Witzke, F Seth Cushing, G Kyle Hayden and F Andy Huber, Players in their 4^th season are F Derek Dropik, F Tanner Eskro, G Conan Hayton, F Jaren Hugelen, F Riley Scanlon and F Braden Zaste… Entering season 3 is F Garrett Freeman, D Teddy Lillico, F Isaiah Thomas and D Ryan Wolf… Returning for year 2 is F Tucker Kruse, F Liam Massie, D Lucas Medeiros and F Jake Murray.
 
NEW NEW NEW
The Marauders have five scholar-athletes in their first season with the program: F Nick Bradshaw, D Michael Heitkamp, G Cameron Milewski, D Lukas Robinson and F Luke Schleusner… Two players have played previously for ACHA programs. Heitkamp, a Bismarck, ND, native, played the last three seasons in ACHA M1 at Waldorf… Robinson joins UMary after two seasons playing ACHA M3 at Lawrence Tech University.
 
FAST FRIENDS
Despite this being the Marauders inaugural season in Midwest College Hockey, the University of Mary will host the 2023-24 MCH conference playoff at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan, ND, on February 16-18, 2024. The top six teams in the regular season league standings qualify for the MCH Conference Playoffs and will compete for the chance to hoist the Lindsay Cup and receive the MCH's autobid to the 2024 ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championships presented by FloHockey, held March 7-12 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, MO.
 
MARAUDERS TIED FOR 2^ND IN MCH PRESEASON POLL
Defending Midwest College Hockey regular-season and conference playoff champion University of Jamestown is the 2023-24 MCH Hockey coaches preseason favorite to win the conference in the upcoming 2023-24 season. While the Jimmies were the unanimous choice after earning all seven 1st place votes and 49 total points, the Marauders tied with Illinois State University for second in the MCH coaches' poll with both teams earning 37 points. Midland (26 points) is projected to place 4th, followed by McKendree (24), Waldorf (14) and Northern Illinois (9).
 
PROGRAM HISTORY LESSON
Under the direction of head coach Dan Huntley, a 2-time coach of the year, the University of Mary was a dominant force in ACHA M2 for all five years the program has existed. 
2018-19 | 39-5-1-2 (not eligible for postseason as 1st year program)
2019-20 | 39-9-2-0 (#1 West Region seed | MWCHL tourney runner-up | #2 nationally in final poll | ACHA M2 tourney cancelled for pandemic)
2020-21 | 38-4-1-6 (ACHA M2 national champion | Ranked #1 in final ACHA M2 poll | #1 seed at ACHA M2 championships)
2021-22 | 38-4-1-2 (ACHA M2 national champion | Ranked #1 in final ACHA M2 rating | #1 seed from West region)
2022-23 | 38-6-3-1 (Ranked #1 in final ACHA M2 rating | #1 seed from West region | was 2-0-1-0 at ACHA M2 championships)
TOTAL | 192-28-8-11 (W-L-OTL-T)
 
GOLDEN GOALTENDERS
The Marauders have featured an All-Athletic Team goaltender all five seasons UMary has had a hockey program. Aaron Nelson was a 1st team selection in 2018-19, the Marauders inaugural season, followed by Lance Knutson (2020) and Kyle Hayden (2021-2022-2023).
 
2022-23 HIGHLIGHTS

• ACHA M2 All-Athletic Team | Johnny Witzke and Kyle Hayden continue making program history for the University of Mary as the duo become the Marauders first 3-time American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 All-Athletic Team selections. Witzke earned 2022-23 1st team ACHA M2 All-Athletic Team honors while Hayden was voted to the second team. Witzke was previously named to the ACHA M2 All-Athletic Team in 2021 (1st team) and 2022 (2nd team). Hayden, the reigning ACHA M2 Player of the Year, earned 2nd team recognition in 2021 and 1st team honors in 2022.
• Witzke named ACHA M2 West Region Player of the Year | Johnny Witzke is the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 West Region Player of the Year, the third straight Marauder to earn the honor. Witzke played a key role in the Marauders holding opponents to only 74 goals in 54 games. The Marauders team captain, Witzke joins Zach Garret (2020-21) and Kyle Hayden (2021-22) in earning West Region Player of the Year honors for UMary.
• Witzke, Hayden and Thomas named to 2023 ACHA M2 All-West Region Team | Kyle Hayden, Johnny Witzke and Isaiah Thomas are 2022-23 ACHA M2 All-West Region team selections. Hayden and Witzke are 1st team honorees with Thomas earning 2nd team recognition. This is the third time claiming regional honors for Hayden and Witzke while Thomas recognized for the first time.
• Witzke named 2022-23 NDAPSSSA Non-Schol Male Athlete of the Year
• 239 | Drew Lenertz played all 239 games in school history from game one in 2018 through the final game of 2022-23. 
• 28 | After winning their first eight games of the season, the Marauders set a program record with a 28 game win streak. UMary finished the 2021-22 season on a 20-game win streak. The winning streak was halted by a 2-2 draw at Liberty University on October 14. Originally declared a forfeit win after the Flames improperly used a skater during a shootout, the result was recently changed to a tie.
• 34 | Undefeated in their first 14 games of the season after closing the 2021-22 season with 20 straight wins, the Marauders set a program record with a 34 game undefeated streak.
• 15 | The Marauders posted a school-record 15 shutouts last season
• 291 | All-time UMary leading scorer finished his 5-year career with the Marauders with 291 points, 137 goals and 154 assists. 
• 13 | Kyle Hayden shattered the school record for shutouts in a single season with 13 in 2022-23.

 
2023-24 MARAUDERS TICKETING FAQs

• Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online at www.umarytickets.com or via the HomeTown
• Fan App for iOS and Android mobile devices
• Save money by purchasing tickets online
• $5 discount (minus fees) on tickets purchased online vs. purchases at the gate
• Tickets purchased at the gate are CASH ONLY transactions
• ATMs are located near the main ticketing gates for Marauders home game
• Debit and credit card purchases are online only at www.umarytickets.com or via the HomeTown Fan App
• UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard are admitted FREE
• Youth 12 and younger with an adult are admitted FREE
• Any youth 12 and under unaccompanied by an adult are charged a $5 admission fee at the gate (cash only)
• All ticket sales are FINAL at time of purchase, whether online or at the gate

 
MARAUDERS HOME GAME TICKET PRICES | Soccer, basketball, hockey, track & field, volleyball and wrestling tickets

• Adults | $10 + fees online and $15 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Seniors (65+) and youth 13-18 | $5 + fees online and $10 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult | Free
• Children 12 and under with no adult present| $5

 
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