This week on CCHA RinkRap, a coronation in Mankato, a crowded podium for the CCHA’s out-of conference medalists, and Ty Eigner’s hungry building block at Bowling Green.

McKay Breaks Ryan Miller’s Record

In his 105th career NCAA game, Dryden McKay recorded his 27th shutout over Northern Michigan Saturday, breaking the mark of Michigan State star Ryan Miller. Coincidentally, Miller played exactly 105 games in his three-year career in East Lansing. By breaking Miller’s record in the same amount of games, it eliminates the argument that McKay surpassed Miller because he played one more college season than Miller did. Because McKay took care of business so efficiently to start the season—three shutouts in his first eight games—there will be no asterisk on his record. McKay, for his part, is delighted to be mentioned in the same breath as the former U.S. Olympic hero.

“He was definitely my favorite goalie growing up,” said McKay. “I remember him in Vancouver at the Olympics when he got MVP ... That was the most memorable experience I probably ever had watching a goalie. That was crazy. It kind of gave me the dream to keep playing goalie.” 

Saturday’s effort was vintage McKay: clean, efficient, and required only 15 saves. In fact, he has faced fewer than 20 shots in over half his career shutouts. It is his demeanor, not a gigantic save total, that keeps the Mavericks engine humming.

“I feel like I’ve always been a pretty calm and even-keeled guy, you can ask my parents,” said McKay. “It drives them nuts, but I don’t get too high or too low. I think my personality fits this team pretty well. I don’t have to make a ton of saves, I just have to be the calming influence back there, and do my part.”

Coach Mike Hastings has been behind the bench for all of McKay’s 27 shoutouts, a feat he never expected to witness. “That record, I didn’t think would ever be touched,” said Hastings. “I’m incredibly happy for the young man, for all the work that he has put in.”

Hastings went on to talk about how he and his staff preach altruism, how being “selfless” is part of the culture in Mankato. He then shined a light squarely on his long-time assistant during Saturday’s celebration at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. 

“I also want to tell Todd Knott I’m very appreciative that he recruited Dryden McKay to Minnesota State because he helped elevate our program. Todd had a really, really big hand in Dryden deciding to go to MSU.”

Minnesota State is the flagship program in the new CCHA, a program that is knocking hard on the door for national honors. McKay embodies that push more than anyone. Twice he has been left on the altar for the Richter Award as goalie of the year, but McKay, like the Mavericks, are making incremental gains on the sport’s biggest stage. Last year was his first as a Hobey Hat Trick Finalist, and his teammates were with him in Pittsburgh in their first trip to the Frozen Four. The kid who grew up idolizing Ryan Miller now has another goal in his sight, one that his hero never achieved: getting his hands on that elusive national championship trophy.

The CCHA’s Non-Conference Podium

November hockey signals the unofficial end of non-conference play, and the huge end-of-season computer implications that those games hold. CCHA teams finished with a cumulative 16-18-4 non-conference record through October, a significant improvement over the WCHA days when Huntsville and the two Alaska schools often dragged the total record 10 games under .500 or below. Sixteen wins and four ties give CCHA schools equal footing with most of the “Brand Name” conference teams that will be vying for the precious 16 spots in the national tournament.

If there were an imaginary podium, awarding gold, silver and bronze for non-conference achievements, the rising tide that lifts all CCHA boats, Minnesota State would stand alone at the top. Their opening weekend road-sweep of reigning NCAA champion UMass, followed by a split with NCHC Powerhouse St. Cloud will pay major dividends for any CCHA school who upsets the Mavericks later on this season. Minnesota State also punched out then-No. 12 Providence on neutral ice for a sterling 3-0 record against Hockey East clubs. Fellow league members should give a loud round of stick-taps to their Maverick brothers.

The silver medal for non-conference play goes to Michigan Tech. The opening weekend sweep of the Badgers, in Madison, and another road win at Clarkson will do wonders for CCHA chances in March. A two-minute lapse late in the second period at Clarkson Saturday cost the Huskies a rare sweep at Cheel Arena, which would have thrust Tech into contention for the imaginary gold medal. An important note on Tech’s superb non-conference play this October: what appeared as a loss to Notre Dame is a virtual tie in the mind of the ratings computer. “Actually, an overtime loss is considered 45% of a win,” says the post-season numbers guru Adam Wodon of College Hockey News.  

The bronze medal for non-conference success goes to Lake Superior, who bludgeoned ECAC opponents with a 3-0-1 record, and opened the season with a stunning overtime victory over NCHC power Omaha. Even though Wodon reminds us that because it was in overtime, the win over Omaha only counts as 55% of a victory, the fact that it came on the road gives it more weight, and the quality of the opponent will pay major dividends come March.

Honorable mention goes to Bowling Green with their 2-0-2 non-conference record, and a CCHA shoutout to Ferris State, the program that did not win a single Division I victory last season. The Bulldogs picked up their second non-conference victory Saturday night on the road at Canisius. All those results will linger deep in the hard drive of the NCAA committee computers, and some obscure October result will bring either joy or despair for teams vying for an at-large NCAA berth. This year, the CCHA is fighting without a hand tied behind its back.

Man On A Mission

At the end of Friday night’s hotly contested game between Bowling Green and Bemidji, BGSU freshman Austen Swankler chased down a potential icing and nearly willed himself an empty-net goal. He wedged his body between the defender and goalpost in a gutty wraparound attempt, getting hammered onto the iron frame for his efforts. Swankler is playing as if he won a lottery to play college hockey, which is not far from the truth.

This past off-season the former OHL scoring star petitioned the NCAA to play Division I hockey, succeeding despite long odds. It’s given his career a new lease on life, and has him playing with unbridled passion and force. The Falcons are direct beneficiaries. 

“He is taking advantage of his opportunity here at Bowling Green,” said BGSU coach Ty Eigner to RinkRap. “Austen has fit in very well both on and off the ice. He’s been a consistent contributor offensively and is doing a great job in school.”

It’s the on-ice portion that most hockey fans witness. Despite being on the losing end of another barn-burner in Bemidji Saturday night, Swankler led all players with six shots on goal, sniped his third marker of the season to close the gap to 2-1, and won four out of six battles in the face off circles.  

Swankler’s efforts translate to more than just ink on a scoresheet; his blatant desire is setting a new tone for a program that was developing a reputation as having more skill than will. Eigner spoke this off-season about his newcomers’ imperative to ‘write their own story,” while he rebuilds the Falcons from the ground up. Swankler, the pre-season CCHA Rookie of the Year, is emerging as one of Eigner’s leading authors.