MANKATO — Finally, good news on the injury front for No. 13 Minnesota State men’s hockey.
Sophomore forward Alex Zetterberg returned to skating at practice Monday and Tuesday this week. Zetterberg, a transfer from Boston University, exited Friday’s series opener with seven minutes remaining unable to put weight on his left leg.
According to MSU head coach Luke Strand, Zetterberg’s status for this weekend’s series against Ferris State is unclear and believes the team will have a better idea on his availability Thursday.
“I don’t think it’s as bad as it first looked,” Strand said. “I think it caught him off (guard) that he got turned around and twisted up a bit. I hope (he’s back) this weekend, but it might not be.”
Zetterberg, originally from Sundvall, Sweden, had emerged as a top six offensive threat and a distributor on the Mavericks power play units. He was moved from the second line to the top trio against Michigan Tech.
In that series he netted his first goal in a MSU jersey in a 3-0 win in the opener. He added a goal and an assist in the finale, a 3-2 Mavericks win, while being paired with Luigi Benincasa and Liam Watkins.
He added another goal in Friday’s win over Northern Michigan before exiting. He has three goals and four assists across 15 games this season.
Zetterberg had three goals and five assists in 26 games with the Terriers last season. Before arriving onto the college hockey season he had 21 goals and 37 assists in 45 regular season games with Örebro HK J20 in Sweden and added eight goals and six assists across eight playoff games in the 2023-24 season.
The injury also comes at an inconvenient time. Zetterberg, 19, is eligible to play for Sweden in this year’s World Junior Championships.
“If he can go he’s going to play,” Strand said. “I know he’s working hard. He’s putting in the overtime to get closer.”