The Minnesota State Mavericks enter the 2018-19 campaign at No. 9 on the USCHO Poll, even without their two leading scorers and starting goalie from a season ago.

The Mavericks claimed the WCHA’s regular season title, going 25-7-1 in conference play while finishing with a 29-10-1 overall record. The team matched its best win total in six years under head coach Mike Hastings, who is entering year two of a 10-year extension he signed with the program in March of 2017.

Hastings has posted a phenomenal overall record of 151-72-98 during his tenure with the Mavericks. His team has won the WCHA regular-season title in three of the past four seasons and earned a bid to the NCAA tournament in four of six campaigns.

However, each NCAA bid has ended the same way: a disappointing opening-round loss. This year, Hastings’ squad is eager to put that in the past. The coach’s fiery demeanor and ability to maximize his players’ potential will prove vital this season with a few holes left by the graduating class.

Co-leading scorers C.J. Suess and Zeb Knutson, who each posted 43 points in 40 games, lead the group of departures. Seniors Brad McClure, Clint Lewis, and starting netminder Connor LaCouvee also join the list of holes to fill. Junior Daniel Brickley also left following the season, signing an entry-level deal with the Los Angeles Kings.

The largest task will be replacing LaCouvee’s stellar numbers. That’s hardly a knock on the scoring prowess of Suess and Knutson, but rather a testament to LaCouvee.

2018 Mike Richter Award semifinalist:
Connor LaCouvee@ConnorLaCouvee @MavHockey pic.twitter.com/caP9eWMVOc

— Let's Play Hockey (@LetsPlay_Hockey) March 8, 2018

The goaltender went 23-6-1 with a 1.80 goals against average, a .914 save percentage, and three shutouts. His 1.80 GAA was third-best in the NCAA last season, but in a similar fashion to the Los Angeles Kings’ Jonathan Quick, LaCouvee was at his best when he saw more shots. But his defense allowed just 880 shots all season, an average of 22 per game, and his save percentage took a slight hit because some pucks are bound to find the back of the net.

LaCouvee’s backup, Jason Pawloski, left the program to join the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, leaving the crease open to grad transfer Mathias Israelsson and a pair of freshmen in Jacob Berger and Dryden McKay.

Israelsson may have the leg up given his three years of experience with WCHA rival, Northern Michigan, where he went 5-7-2 with a 2.88 GAA, and .896 SV%.

Berger joins the Mavericks from the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials, where he went 13-24-0 with a 3.45 GAA and .905 SV%. McKay comes from the USHL’s Madison Capitols after a 19-24-1-2 season backed by a 3.38 GAA and .907 SV%.

While none appears to have frontrunner numbers heading into their first seasons with the Mavericks, Hastings will rely on his stellar defense to help alleviate growing pains while expecting his offense to remain at a similar pace as 2017-18.

A monster offense without Suess and Knutson is a lot to ask for, but natural progression from within mixed with newcomer Chris Van Os-Shaw may be all Hastings need.

Forward Jake Jaremko posted a monster freshman season for the Mavericks with 39 points (15 G, 24 A) on his way to earning WCHA Rookie of the Year. He’s a solid bet to outdo those numbers in his second season with an even bigger offensive role.

Jake Jaremko is poised to build off his @WCHA_MHockey Rookie of the Year campaign https://t.co/izFA1JVpML pic.twitter.com/Dufzrznwds

— Gereelo (@collegehockey) July 13, 2018

Van Os-Shaw joins the team after running away with the AJHL scoring title last year, posting a league-leading 51 goals and 97 points in 59 games. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound, 21-year-old brings a man’s body to the Mavericks and shouldn’t have much of a transition period as he enters college hockey.

The Mavericks open the regular season hosting No. 10 Boston University for an Oct. 12-13 series.

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @Jacob_Messing.