MavHockey14
New member
Coming off a Broadmoor Trophy, and a second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament under Head Coach Mike Hastings, the expectations for the Mavericks are as high as they've ever been. The Mavericks are 50-28-4 through two seasons with Hastings at the helm, but 0-2 in the NCAA tournament. (0-3 all time) This year the expectations will be to win at least one NCAA tournament game, as well as a MacNaughton Cup. The Mavericks need to avoid a somewhat slow start in the conference this year. Additionally, the first two weekends of the year are ginormous for the NCAA tournament picture, as they have two NCHC opponents the first two weekends of the year.
Top Returning Forwards
Senior #18 Matt Leitner 12 goals, 33 assists, 45 points
Leitner could be a legitimate Hobey Baker candidate last year, but he needs to consistently bring the effort, as his talent level is through the roof. Without consistent effort last year, Leitner was the team's leader on offense and had an uncanny ability to get his teammates the puck in scoring areas. The Mavericks will look to Leitner's offensive creativity to continue to produce in all situations, including on the power play.
Senior #12 Jean-Paul LaFontaine 20 goals, 20 assists, 40 points
After seeing his goal scoring productivity fall from his Freshman year to his Sophomore year, LaFontaine rebounded nicely in his Junior campaign with a balanced 20 goals and 20 assists. He's a vital part of the Maverick power play, after burying 14 times on the man advantage last year. He'll be a key part of trying to replace and continue his dominance there, with the team losing ten power play goals from former Captain Johnny McInnis.
Junior #9 Bryce Gervais 16 goals, 10 assists, 26 points
Gervais was a monster down the stretch last year, tallying 12 goals and 7 assists, for 19 points in his last 16 games of the season. Gervais was arguably the most improved player from a year ago, and he will be relied on to fill in some of the scoring void left by the departures of Zach Lehrke and Johnny McInnis. Gervais is a fast, physical, and highly skilled little guy, and he made numerous big plays for the Mavericks, and will be counted on to do so again.
Top Returning Defenseman
Senior #7 Zach Palmquist 4 goals, 19 assists, 23 points
Palmquist has great vision on the ice, loves to join the rush, and is a carbon copy of what an offensive minded NCAA defenseman should be. Palmquist does a good job getting the puck to the net, and is an integral part of the power play. Palmquist has improved immensely defensively since his Freshman year, and has done a great job understanding when he needs to take his chances and join the rush, as well as when it is the right time to do so.
Sophomore #11 Sean Flanagan 6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points
Flanagan was a name that Maverick fans didn't know much about early on last year, but he did a fantastic job down the stretch of really improving and understanding all aspects of playing defense at the collegiate level. For a Freshman, rarely are there seasons that don't have bumps in the road, and Flanagan did a great job of battling through them to become a solid offensive defenseman for the Mavericks. He'll likely be used often on the power play this year, and may quarterbacking the second unit.
Returning Goaltender
Sophomore #34 Cole Huggins 21-8-1, 1.88 GAA, .926 SV%
While Stephon Williams struggled to regain his Freshman year mojo, true Freshman Cole Huggins took the reigns and never looked back. Huggins will look to build on last year, trying to avoid the Sophomore slump his teammate endured. Huggins does an excellent job controlling the puck and making key stops, and will likely be called on to bail out the defense a little bit early in the year as the Mavericks looked to rebuild things a little bit along the blue line. Huggins could make a push to be the number one goaltender in the league with a huge year, although that will be an extremely tough task with C.J. Motte in the league.
Key Losses
Forward Johnny McInnis 21 goals, 17 assists, 38 points
A huge goal scorer, particularly on the power play, as well as the team captain.
Forward Zach Lehrke 8 goals, 20 assists, 28 points
Coming out of retirement, Lehrke was the catalyst that got this team rolling last year, especially on the power play. He only played in 31 games and was virtually a point per game guy.
Defenseman Jon Jutzi 0 goals, 6 assists, 6 points
Dismissed due to team rules, Jutzi played in 82 games for the Mavericks and was a reliable defensive d-man, and was very good on the penalty kill.
Poised for a Breakout
Junior Forward #23 Teddy Blueger4 goals, 22 assists, 26 points
The Latvia native is highly talented, and comes into this season with two solid years of experience. With another offseason under his belt, can Blueger become a 40 point guy? Blueger has extremely good playmaking ability and can really move with speed. He's fantastic on the rush, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him play a ton of power play minutes this year. Time will tell, but I think Teddy Blueger could become an elite NCAA forward this year.
Sophomore Defenseman #5 Carter Foguth 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points
Foguth may not light up the scoresheet this year, but with Jutzi out of the mix, this team needs a solid defensive d-man, and Foguth is the guy. He's clearly a leader on this team already, as he will wear an "A" on the sweater as a second year player. His tenacity and ability to win battles in tough areas in the defensive zone will make him a key factor this year. He needs to be solid for this Mavericks squad to reach expectations.
Newcomers to Watch
Freshman Forward #15 C.J. Franklin USHL Sioux Falls Stampede 22 goals, 29 assists, 51 points
5th round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets
Freshman Forward #19 Brad McClure BCHL Pentiction Vees 41 goals, 39 assists 80 points
My Season Prediction: 30-12-3, with a MacNaughton Cup Championship, loss in the WCHA Final Five Title Game, and a loss in an NCAA Regional Final.
Top Returning Forwards
Senior #18 Matt Leitner 12 goals, 33 assists, 45 points
Leitner could be a legitimate Hobey Baker candidate last year, but he needs to consistently bring the effort, as his talent level is through the roof. Without consistent effort last year, Leitner was the team's leader on offense and had an uncanny ability to get his teammates the puck in scoring areas. The Mavericks will look to Leitner's offensive creativity to continue to produce in all situations, including on the power play.
Senior #12 Jean-Paul LaFontaine 20 goals, 20 assists, 40 points
After seeing his goal scoring productivity fall from his Freshman year to his Sophomore year, LaFontaine rebounded nicely in his Junior campaign with a balanced 20 goals and 20 assists. He's a vital part of the Maverick power play, after burying 14 times on the man advantage last year. He'll be a key part of trying to replace and continue his dominance there, with the team losing ten power play goals from former Captain Johnny McInnis.
Junior #9 Bryce Gervais 16 goals, 10 assists, 26 points
Gervais was a monster down the stretch last year, tallying 12 goals and 7 assists, for 19 points in his last 16 games of the season. Gervais was arguably the most improved player from a year ago, and he will be relied on to fill in some of the scoring void left by the departures of Zach Lehrke and Johnny McInnis. Gervais is a fast, physical, and highly skilled little guy, and he made numerous big plays for the Mavericks, and will be counted on to do so again.
Top Returning Defenseman
Senior #7 Zach Palmquist 4 goals, 19 assists, 23 points
Palmquist has great vision on the ice, loves to join the rush, and is a carbon copy of what an offensive minded NCAA defenseman should be. Palmquist does a good job getting the puck to the net, and is an integral part of the power play. Palmquist has improved immensely defensively since his Freshman year, and has done a great job understanding when he needs to take his chances and join the rush, as well as when it is the right time to do so.
Sophomore #11 Sean Flanagan 6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points
Flanagan was a name that Maverick fans didn't know much about early on last year, but he did a fantastic job down the stretch of really improving and understanding all aspects of playing defense at the collegiate level. For a Freshman, rarely are there seasons that don't have bumps in the road, and Flanagan did a great job of battling through them to become a solid offensive defenseman for the Mavericks. He'll likely be used often on the power play this year, and may quarterbacking the second unit.
Returning Goaltender
Sophomore #34 Cole Huggins 21-8-1, 1.88 GAA, .926 SV%
While Stephon Williams struggled to regain his Freshman year mojo, true Freshman Cole Huggins took the reigns and never looked back. Huggins will look to build on last year, trying to avoid the Sophomore slump his teammate endured. Huggins does an excellent job controlling the puck and making key stops, and will likely be called on to bail out the defense a little bit early in the year as the Mavericks looked to rebuild things a little bit along the blue line. Huggins could make a push to be the number one goaltender in the league with a huge year, although that will be an extremely tough task with C.J. Motte in the league.
Key Losses
Forward Johnny McInnis 21 goals, 17 assists, 38 points
A huge goal scorer, particularly on the power play, as well as the team captain.
Forward Zach Lehrke 8 goals, 20 assists, 28 points
Coming out of retirement, Lehrke was the catalyst that got this team rolling last year, especially on the power play. He only played in 31 games and was virtually a point per game guy.
Defenseman Jon Jutzi 0 goals, 6 assists, 6 points
Dismissed due to team rules, Jutzi played in 82 games for the Mavericks and was a reliable defensive d-man, and was very good on the penalty kill.
Poised for a Breakout
Junior Forward #23 Teddy Blueger4 goals, 22 assists, 26 points
The Latvia native is highly talented, and comes into this season with two solid years of experience. With another offseason under his belt, can Blueger become a 40 point guy? Blueger has extremely good playmaking ability and can really move with speed. He's fantastic on the rush, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him play a ton of power play minutes this year. Time will tell, but I think Teddy Blueger could become an elite NCAA forward this year.
Sophomore Defenseman #5 Carter Foguth 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points
Foguth may not light up the scoresheet this year, but with Jutzi out of the mix, this team needs a solid defensive d-man, and Foguth is the guy. He's clearly a leader on this team already, as he will wear an "A" on the sweater as a second year player. His tenacity and ability to win battles in tough areas in the defensive zone will make him a key factor this year. He needs to be solid for this Mavericks squad to reach expectations.
Newcomers to Watch
Freshman Forward #15 C.J. Franklin USHL Sioux Falls Stampede 22 goals, 29 assists, 51 points
5th round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets
Freshman Forward #19 Brad McClure BCHL Pentiction Vees 41 goals, 39 assists 80 points
My Season Prediction: 30-12-3, with a MacNaughton Cup Championship, loss in the WCHA Final Five Title Game, and a loss in an NCAA Regional Final.