THIS WEEK
The University of Mary men's hockey team plays at home for the first time in 49 days when the Marauders host Illinois State University in a pair of Midwest College Hockey contests. The 2-game weekend series opens 7 pm Saturday, January 20. Game two between the Marauders and the Redbirds is 2 pm on Sunday, January 21. Both games will be played at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan, ND.
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 17-8-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOW-SOL) overall and 10-1-0-0-1 in MCH play. UMary leads the MCH with 37 points… Illinois State is 5^th in the MCH standings with 24 points and a record of 5-6-0-1-0.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders dropped a 3-0 decision at #1 Minot State University on January 10. Kyle Hayden turned away 29 shots.
 
SECOND TIME AROUND
This is the second weekend series of the season between the Marauders and the Redbirds. UMary opened the season at Normal, IL, on Sept 29-30. The Redbirds captured the opener 4-3 in an overtime shootout. UMary bounced back for a 6-2 win the following night. The series were the first ACHA MD1 games for the Marauders as the Marauders played MCHA MD2 the prior two seasons.
 
MARAUDERS TOP MIDWEST COLLEGE HOCKEY STANDINGS
The University of Mary climbed to the top of the Midwest College Hockey standings with a pair of wins at Northern Illinois University December 8-9. With 12 games in the books and eight league games remaining for UMary, the Marauders have compiled a league-high 31 points to move past the University of Jamestown (29 points in 12 games).
 
With upcoming forfeits from Northern Illinois, UMary has remaining MCH games against Illinois State (2), Waldorf (2) and Jamestown (2).
 
Each MCH victory earns a team three points. A team earns two points for a win in overtime or in a shootout. A team suffering a loss in overtime or a shootout picks up one point.
 
The top six teams in the league standings will qualify for the MCH tournament on February 16-18 in Mandan, ND. The MCH tournament champion earns an automatic berth to the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I national tournament.
 

Team Name	MCH Games Played (20 total)	W	OTW/ SOW	L	OTL/ SOL	Points	GF	GA
UMary *	14	12	0	1	1	37	55	27
Jamestown *	15	11	1	3	0	35	85	20
Midland *	14	8	0	4	2	26	52	40
McKendree	16	8	0	8	0	24	46	53
Illinois State	12	5	1	6	0	17	45	52
Waldorf	13	2	1	10	0	8	21	56
Northern Illinois	14	0	0	14	0	0	24	80

* Clinched playoff spot (top 6 teams qualify) | Standings through January 19, 2024
 
MARAUDERS TO HOST MIDWEST COLLEGE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT FEBRUARY 16-18
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.
 
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FORFEITS JANUARY 13-14 GAMES AT UMARY
Northern Illinois forfeited its two games at the University of Mary on January 13-14. The Marauders received two 1-0 wins as the Huskies are unable to travel for the two scheduled UMary home games. The wins will be reflected in the Marauders overall record and Midwest College Hockey record… The Marauders captured 5-2 and 5-1 wins at Northern Illinois on December 8-9.
 
CUSHING ALL-TIME UMARY LEADER IN GOALS
Seth Cushing became the UMary career leader in goals on December 1, 2023, when he scored the 138th goal with the Marauders. Alex Flicek formerly held the record with 137. Cushing now has 143 goals in his UMary career… Additionally Cushing moved past Zach Garrett (237 points) on the career points list the next game on December 2, 2023. Cushing now has 244 points in his UMary career. Flicek is the all-time team record-holder in points with 292.
 
RANKINGS – UMARY #10 IN 11TH ACHA MD1 POLL OF 2023-24
The Marauders rank 10th nationally in the 11th American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division 1 poll of the 2023-24 season.
 
UMARY WEEK BY WEEK ACHA MD1 RANKINGS
Preseason – 23^rd | Poll 1 – 21^st | Poll 2 – 20^th | Poll 3 – 19^th | Poll #4 – 4^th | Poll 5 – 3^rd | Poll 6 – 5^th | Poll 7 – 5^th | Poll 8 – 6^th | Poll 9 – 7^th | poll 10 - #10 | Poll 11 - #10
 
UMARY VS. TEAMS CURRENTLY NATIONALLY RANKED

• 0-4 vs. #1 Minot State
• 1-1 at #3 University of Central Oklahoma
• 1-1 vs #4 University of Jamestown
• 1-0-0-0-1 at #16 Illinois State
• 2-0 vs. #18 Missouri State
• 0-2 at #24 Colorado State

 

2023-2024 ACHA Men's Division I Ranking #11
Rank	School Name	M1 Record	Previous	Conference
1	Minot State	20-4-0	1	INDEP
2	Adrian	18-2-0	2	GLCHL
3	Central Oklahoma	19-3-0	3	WCHL
4	Jamestown	16-6-0	4	MCH
5	Nevada-Las Vegas	15-5-1	5	WCHL
6	Maryville	16-8-1	8	INDEP
7	Ohio	17-6-2	6	INDEP
8	Liberty	11-6-1	7	INDEP
9	Niagara	13-6-1	9	ESCHL
10	Mary	15-8-1	10	MCH
11	Purdue Northwest	16-5-0	11	GLCHL
12	Calvin	17-4-2	12	GLCHL
13	Utah	10-6-1	15	WCHL
14	Pittsburgh	15-9-1	16	ESCHL
15	Arizona	8-8-1	14	WCHL
16	Illinois State	17-9-1	17	MCH
17	Grand Valley State	13-6-2	13	GLCHL
18	Missouri State	9-10-2	19	WCHL
19	Indiana Tech	14-8-1	18	WHAC
20	Delaware	10-6-2	20	ESCHL
21	Iowa State	6-4-0	22	INDEP
22	Oklahoma	9-8-2	24	WCHL
23	Colorado	7-7-2	NR	WCHL
24	Colorado State	14-7-1	23	WCHL
25	Michigan-Dearborn	15-4-1	NR	WHAC

 
200
The Marauders program reached 200 wins on November 11, 2023, in a 6-2 victory over Waldorf. Led by Head Coach Dan Huntley, the Marauders first took the ice in September 2018 and is in its sixth season (scroll down for year-by-year results)
 
CUSHING CHARGING FORWARD
Seth Cushing is putting together another outstanding season. The Marauders all-time leader in goals has found the net a team-high 19 times this season. He also has 13 assists and leads UMary with 32 points. Cushing leads the squad with seven game-winning goals.
 
 
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
Isaiah Thomas has dished out a team-high 23 assists this season, including three in a game three times. He has seven games with multiple assists and has had either a goal or an assist in 16 games out of 24 overall. With four goals in addition to his 23 assists he has 27 points on the season.
 
NAGURSKI FINDS HIS NICHE
Defenseman Cyril Nagurski, UMary's lone 6th year player and the only skater besides Andrew Huber who played in the Marauders inaugural season, has scored a career-high eight goals this season and added nine assists. He is 3rd on the team in goals and 4th in points (17). His previous high for goals was seven last year. Nagurski is second on the team in power play goals with four.
 
ESKRO ROLLING
Tanner Eskro has scored 10 goals to trail only Seth Cushing (19) for the team lead. He tallied in each of the first five UMary games this season, including two in the first game against Missouri State. He is third on the team in points with 24.
 
ROCKET START
Johnny Witzke is off to an incredible start. The Marauders All-American defender has five goals and 11 assists in 13 games. He is 4th on the team in points with 16. Four of his goals have come on the power play.
  
MINDING THE NET
Conan Hayton and Kyle Hayden have been tremendous between the pipes for the Marauders this season. Hayton owns eight wins – including a shutout – with a 2.56 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. All-American Kyle Hayden has four wins and two shutouts with a 2.31 GAA and a .934 save percentage in 12 games. Including two shutouts by Cameron Milewski, the Marauders goalies allow 2.24 goals/game with a .928 save percentage.
 
TESTED TOUGH
The Marauders return 19 skaters from last season… Playing his 6th season is D Cyril Nagurski… Playing in their 5th seasons are D Johnny Witzke, F Seth Cushing, G Kyle Hayden and F Andy Huber, Players in their 4th 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.
 
MARAUDERS TIED FOR 2ND 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.

 
MARAUDERS 2023-24 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

 
#marauders#