Mavericks Win Fourth Mason Cup in Five Year

BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | UST POST-GAME | MSU POST-GAME

MANKATO, Minn. – Junior defenseman Evan Murr scored the game-winning goal and added a pair of assists for the No. 16 Minnesota State University men’s hockey team in a 4-1 victory over the No. 15 University of St. Thomas, in the 2026 Mason Cup Championship Game, in front of 4,892 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on Friday night.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 22-10-7 and receive the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, while the Tommies conclude their season at 21-12-5.

Murr (Stillwater, Minn./Sioux Falls) broke a 1-1 tie at 15:07 of the second period, backhanding home a shot from close range after his initial attempt from the middle of the right circle was blocked a St. Thomas defenseman. The tally, which was Murr’s 10th of the year drew helpers from blueline partner and senior Ralfs Bergmanis (Liepaja, Latvia/Vermont) and freshman Jordan Ronn (Champlin, Minn./Fargo).

Minnesota State pushes its advantage to 3-1 at 13:43 of the third, when junior Luigi Benincasa (Edmonton, Alta./Ferris State) gather a feed from the left-wing boards by senior Tristan Lemyre (Mirabel, Que./Western Michigan) and beat UST sophomore goaltender Carsen Musser (Fairmont, Minn./Colorado College) with a move to his backhand for his 11th of the season.

The Mavericks capped the scoring at 15:49 of the third, when a shot from the high slot by Murr deflected off senior Jack Smith (St. Cloud, Minn./Minnesota Duluth) and into the net for a 4-1 advantage. Lemyre was credited with the secondary assist on Smith’s 11th goal of 2025-26.

St. Thomas lifted Musser for an extra attacker in the waning minutes of the contest, but could not find a way past Mavericks senior netminder Alex Tracy (Chicago,Ill./Sioux City) for a second team, as he stopped 29-of-30 shots. Musser finished with 35 saves including 27 in the first two periods combined.

Lemyre opened the scoring at 6:24 of the opening frame, burying a wrap around for his 16th goal of the season. St. Thomas answered at 16:44 of the period when sophomore Dylan Godbout (Woodbury, Minn./Ohio State) rifled home a shot home from the top of the left circle. An attempt from the left point by freshman Bauer Berry (Grand Forks, N.D./Muskegon) caromed right to Godbout, whose quick release found the back of the net for his fourth of the year.

Minnesota State finished 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Tommies were 0-for-2.

The Mavericks, who have now won four of the last five Mason Cup titles, await their first round opponent in the NCAA Tournament, which gets underway next week.