MANKATO — Reaching the top of the mountain is a challenge in itself.
Staying on top, well, that’s another battle. And when you factor in 17 new players when 21 are dressed on a given night, well, a lot of things can go wrong quickly.
No. 16 Minnesota State men’s hockey started the season at the top of the mountain in the CCHA with those 17 new players. On Friday night it celebrated staying on top, hoisting the coveted Mason Cup for not only the second straight season, but for the fourth time since 2022 with a 4-1 win over St. Thomas.
“When you face adversity like that, with a lot of new guys in their first year, that can kind of be a recipe for disaster,” said senior goalie Alex Tracy, who was named Mason Cup MVP after stopping 29 of 30 shots. “It’s just a testament to the guys who came before us and built the culture, and coach (Luke Strand) coming in with his staff and building the culture that they have. Definitely not an adversity free run there in the playoffs. But to finish off the way that we did… the word is grateful.”
For the trio of Tracy and seniors Mason Wheeler and Campbell Cichosz, their final game at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center cements a historic legacy built not only on success, but loyalty.
The trio were part of the 2023 team which won both the MacNaughton and Mason Cups. But by the time the off-season hit then head coach Mike Hastings departed for Wisconsin, as well as many players.
The trio of Tracy, Wheeler and Cichosz stayed. And they once again won both the MacNaughton and Mason cups in 2025. But as the off-season arrived 10 players graduated, eight left through the transfer portal. Only two forwards from last season’s quad remained entering the 2025-26 campaign.
Despite the temptation to also leave through the transfer portal once again, the trio of Tracy, Campbell and Cichosz stayed. And for the third time in four years they brought home the MacNaughton and Mason cups.
“They just care about this program so much,” said junior Evan Murr, who netted the game-winning goal in the Mason Cup title game for the second-straight season Friday. “Seeing them stay here and in a world where it seems like it was an easy out for most people is a real testament to their character. We’re super fortunate to have them around. The way they’ve led our group all year now being seniors, even last year and for all three of (my) years here they’ve been leaders on this team.
“That’s just a huge testament to their character.”
Of course the trio has shown out in a big way.
There’s a reason why Tracy’s a nominee for the Hobey Baker award for the second-consecutive season. Just look at what he’s done since Jan. 24 to now, the stretch where the Mavericks haven’t lost a game in regulation.
In that run he has a goals against average of 1.56 and a save percentage of .935 with three shutouts. Yeah, there’s a reason why people in Mankato call him the best goalie in college hockey.
But he’ll also be the first to tell you how much the defense corps means to this team, especially the unsung duo of Cichosz and Wheeler.
Cichosz is a defender that can be lock down. He also possesses the sneaky ability to push the puck up the ice coast-to-coast when you least expect it.
Wheeler is a defender through and through. He leads the CCHA with 88 blocked shots. Northern Michigan’s Tynan Ewart was second with 72.
But of Wheeler’s 88 blocked shots this season 11 came in Friday’s win. It’s the most by a Maverick player since 2012-13. Carter Foguth blocked eight shots back in February 2016. Cichosz previously held the record with nine back on Dec. 7, 2024 against Bowling Green.
“I don’t think I ever, ever seen someone go on all fours so many times to block shots,” Tracy said of Wheeler. “That’s just his care and his love for everyone, just that sacrifice that we’ve been talking about all year. It’s truly special. It inspires me. It makes me want to come up big for them whenever my number is called.”
But off the ice the trio of Tracy, Wheeler and Cichosz have welcomed the 17 new faces with open arms.
Tristan Lemyre has won national championships as a bottom six forward with Denver and as a middle six forward with Western Michigan. Today he has a shot for a third ring, this time as a top line winger while earning a team-best 16 goals and 34 points for the Mavericks.
Sophomore forward Alex Zetterberg, a distant cousin of Detroit Red Wings legend Henrik Zetterberg, had three goals and five assists across 24 games with juggernaut Boston University. This season he’s found a home on the second line with fellow transfers Jack Smith (Minnesota Duluth) and Ean Somoza (Western Michigan). Alex Zetterberg has not only tallied six goals and 10 assists this season, but has found a home in Mankato, often referring to the facility as the workplace.
The list goes on. As does the standard of Minnesota State hockey.
“Their leadership to grow people internally day to day, as peers making people fearless about getting better and being vulnerable to be better and be bad… it’s one of their gifts,” MSU head coach Luke Strand said of Tracy, Wheeler and Cichosz. “We’re in such a good spot in life. These guys are going to be leaders in life. What they’re going to do is crazy good, let alone play hockey. You can see a lot of things as times happened where we’ve just grown up. It means a lot.”