Mankato, Minn. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team had the Mason Cup in their grasp as they held a 2-0 lead with just under three minutes remaining, but the Minnesota State Mavericks scored two late-period goals and the eventual game-winning goal a minute into overtime to win the 2023 Mason Cup.

Four different Wildcats registered a point highlighted by two goals from Alex Frye, and Beni Halasz made 30 saves on 33 shots for a .903 SV%. Eight different Mavericks recorded a point highlighted by Zach Krajnik scoring the overtime winner, and Keenan Rancier made 23 saves on 25 shots for a .920 SV%. 

The Mavericks outshot the Wildcats 33-25, won 42 faceoffs to NMU's 17, and the Wildcats blocked 27 shots to MSU's 7. The Wildcats held the nation's best power play off the board, going 5/5 on the PK, and were unsuccessful on their only opportunity of the evening. 


How It Happened
The game started hard and heavy, with both teams playing with plenty of speed and jump from the opening puck drop. The first whistle came three minutes into the game after Simon Kjellberg streaked up the right wing boards and fired a shot off the far pad, generating a rebound for Rylan Van Unen who tested Rancier early.

The Mavericks were awarded the first power play opportunity on the evening, and the nation's best power play generated plenty of looks but was unable to solve Halasz and the 'Cats. Though shots were even halfway through the first, the momentum was all in the favor of the home team in the early going of the championship game, not allowing the Wildcats to get any sort of chances while doing a great job applying pressure in the 'Cats zone. 

With under five minutes to play in the first period, the Wildcats got the game's best chance of the game so far on a penalty shot awarded to Andre Ghantous. Ghantous moved in with speed and made a decisive move, but Rancier stayed with him to keep the game scoreless. 

The 'Cats successfully killed another penalty before the 20-minute mark, and the teams would skate to their respective rooms scoreless, though both teams generated plenty of chances on goal. The Mavericks outshot the 'Cats 10-7 and won 13 faceoffs to NMU's three. 

Beni Halasz picked up right where he left off at the start of the first period as he made a point-blank save on a streaking Maverick who was left all alone in between the hash marks, and the game remained scoreless. The 'Cats were whistled for their third penalty of the game just over five minutes in, but the 'Cats were successful on the special teams once again.

Neither team gave up a lot of space for the opposition to work in the second frame, as the game proceeded with tight checking and strong goaltending for a vast majority of the 20-minute section. It wasn't until 16 minutes into the period before the scoreless tie was broken, as Alex Frye received a pass from David Keefer after he stole the puck from a Mankato skater, then Frye walked down the left side wing and fired a wrister past the short side of Keenan Rancier. This was Frye's fifth goal of the season and Keefer's 10th assist.  

The Mavericks responded by looking for a goal of their own, but the Wildcats held the Mavericks scoreless and controlled a 1-0 lead going into the second intermission. The Wildcats outshot the Mavericks 9-7 in the frame, successfully killed their only penalty, and were once again outmatched in the faceoff dot winning six to MSU's 15. 

The 'Cats came out of the locker room determined to hold onto the lead they earned in the final minutes of the second frame and did a great job to control play right out of the gate and into the first handful of minutes, generating chances but more importantly holding Mankato to no dangerous opportunities. 

On what looked like a nothing play, the puck took a strange bounce off the boards and over a Mankato defender stick that sprung Alex Frye on a clear-cut breakaway as he made a decisive move and beat Rancier on a deke to extend the Wildcat's lead to 2-0 with his second goal of the game. Aiden Gallacher and Tanner Vescio both picked up assists on the play. 

The Wildcats got whistled for back-to-back penalties with five minutes remaining in the game and were faced with a crucial fork in the road as the Mavericks were gifted with a 5-on-3 opportunity for a minute and a half in clutch time. The nation's best power play was held off the board once again as the 'Cats successfully killed both infractions to remain perfect on the evening. 

After the 'Cats successfully killed both penalties, the Mavericks pulled the goalie in an effort to get back into the game with just under three minutes remaining. Ondrej Pavel was the recipient of a sweet passing play as he was all alone at the back door and made no mistake to score, jump-starting the Maverick's offense and cutting the lead to one. 

About a minute later, Vincent de Mey had the empty net to look at but couldn't get loose from two MSU defenders. The Mavericks gained entry into the zone, and a bouncing puck landed on the stick of Christian Fitzgerald who was unattended at the far post and he tied the game at two, sending the game to overtime. 

The Mavericks outshot the Wildcats 14-8 and had the advantage in the draw winning 13 to NMU's seven, and the Wildcats killed off both of their penalties. Through 60 minutes, the Mavericks held the edge in shots (31-24) and faceoff wins (41-16). The Wildcats killed all five of its penalties and were unsuccessful on its only power play opportunity. 

Overtime only took a minute and eight seconds before the Mavericks scored the game-winner, and the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks were crowned Mason Cup Champions in back-to-back years.



Postgame Notes

• The Wildcats had a lead going into the third period, and coming into this game the Wildcats were 11-0-0 when leading after two periods, and the Mavericks were 0-7-1 when trailing after two periods. 
• Alex Frye scored twice for the Wildcats, his third career multi-goal game and 18th point of the season.
• David Keefer, Aiden Gallacher, and Tanner Vescio all registered assists for the Green and Gold.
• The Mavericks came into the contest with the nation's best power play, and the Wildcats blanked MSU on all five of their attempts, including a 5-on-3 opportunity. The Mavericks were awarded five power plays to the Wildcats one man-advantage opportunity on the evening. 

Scoring Summary
1st
None.

2nd
16:21 - Alex Frye (NMU, 1-0), Assisted by David Keefer. 

3rd
7:27 - Alex Frye (NMU, 2-0), Assisted by Aiden Gallacher and Tanner Vescio.
17:41 - Ondrej Pavel (MSU, 2-1), Assisted by Simon Tassy and Andy Carroll.
19:03 - Christian Fitzgerald (MSU ENG, 2-2), Assisted by Jake Livingstone and Brendan Furry.

Overtime
1:08 - Zach Krajnik - (MSU GWG, 2-3), Assisted by Cade Borchardt.