Maimed at Marriuci: MSU goalies get sliced in action

Mariucci Arena has become a dangerous place for Minnesota State goaltenders.

Both Mike Zacharias and Dan Tormey have shed blood in the Minnesota Gophers’ home rink.

Two years ago, Tormey raced to the Mavericks’ bench with blood dripping from his hand after taking a skate blade across his thumb while making a save. He ended up needing surgery and missed a couple of months of his sophomore season.

In overtime Friday night, Zacharias lost his facemask after taking a hard shot off the head and then got his forehead split open by the errant heel of teammate Kurt Davis’ stick blade.

“We’re going to have to sign a liability form next time we come here,” Zacharias joked after he helped the Mavericks secure a 3-3 tie and after getting six stitches to close up the ugly wound below his hairline.

Blood flowed down his face like a perfect spooky mask for that Halloween night, and he raced to the bench to get cleaned up so he could get back in his crease. Tormey was ready to go, sent out to warm up between the pipes as MSU trainer Sean Donley quickly wrapped medical tape around Zacharias’ head like he was winding up a kite string.

“I wanted to go back in,” Zacharias said.

Zacharias missed no time and he made one more save after Donley “Rambo-ed me up” to finish the night with 47 stops. That number tied the career high he had against the Gophers in the third game of last March’ playoff series.

Zacharias has been anything but a liability for the Mavericks since becoming the team’s No. 1 goalie.

“He’s probably our best player right now,” said Davis, a sophomore defenseman who leads the Mavericks’ top scorer with two goals and seven assists.

Zacharias has started 35 consecutive games for the Mavericks and is now tied for fifth place on Minnesota State’s career wins list with 34. Only Eric Patemen (49 wins, 1998-2002) has more wins in the program’s Division I era. As it stands, his career save percentage of .910 is an all-time high for the school.

“He’s played extremely well for us,” MSU coach Troy Jutting said.

Indeed, Zacharias has carried the Mavericks to their 3-2-1 record, the same mark they had last year at this time.

The senior and reigning team MVP is currently third in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with a .920 save percentage and fifth with a 2.80 goals-against average. Of the 17 goals he’s allowed, only five have come during even-strength situations (he’s also allowed a short-handed goal and another when Bemidji State had pulled its goalie for an extra attacker).

“Zacharias was really on top of his game tonight,” Gophers coach Don Lucia said. Friday. “He’s a good goalie.”  What Zacharias needs is for his teammates to stay out of the penalty box. In his two losses, North Dakota and Minnesota combined to score seven power-play goals. On Saturday, the Gophers worked extra hard to get traffic in front of the goal in order to get pucks by Zacharias.

“(Ryan) Stoa had a great screen in front of Zacharias, and he had no idea where the puck was,” said Minnesota freshman Jordan Schroeder, who scored two power-play goals Saturday. “I had a wide-open net in front of me.”

In a league and in an era where goaltending rules, Minnesota State has a good one who is capable of leading the Mavericks to the NCAA tournament.

As he showed Friday night, Zacharias can be scary good.

Shane Frederick is a Free Press staff writer. Access his college hockey blog through www.mankatofreepress.com.

September 1, 2008
Goalie of the Month - Mike Zacharias

Senior goalie Mike Zacharias certainly has a great deal going for him. With three successful collegian years at Minnesota State University under his belt, he is looking forward to his last season by setting goals, like winning a National Championship and making the WCHA final four. Ambitious, some may say, for each achievement in itself will be a struggle. However, his apparent love for the game and confidence in his team’s abilities will undoubtedly prove to be one of the driving forces behind a great foreseeable year for the Mavericks.

The Plymouth, Minnesota native has truly grown up with the sport, as pivotal moments of his youth are tied hand-in-hand with hockey. Shortly after his first steps on solid ground, he began taking his first strides on the ice. Around age four, when many begin preschool, Zacharias was also beginning his first hockey lessons and league play. His early start can in large part be attributed to his father, a former goalie, who served as his son’s first goalie coach. In his mid-teens it was evident that Zacharias not only had a love for the game, but that he was also extremely talented. Two year of high school hockey was followed by participation in four different junior hockey teams, which resulted in recruitment by Minnesota State.

Although demanding, the road to MSU left Zacharias with many memories. In 2001, he was part of the successful US17+ team, and their championship win in Slovakia is still one of his favorite memories, as he recalls the, “unforgettable experience of standing on the blue line, hearing the National Anthem.” Traveling across the country and world can put stress on any athlete, and Zacharias attributes his perseverance to those with whom he is closest to for their continual support. In particular he credits his family, especially his father, for their unremitting motivation, and his juniors coach Bliss Littler for instilling in his game intensity and focus. In addition, Zacharias has worked with Stu Gould, and recognizes Gould’s, “motivation and knowledge of a goalie’s mind.” He also observes that on top of being a goalie coach, “Gould is [also] a great guy to talk to.”

It is hard to say what the future may bring, but it is certainly bright for this young athlete. After college, Zacharias shares that he would ideally, “want to continue to playing by signing with a team in the NHL.” However, his focus is on the present, as his final season is already underway. Without compromising his goals, in general, he is looking forward to a new season and opportunity for improvement in his team and himself. His advice to other athletes only solidifies his work ethic and love for the game, as he states, “have fun and find [your] passion. You have to work hard and listen, no matter what sport you play.”

-Amanda Schmidt

August 1, 2008
Goalie of the Month - Charlie Effinger

Within minutes of meeting Charlie Effinger it is clear that his positive attitude and relaxed demeanor are the platforms to his success. He shares that it’s “important to take one day at a time,” and to look at every opportunity as a “learning experience.” As he reflects on past memories, like winning CCHA goalie of the year his sophomore collegian season, he still looks forward to future accomplishments.

Effinger began his hockey career at age seven, playing for a house league near his hometown of Belleville, IL. As most leagues go, a young player is encouraged to try each position, and after a few games as a forward Effinger had his turn in the goal and has never looked back. He developed a passion for the game that grew along with his talent. As a high school sophomore he played for the St. Louis Junior Blues team, preparing him for his college career at Miami University of Ohio. Now a recent graduate, Effinger is looking forward to pursuing his dream in the National Hockey League, which may be coming true, as he has recently signed with the Atlanta Thrashers.

As his goals become within reach, Effinger credits those closest to him, specifically his family and coaches Rick Zombo and Jeff Blashill, for creating a solid support system that shaped him into the athlete and person is today. In addition, Effinger praised the work of Stu Gould, someone who forces not only him, but also other goalies, to “work hard on both mechanics and mentality, as the two go hand in hand.” He also commends Gould’s unremitting loyalty to his goalies, and his excitement to promote and expose his players to new opportunities.

After a successful four years at Miami, he is “looking forward to a fresh start and a chance to play with a new team.” His humble disposition is never absent, as Effinger realizes he still has a long way to go, but he will embrace his first year with the Thrashers organization as another step forward in his hockey career.

-Amanda Schmidt

April 13, 2008

Mavericks Dole Out Team Awards for 2007-08;
Zacharias Named MVP; Linder, Bruess, Wiley and Berge Also Feted

Mankato, Minn. — The Minnesota State men’s hockey team named the recipients of its team awards at the annual Maverick Hockey Awards Banquet held at the Holiday Inn in Mankato Sunday. The award winners are listed below.

Most Valuable Player - Mike Zacharias (Jr., Goaltender, Plymouth, Minn.) — Junior netminder Mike Zacharias, who started the last 29 games of the season, ranked 12th in the country with a school-record tying .924 save percentage and was ninth in the nation with a school-record 2.08 goals against average. Twice named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week during the course of 2007-08, Zacharias was credited with a career-high 47 saves in MSU’s double-overtime loss to Minnesota in the WCHA play-offs. The Plymouth, Minn., native had 114 saves on 121 shots for a .959 save percentage in the three play-off games vs. the Gophers. Zacharias had least 30 saves in a game on ten occasions in 2007-08, including the last six games of the season in a row. Zacharias, who had a school-record five shut-outs during the course of the season, had an 18-13-4 won-loss record for the season. His 18 wins are the most by a MSU netminder since Eric Pateman’s 21 victories in 1999-2000.

Most Improved Player Award - Jason Wiley (So., Forward, Bloomington, Minn.) — Sophomore forward Jason Wiley improved his offensive output from four points his freshman year in 2006-07 to 18 points in 2007-08 for a 14-point increase. Wiley, who completed the 2007-08 campaign tied for second on the team with 11 goals, was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in a two-game sweep over St. Cloud State Jan. 25-26 during which he racked up two-goals and two assists vs. the Huskies. The Bloomington Kennedy High School product amassed 11-7--19 in 34 games to finish eighth on the team scoring charts. His + 10 for the year tied for third amongst the Mavericks and his .200 shooting percentage (11 goals on 55 shots) ranked second.

BW3 Star of the Year Award (most Three Star of the Game selections during MSU home games) - Mick Berge (Jr., Forward, Oklahoma City, Okla.) — Junior forward Mick Berge led the Mavericks with 20 goals and ranked 24th in the country in goals per game with a .51 mark. A first-year assistant captain in 2007-08, Berge owned the team lead with four game-winning goals and led the team in shots on goal with 110. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native established a personal season-high for goals (he had 12 as a sophomore) and finished 2007-08 with 10-4—14 in the final 16 games of the season.

Mr. Hustle Award (Hardest Worker) - Trevor Bruess (So., Forward, Minneapolis, Minn.) — Now a two-time recipient of MSU’s Hardest Worker Award, sophomore forward Trevor Bruess topped the 2007-08 Maverick scoring charts with 9-21--30. Bruess, who scored the GWG in MSU’s 1-0 double overtime play-off victory over Minnesota March 14, also led MSU in assists (21), shorthanded goals (3) and plus-minus (+22). The Minneapolis, Minn., native ranked second on the team with 20 penalties and 54 PIMs.

Unsung Hero Award and Don Brose Leadership Award - R.J. Linder (Sr., Defense, St. Cloud, Minn.) — A three-time WCHA All-Academic pick, senior defenseman R.J. Linder completed his four-year MSU career with two goals and 13 assists in 124 career games played. The St. Cloud, Minn., native finished second on the team in 2007-08 with a +13.

Head coach Troy Jutting also announced the forward Mick Berge will serve as team captain next season and that forward Trevor Bruess and defenseman Blake Friesen have been appointed assistant captains.

MSU finished the 2007-08 campaign with a 19-6-4 overall record and completed the WCHA regular season with a 12-12-4 mark.