THIS WEEK
The #11 University of Mary men's hockey team opens a busy Homecoming '24 with a midweek home meeting with Highway 83 rival #3 Minot State University on Wednesday, October 2. Faceoff is 7 pm.
 
The Marauders then host Northern Illinois University in a pair of Midwest College Hockey contests on Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6. Game time is 7 pm on Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday.
 
All three games will be played at the Starion Sports Center Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan, ND.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video found at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
HOCKEY TICKETS FAQ

• Fans who purchase tickets online receive a discount over tickets purchased at the gate. Single game adult hockey tickets are $10 plus fees when fans buy online at www.UMaryTickets.com or via the Hometown Fan app. Tickets for seniors (ages 65 and older) and youth (ages 13-18) are $5 plus fees.
• Single game hockey tickets purchased at the gate are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and youth.
• Children under the age of 13 are free when accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied children ticket prices are $5.
• Tickets purchased at the gate are CASH ONLY transactions. Debit and credit cards 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.

 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 5-0-0-0-0 overall, 4-0-0-0-0 in ACHA MD1 play and 2-0-0-0-0 against Midwest College Hockey competition… Minot State is 2-2-0-0-0. The Beavers opened ACHA MD1 competition last weekend, winning two MCH games at Illinois... The Northen Illinois Huskies are 2-4-0-0-0 overall and 0-2-0-0-0 in MCH games.  
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders earned 2-1 and 5-4 (overtime) wins at #18 Illinois State University in MCH play. Jacob Murray and Lyndon Orr both scored goals in the opener against the Redbirds and Marino Ramirez made 41 saves, including 18 in the third period. The Marauders completed a weekend sweep when  Dylan Cunningham scored 56 seconds into overtime. UMary built a 4-2 lead on goals by Derek Dropik in the first period and Nick Bradshaw, David Loahr and Crae Dawson in the third. Ramirez had 30 saves in a game that featured 17 power plays.   
 
LEADERBOARD
Newcomers are playing a big role in the Marauders impressive start to the season as five of the top seven team leaders in points are in their first season at UMary in ACHA MD1 games. First year players Joe Gronholz (3 goals 3 assists) and Crae Dawson (2G 4A) both have six points. Hunter Mangan (2G 3A) and Alex Senf (2G 3A) both have five points and Lyndon Orr (1G 3A) has four points. Top scoring returners are Jacob Murray (2G 3A) has five points and Lucas Medeiros (4A) has produced four points.
 
RANKED
The first five UMary ACHA MD1 opponents are all ranked teams. UMary swept two games from #25 Iowa State and #18 Illinois State. Game five is Wednesday against #3 Minot State. The January 8 game in Minot, ND, is also a non-conference game.
 
HIGHWAY 83 RIVALRY OPENER
UMary and Minot State, separated by 100 miles on Highway 83, play six games against one another this season, including four MCH games. Game one of the series on Wednesday in Mandan, ND, is a non-conference contest. The four conference meetings are set for home-and-home games in late October and home-and-home games January 25-26.
 
MCH STANDINGS
North Division
Jamestown 12 points (4 games)
Midland 6 (4)
Minot State 6 (2)
Waldorf 6 (2)
UMary 5 (2)
 
South Division
McKendree 3 points (4 games)
Illinois 3 (4)
Illinois State 1 (2)
Iowa State 0 (2)
Northern Illinois 0 (2)
 
MARAUDERS PICKED 3^rD IN MCH NORTH PRESEASON POLL
The University of Mary is picked to finish third in the Midwest College Hockey North Division in the preseason coaches poll. A powerhouse division, the top three teams are all ranked nationally in the  ACHA Men's Division I poll. Preseason favorite and MCH newcomer Minot State is ranked 3^rd in the country. Jamestown, the defending MCH regular season and tournament champion, is #8. The Marauders, the regular season and post-season runner-up in their first season in the MCH, is #11 in the nation.
   
MCH NORTH DIVISION
Rank, Team Points
1. Minot State (8) 96
2. Jamestown (1) 78
3. UMary (1) 62
4. Midland 40
5. Waldorf 24
(First Place votes in parentheses)
 
MCH SOUTH DIVISION
Rank, Team Points
1. Illinois State (9) 98
2. McKendree (1) 64
3. Iowa State 62
4. Illinois 54
5. Northern Illinois 22
(First Place votes in parentheses)
 
MCH NOTES
Teams in MCH plays each program in their own division each season and will play teams in the opposite division every other season. The Marauders will play North Division teams Minot State, Jamestown, Midland and Waldorf and South Division foes Illinois State and Northern Illinois. UMary will face Iowa State three times – all non-conference – and will not play McKendree and Illinois.
 
WE'RE BACK
The University of Mary returns nine players from last season: Michael Heitkamp, Liam Massie, Lucas Medeiros, Luke Schleusner, Jake Murray, Derek Dropik, Nick Bradshaw, Tucker Kruse and Brandon Kelly. Dropik is the most experienced returner as the forward is back for his fourth season. Massie, Medeiros and Kruse are back for their third seasons.
 
YEAR 2 IN ACHA MD1
2024-25 is year two for UMary competing in American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I. The Marauders spent their first five seasons at ACHA MD2, twice winning a national title (2021, 2022) and finishing with an all-time record of 13-1 at the national tournament.
 
YEAR 2 IN MIDWEST COLLEGE HOCKEY
The Marauders joined Midwest College Hockey in 2023-24, finishing the season second both the regular season (46 points with a record of 15-4-0-0-1) and the MCH tournament, which was hosted by UMary.
 
CENTURY CODE
The Marauders are 107-17-2-3-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL through Sept. 27, 2024) all-time at home. UMary earned its 100th win at home against Minot State University on January 24, 2024.
 
NEW
UMary has 16 newcomers. One recognizable name is Ben Tschida, whose older brother Marshall was an award-winning defenseman on both UMary national championship teams.
 
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
• 2023-24 | 26-14-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOW-SOL) | #10 seed at ACHA MD1 tournament | 1-1 at nationals | 23-14-0-0-1 v ACHA MD1 foes | 15-4-0-0-1 in Midwest College Hockey (2nd place with 46 points) | 1-1 at MCH tournament (2nd place) | #11 in final rankings | ranked as high as #4 in regular season

TOTAL THROUGH 2023-24 SEASON | 218-42-8-11-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL)
 
NATIONALS
The Marauders are 13-2 all-time at ACHA nation tournaments (12-1 in three MD2 tournaments, 1-1 in MD1).
 
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