THIS WEEK
The 8^th ranked University of Mary hockey team makes its first trek to Springfield, MO, to take on #19 Missouri State University. The series between the Midwest College Hockey member Marauders and the Ice Bears of the Western Collegiate Hockey League opens with a 7 pm game Friday, October 18, before wrapping up with a 6 pm start on Saturday, October 19.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video found at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 7-1-0-0-0 overall, 6-1-0-0-0 in ACHA MD1 play and 4-0-0-0-0 against Midwest College Hockey competition… Missouri State is 4-3-1-0-0 with all four wins coming in game two of each of the Ice Bears four series this season.   
 
HISTORY
The Marauders have played the Ice Bears twice, winning both games at home last season 3-0 and 5-2 (Oct. 13-14, 2024).
 
LAST WEEK
In UMary's lone game of the week, the Marauders dropped a 4-2 decision at home to #6 Jamestown in the first-ever game in "The Jug" series. The Jimmies scored three times in the first and once in the seconds. UMary scored two goals in the third off the sticks of Michael Heitkamp and Jake Murray.  
 
THE JUG SERIES OPENED SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2024
Located just 100 miles apart on I-94, the University of Mary and the University of Jamestown have agreed to present the winning team of the yearly series of games a traveling trophy, the Bridgeman Russell Company Jug, or simply "The Jug". UMary has purchased and had "The Jug" painted and logoed. Each winning team is responsible for placing their institution's name and record in the series on "The Jug" each season at their cost using Mann Signs of Bismarck, ND, to ensure consistency.
 
The Marauders and the Jimmies will play five games in the 2024-25 season in pursuit of The Jug. Game one was a non-conference matchup with the next four also counting in the MCH standings .
 
AFTER THE ACTION
Marauders fans should make plans to stop Buffalo Wild Wings following all home hockey contests. With two convenient Bismarck locations and great food and drink specials, it's easy to see why Buffalo Wild Winds is the preferred post-game hangout of Marauders Hockey! 
 
LEADERBOARD
Newcomers are playing a big role in the Marauders impressive start to the season as the top four scorers this season are in their first season at UMary.

• First-year player Joe Gronholz leads the squad with 14 points (6 goals 8 assists)
• Crae Dawson (7G 6A 13 points) and Alex Senf (7G 5A 12 points) are tied for the team lead in goals with 7 each
• Hunter Mangan (4G 7A 11 points) is 4^th on the team in scoring
• Jake Murray (3G 8A 11 points) and Derek Dropik (2G 8A 10 points) are the top returners on the scoring chart
• First year defenseman Dylan Cunningham (1G 9A) leads UMary in assists

 
GRONHOLZ, DAWSON AMONG ACHA SCORING LEADERS
Joe Gronholz is 6^th in ACHA MD1 in points per game with 1.56. He owns six goals and eight assists for 14 points in nine games. Close behind in 10^th is Crae Dawson with 1.44 points/game. Dawson owns seven goals and six assists for 13 points in nine games. Additionally Alex Senf is 16^th in scoring at 1.33 ppg. Senf has seven goals and five assists for 12 points in nine games.
 
RANKED
The first five UMary ACHA MD1 opponents were all nationally-ranked teams. UMary swept two games from #25 Iowa State and #18 Illinois State before taking a 5-4 loss to #3 Minot State. Overall 8 of the first ten ACHA MD1 games for UMary are against nationally ranked teams.   
 
UMARY REMAINS #8 IN ACHA MD1 NATIONAL RANKINGS
The University of Mary remained at #8 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 Ranking #2 of the season conducted by the coaches. UMary was #11 in the coaches' preseason poll. The first computerized rankings are set for November 1.
 
The third ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
 

2024-2025 ACHA Men's Division I Ranking #2
Rank	School Name	1st Votes	M1 Record	Pts	Previous	Conference
1	Adrian	7	2-0-2	751	2	GL6
2	Minot State	12	3-1-0	750	1	MCH
3	Nevada-Las Vegas	8	2-0-0	737	3	WCHL
4	Ohio	3	4-0-0	690	4	INDEP
5	Jamestown	3	8-0-0	684	6	MCH
6	Liberty	1	5-1-0	666	5	INDEP
7	Purdue Northwest		4-0-0	585	7	GL6
8	Mary		6-2-0	569	8	MCH
9	Maryville		5-2-1	526	9	INDEP
10	Calvin		5-0-0	516	10	GL6
11	Niagara		7-0-0	506	11	INDEP
12	Grand Canyon		2-0-0	403	13	WCHL
13	Grand Valley State		4-2-0	387	12	GL6
14	Oswego State		5-1-2	355	14	NECHL
15	Utah		3-0-1	295	17	WCHL
16	Pittsburgh		4-4-0	252	15	ESCHL
17	Arizona		4-1-0	236	19	WCHL
18	Indiana Tech		4-0-0	223	20	WHAC
19	Missouri State		4-3-1	216	18	WCHL
20	Central Oklahoma		2-4-0	158	16	WCHL
21	Oklahoma		6-0-0	154	23	WCHL
22	Illinois State		2-5-1	129	21	MCH
23	Delaware		2-3-1	70	22	ESCHL
24	West Chester		5-0-1	69	25	ECHA
25	Indiana Pennsylvania		4-2-0	64	24	CHMA

Others receiving votes: Drury, Canisius, Temple, Rhode Island, John Carroll, Navy, Drexel, Northwood, Davenport, Villanova, George Mason, Colorado, Lehigh, and Stony Brook.
 
MIDWEST COLLEGE HOCKEY STANDINGS (THROUGH OCTOBER 12)
North Division
Jamestown 18 points (6 games)
UMary 11 (4)
Midland 9 (6)
Waldorf 9 (6)
Minot State 6 (2)
 
South Division
McKendree 9 points (8 games)
Iowa State 4 (4)
Illinois 3 (4)
Northern Illinois 2 (6)
Illinois State 1 (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).
 
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.

 
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