This week in the CCHA will include a showdown series in St. Paul, Minnesota, a Yooper rivalry resuming in the Soo and Minnesota State finally returning to Mankato.

Michigan Tech Vs. St. Thomas

“Every Second Counts” – That’s the mantra posted in the St. Thomas locker room, one echoed by coach Rico Blasi. 

Last Saturday, he reminded his Tommies that they have only two CCHA series in January, and if they are to remain in contention for the MacNaughton Cup, they cannot take a shift, or a precious second, off.

The CCHA standings can be misleading, however. 

Though St. Thomas leads Tech by two points, the Huskies have a winning percentage 50 points higher, the best in the circuit at .633 (19 points in 10 league games). They have buttressed their scoring with the acquisition of lightning rod Austen Swankler, who along with wingers Ryland Mosley (11 goals) and Isaac Gordon (10 goals), now represents the CCHA’s most dangerous scoring unit.

The trio had gobs of ice time in last Saturday’s exhibition against Northern Michigan, turning the Berry Center into a shooting gallery for shifts at a time.   

St. Thomas, on the other hand, is dangerously low on healthy bodies and activated freshman defenseman Jase Sofo in the middle of the season out of sheer necessity. 

“Not too many guys come in and play 20 minutes a game as a defenseman,” said Blasi, who is down to seven available defensemen. “As we told everybody at the beginning of the year, everybody matters.”

One Tommy who mattered the most in last Saturday’s exhibition victory over Duluth was senior Luke Manning. His high-speed rush and snipe clinched the win for the Tommies, earning him the game puck and some locker room love for his Jack Hughes impersonation.

This is a Thursday-Saturday series, which should allow the finale to be played at the same high pace as the opener. It’s crossroads clash between the league’s future and its present, one that demands attention throughout the league and the State of Hockey.

Prediction: Tech benefits from superior goaltending Thursday, and Swankler will drive the Huskies power play to new heights. On Saturday, look for St. Thomas to salvage the split. There is too much home-grown Minnesota talent for the Tommies to be swept in St. Paul. 

A look inside the room after tonight’s W#RollToms | #FidesInFratrem pic.twitter.com/puo2ZIkjmX

— St. Thomas Men’s Hockey (@TommieMHockey) January 7, 2024

Ferris State Vs. Minnesota State

The third member of the CCHA’s big three, Minnesota State, will be playing at home for the first time in over a month, and that is not good news for visiting Ferris State. 

The Mavericks have the league’s hottest goal scorer in Sam Morton and will enjoy even more offense due to the return of freshman winger Brett Moravec, who scored a giant goal last weekend against Augustana.

The last time Ferris came to Mankato, the Bulldogs shocked scoreboard watchers with a road sweep. That historic feat required brilliant goaltending from their enigmatic tandem of Noah Giesbrecht and Logan Stein. Based on their struggles this year, a repeat seems unlikely. 

Ferris comes to Mankato on a high note, with five scorers from their impressive win over Bemidji last Saturday. 

Their assets include star rookie Luigi Benincasa, game wrecker Antonio Venuto and defenseman Nick Hale, who has put together a four-game point streak (2-2-4). The 24-year-old transfer scored 39 points the last two seasons from the Holy Cross blue line, and he has regained his scoring touch with the Bulldogs. He’s clearly a player to watch.

Prediction: With St. Thomas and Tech treading water down in St. Paul, the Mavericks climb the ladder of the CCHA standings with a home sweep. Ole, ole, ole.

Can't stop, won't stop. https://t.co/eCBO7C8oov

— Minnesota State Hockey (@MinnStMHockey) January 7, 2024

Northern Michigan Vs. Lake State

Having scored little more than a lump of coal over the holidays (two goals in six periods of tournament action), Lake State hopes a home series will rekindle its scoring fire. 

Seeing as the Lakers had torched CCHA opponents for 11 goals in their last two league games, the notion is not without merit.

Northern Michigan snipers all have tired arms from raising sticks last weekend. Thirteen Wildcats inked up the scoresheet in Northern’s 7-2 exhibition win over Michigan Tech’s partial squad at the Berry Center. 

Keep an eye on the Cats usual suspects this weekend: Artem Shlaine, Andre Ghantous and Rob Zinger. Video of these three in action kept the Lake State coaching staff up late all week as they prepared for this series.

Prediction: Scorers dominate goalies in a high-scoring split in the Soo.