Spring Hockey

Former Maverick forward
Ryan Carter is a member of the
New Jersey Devils

Nope, not quite ready to name the new head coach yet, but thought we could take a look at a few things Maverick Hockey related.

Former Minnesota State men's hockey forwards David Backes and Ryan Carter are about to embark on the 2012 Stanley Cup play-offs with St. Louis (Backes) taking on San Jose and New Jersey (Carter) playing Florida in best-of-seven first-round series.  The St. Louis vs. San Jose series starts Thursday and the New Jersey vs. Florida tussle begins Friday.

Carter, incidentally, brought the Cup back to Mankato after his team (Anaheim) won it in 2007.  Also, Backes is being mentioned as one of the top candidates for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward. Stories related to this development are located HERE, HERE and HERE.

Other former Mavericks still in regular-season action in the American Hockey League include Jon Kalinski (Norfolk), Travis Morin (Texas), Kael Mouillierat (Bridgeport), Tyler Pitlick (Oklahoma City) and Ben Youds (Rockford). The AHL regular season ends this week and it looks like that while Norfolk, Bridgeport and Oklahoma City will make the play-offs, Texas and Rockford will not.  The current league standings are located HERE.

A bevy of former Mavericks have plied their trade in the East Coast Hockey League this year and with eight teams still alive in the 2011-12 play-offs, there's still a few who wore the purple and gold playing.  Defenseman Channing Boe's Las Vegas Wranglers start their quarterfinal series with Idaho Monday.  Joe Schiller, who just completed his four-year MSU career, saw action in eight games at the end of the regular season with Las Vegas, but hasn't seen any play-off action. Forward Michael Dorr plays for South Carolina and the Stingrays are slated to start their series vs. Kalamazoo Friday.  Forward Zach Harrison is in his second season with Alaska and the Aces play Stockton beginning Friday. And the Florida Everblades, who boast Trevor Bruess and Rylan Galiardi, are scheduled to take on Elmira starting Friday.

A complete listing of former Mavericks who played professional hockey this year is located HERE.

Former Maverick defenseman Chad Brownlee's new single - Smoke in the Rain - ranks 11th on the Canadian Country Music charts.  Here's the video:

A couple of MSU men's hockey recruits appeared in Central Scouting's final rankings with Teddy Blueger of Shattuck-St. Mary's coming in at 116 amongst North American skaters and Stephon Williams, who plays for Sioux Falls of the USHL, rated 34th on the North American goaltenders list.  The lists are located HERE.

Emilia Andersson, a member of the Minnesota State women's hockey program, is playing for Sweden at the IIHF Women's World Championships in Buffalo, N.Y., April 7-14 in Burlington, Vt.  Former Maverick forward Nina Tikkinen, who won a bronze medal playing for Finland at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, is playing, as well.

It's great to be a Maverick!