On Jan. 16, Minnesota State men’s hockey defenseman Channing Boe broke his right thumb in a game against Alaska-Anchorage.

The sophomore played through it for the next four games, wearing a cast under his glove, until Jan. 30 against Minnesota when he broke his right leg.

The injury, which occurred during a melee in the corner of the Alltel Center, ended his season.

“I was looking forward to having a good finish to the season,” Boe said Wednesday afternoon. “Anytime you have an injury it’s just disheartening. Everyday I come here and wish I was out on the ice.”

Boe has a cast on his hand and an orthopedic boot — soon to be a cast — on his foot and is using crutches to get around. To make matters worse, he’s right-handed.

“I have to have my notes taken for me (in class),” he said.

Before the injury, Boe had checked the Gophers’ Jay Barriball from behind near the MSU bench and was then chased down and tackled by Brian Schack. When the players fell to the ice, their teammates joined in the scrum. Boe’s leg was stuck under the pile.

Boe broke his right fibula, just above the ankle. As of now, he said, surgery is not required.

“I knew it was busted for sure,” he said.

The Mavericks leave today for Grand Forks, N.D., to play 11th-ranked North Dakota. Boe said he wishes he could be there.

“One of my goals this year was to play every game,’ he said. “Obviously, that fell short.”

New recruits
Minnesota State received verbal commitments from two recruits last week, according to various sources.

According to various Web sites, including Chris Heisenberg’s reliable NCAA hockey recruiting page, defensemen Tyler Elbrecht and Zach Palmquist announced they would be joining the Mavericks.

Elbrecht is the 6-foot-5, 225-pound captain of the St. Louis Bandits of the North American Hockey League. The Edwardsville, Ill., native is described as a “tough, reliable (and plays a) hard-nosed style,” according to the Bandits Web site. He has one goal, eight assists and 103 penalty minutes this season.

Palmquist, meanwhile, is a 5-11, 160-pound senior at South St. Paul High School. He has 13 goals and 20 assists this season and will join the Mavericks in 2010 or 2011.