MINOT, N.D. – Coming off a weekend in Chicago battling the nation's top teams two weeks ago, the Minot State men's hockey team is now set to switch gears and renew an instate rivalry on the ice.

The Beavers, ranked No. 2 in latest ACHA Division I men's hockey poll, host the University of Mary on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Maysa Arena in the first of back-to-back games between the instate foes. Mary, ranked No. 1 in the ACHA Division II poll, will host Saturday night's contest at 7 p.m. in Mandan, N.D.

While Minot State (12-1-0 overall) might play in a higher division in the ACHA, this rivalry always is a battle as the two teams played to a 1-1 tie last season, and the Beavers needed overtime to pull out a victory over the Marauders (18-2-1) during the 2019-20 campaign.

One key for the Beavers so far this season has been a prolific yet balanced offense led by Davis Sheldon with nine goals, while Carter Barley, Jared Hamm, Connor Navrot, and Jared Robertson each have eight goals apiece this season.

That offensive onslaught has been complimented by a dynamic duo in goal for the Beavers as Riley Wallace and Jake Anthony each have six wins apiece in net, with Wallace posting a 1.17 goals against average and Anthony a 1.57 GAA.

That same formula – at least offensively – has worked for the Marauders as Seth Cushing has 12 goals, leading a group of five Mary players with double-digits in goals this season. Alexander Flicek, Zachery Garrett, and Garrett Freeman each had 11 goals, and Kyler Moore has scored 10 goals for a UMary team averaging 4.6 goals per game.

In net, though, the Marauders have let Kyle Hayden lead the way as he's 12-2 with a 1.82 GAA for Mary.