THIS WEEK
Postseason play is underway for the #13 University of Mary hockey team as the Marauders open the Midwest College Hockey playoffs on Friday, February 21. The #3 seed from the MCH North Division, UMary faces weekend host and #2 South seed Illinois State University. The puck drops at 8:30 pm at the Bloomington (IL) Ice Center.
 
The Marauders/Redbirds winner faces the Minot State/Iowa State victor Saturday, February 22, at 8:30 pm. The puck drops for the MCH championship game on Sunday, February 23, at 2 pm. The playoff winner earns an automatic berth in the ACHA MD1 national tournament.  
FOLLOW LIVE
Find links to live stats and video at www.goumary.com/coverage.
 
RECORDS
The Marauders finished the regular season with a record of 22-13-0-0-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) overall, 21-13-0-0-0-0 in ACHA MD1 play and 12-8-0-0-0-0 against Midwest College Hockey competition… Illinois State is 15-16-3-0-1-1 this season overall and finished with 30 points for second place in the MCH South division.
 
REMATCH/HISTORY
The Marauders are 4-2 against the Redbirds… UMary swept the season series this year, earning 2-1 and 5-4 wins at Illinois State on September 27-28 in Bloomington, IL.   
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders dropped a pair of games last weekend to #5 Jamestown, a 4-0 loss on the road and a 5-1 loss at home.
 
AFTER THE ACTION
Marauders fans should make plans to stop at 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! 
 
2025 MCH TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
The 2025 Midwest College Hockey playoffs are set for Friday through Sunday, February 21-23, at the Bloomington Ice Center in Bloomington, IL. Illinois State serves as the host. The top four teams I each of the two MCH divisions qualified for the tournament. The playoff champion earns an automatic berth to the ACHA Men's Division I national tournament.
 
2025 MIDWEST COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYOFF PAIRINGS
Friday, February 21
10 am | N2 University of Jamestown vs. S3 University of Illinois
1:30 pm | N1 Minot State University vs. S4 Iowa State University
5 pm | S1 McKendree University vs. N4 Midland University
8:30 pm | S2 Illinois State University vs. N3 University of Mary
 
Saturday, February 22 | Semifinals
5 pm | Jamestown/Illinois winner vs. McKendree/Midland winner
8:30 pm | Minot State/Iowa State winner vs. UMary/Illinois State winner
 
Sunday, February 23
1 pm | MCH Playoff Championship Game
 
MCH PLAYOFF TICKETS
Tickets are sold for each day and are good for all games that day. Purchase tickets at the gate or online at https://illinoisstatehockey.acha.hockeytech.com/tickets
$10 for Adults
$6 for Students
$3 for Kids 12 and Under
GRONHOLZ NAMED 2024-25 MCH ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, EARNS ALL-MCH AND MCH ALL-ROOKIE HONORS
Joe Gronholz claimed 2024-25 Midwest College Hockey Rookie of the Year honors and was placed on the MCH All-Rookie team and the MCH All-League 2nd team. Gronholz made an immediate impact with the Marauders. The first-year forward from Alexandria, MN, led UMary in goals (19), points (37), short-handed goals (2) and game-winning goals (3) while playing all 35 games. His 18 assists are second on the team. Gronholz posted five power play goals and assisted on six.
 
HEITKAMP EARNS 2024-25 MCH 1^st TEAM HONORS
Michael Heitkamp earned first team MCH honors as a defenseman for the third time is his career and first time at UMary. The Grand Rapids, MN, native claimed all-league honors while skating for Waldorf University in 2021-22 and 2022-23. In his second season at UMary, Heitkamp led Marauders blueliners with 14 goals and 29 points in 2024-25. The UMary team captain had 15 assists, scored four times on the power play and provided the helper on six power play goals while playing 35 games.
 
CUNNINGHAM CLAIMS SPOT ON 2024-25 MCH ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Dylan Cunningham joins teammate Joe Gronholz on the 2024-25 Midwest College Hockey All-Rookie team. The two-way defenseman paced UMary with 24 assists in his first year with the Blue & Orange. Hailing from Helena, MT, he scored four goals and totaled 28 points in 34 games. Cunningham tied for the team lead in power play assists with eight. His +16 ranks fifth on the squad.
 
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 team in points (37) and goals (19) and is tied for 4^th in assists (18)
• Alex Senf leads the Marauders in power play goals (8) and power play assists (8) and is second in points (33) and goals (14) and 3^rd in assists (18)
• Hunter Mangan (11G 19A 30 points) is 3^rd in scoring. Mangan is 4^th in power play goals (3), 2^nd in assists (19) and 4^th in game-winners (2).
• Crae Dawson (14G 14A 28 points) is 4^th on the team in scoring and tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (3). He leads the Marauders +/- with a +27.
• Team captain Michael Heitkamp leads UMary defensemen in scoring (14G 15A 29 points)
• Dylan Cunningham (4G 24A 28 points) leads the Marauders in assists (24) and is 6^th in points (28)
• Derek Dropik (8G 18A 26 points) is second to Heitkamp in points among returners
• Jake Murray (8G 12A 20 points), Liam Massie (9G 5A 14 points) and Lucas Medeiros (6G 11A 17 points) are right behind Dropik and Heitkamp in scoring among returners
• In his first season at UMary Lyndon Orr (8G 14A 22 points) is tied with Dawson and Gronholz for the lead in game-winning goals (3)

 
NET GAINS
A trio of Marauders goalkeepers have combined for a 2.98 goals against average with a .898 save percentage this season.

• Marino Ramirez is 7-9 in net with a 3.53 GAA and a .891 save percentage
• Caleb Cross is 11-3 with a 2.79 GAA and a save percentage of .903
• Zane Clausen has saved 91% of the shots he has faced for a record of 4-1 and a 1.99 GAA with two shutouts in five starts

 
RANKED
23 of the Marauders 34 ACHA MD1 games this season are against ranked opponents. 
 
20
With a 10-1 victory over Waldorf on Friday, UMary reached 20 wins for the 7^th straight year. Since beginning hockey in 2018-9, the Marauders have won at least 20 games each season.
 
UMARY REMAINS #13 IN ACHA MD1 NATIONAL RANKINGS
For a second straight week the University of Mary has held the #13 position in the 2024-25 American College Hockey Association Men's Division 1 poll released February 19, 2025. This is the 15^th regular season rankings overall and the 12^th by computer.
 
The computer rankings determine the 24 teams that qualify for the 2025 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships in addition to eight league champions. The preseason poll and the first three rankings of the regular season were conducted by a vote of coaches.
 
2024-25 Week By Week ACHA MD1 rankings
(Preseason through Rating 3 were coaches' polls. Rating #4 and on are computerized)
Preseason | #11
Rating 1-2 | #8
Rating 3 | #7
Rating 4 | #18
Rating 5 | #17
Rating 6 | #13
Rating 7 | #14
Rating 8 | #15
Rating 9-10 | #14
Rating 11 | #12
Rating 12 | #14
Rating 13 | #12
Rating 14 | #13
Rating 15 | #13
 
The next ranking will be released February 25, 2025.
 
Twenty-three of the Marauders 34 ACHA MD1 games were played against ranked teams.
 
The 2025 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships presented by FloHockey will be hosted March 13-18 for the third time at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, MO.  This will be the second year of the 24-team format.
 

2024-2025 ACHA Men's Division I Ranking #15
Rank	School Name	M1 Record	Previous	Trend	Conference
1	Minot State	33-2-3	1	―	MCH
2	Nevada-Las Vegas	24-1-2	2	―	WCHL
3	Ohio	17-4-3	3	―	INDEP
4	Liberty	20-5-4	4	―	INDEP
5	Jamestown	21-7-1	5	―	MCH
6	Adrian	22-3-2	6	―	GL6
7	Niagara	19-5-3	8	↑1	INDEP
8	Drury	26-2-0	7	↓1	INDEP
9	Utah	19-6-1	9	―	WCHL
10	Maryville	17-9-2	10	―	INDEP
11	Calvin	23-5-0	11	―	GL6
12	Grand Canyon	14-11-2	12	―	WCHL
13	Mary	21-13-0	13	―	MCH
14	Indiana Tech	26-4-0	14	―	WHAC
15	Arizona	14-12-1	15	―	WCHL
16	Midland	17-16-2	16	―	MCH
17	Oklahoma	18-8-1	19	↑2	WCHL
18	Arizona State	13-14-2	17	↓1	WCHL
19	Pittsburgh	14-11-5	20	↑1	ESCHL
20	Purdue Northwest	14-10-2	18	↓2	GL6
21	Oswego State	18-7-4	21	―	NECHL
22	Stony Brook	12-11-6	23	↑1	ESCHL
23	Colorado	18-13-2	22	↓1	WCHL
24	Delaware	20-10-3	25	↑1	ESCHL
25	Grand Valley State	15-7-1	24	↓1	GL6

 
FINAL 2024-25 MIDWEST COLLEGE HOCKEY STANDINGS
North Division
Minot State 59 points (20 games)
Jamestown 44 (20)
UMary 34 (20)
Midland 25 (20)
Waldorf 12 (20)
 
South Division
McKendree 36 points (20 games)
Illinois State 30 (19)
Illinois 29 (20)
Iowa State 17 (19)
Northern Illinois 9 (20)
 
300
The University of Mary played its 300^th hockey game in program history at Waldorf on Friday, December 6. Under the direction of head coach Dan Huntley, UMary is 232-47-9-10-2-1 since first taking to the ice September 15, 2018, in an 8-0 win over visiting North Dakota State.
 
THE JUG SERIES
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 series opened October 12, 2024, with the Jimmies claiming a 4-2 win over the Marauders in Mandan.
 
Jamestown earned The Jug in year one by winning 4-of-5 games between the Marauders and the Jimmies.
Game 1: Jimmies 4 Marauders 2 (at Mandan Oct. 12, 2024)
Game 2: Marauders 5 Jimmies 3 (at Mandan Dec. 13, 2024)
Game 3: Jimmies 3 Marauders 2 (at Jamestown, Dec. 14, 2024)
Game 4: Jimmies 4 Marauders 0 (at Jamestown, Feb. 14, 2025)
Game 5: Jimmies 5 Marauders 1 (at Mandan, Feb. 15, 2025)
 
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 PRESEASON POLL
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 PRESEASON POLL
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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