Carl Davis practically made a career out of passing the puck for the Mavericks.

In four seasons at then-Mankato State in the late 1970s, the forward recorded 92 assists, which is tied for eighth on the school’s all-time list.

With the way Davis’ son Kurt has started his career at Minnesota State, it might not be long before he’s hot on his dad’s heels.

Kurt Davis, a sophomore defenseman, leads the 11th-ranked Mavericks in scoring with four goals and 16 assists this season. Going into tonight’s game against St. Cloud State, his 20 points rank him first in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and second in the nation among defensemen, bested only by Air Force’s Greg Flynn who has 21 points.

Davis has scored at least one point in each of the Mavericks’ 14 games this season.

“Scoring in every game is tough — in any league,” Mavericks captain Mick Berge said. “But I’m not surprised. He runs our power play; he’s pretty much the quarterback of the power play.”

Twelve of Davis’ points have come with the man advantage, which is where he’s been able to show off some of his puck-moving skills.

“The one thing he does really well is break it out of our own end,” coach Troy Jutting said. “He combines great patience and intelligence with skill and skating.”

Davis, whose dad is the boys hockey coach at Wayzata High School, said he’s always been an offensive defenseman and not much of a physical player. At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, he’s had to play that way.

“I’m not one of the bigger guys,” said Davis, who played two seasons of junior hockey in Green Bay, Wis., before joining the Mavericks. “I use my skills to move the puck up the ice to the other guys out there to finish.”

Berge has been impressed and, as one of the Mavericks’ top forwards, quite appreciative.

“He’s one of the best I’ve seen,” Berge said. “He makes it look very easy. Even last year, I’d look at him and say, ‘Wow. That’s something we’ve needed for a few years.’ And this year, he’s been five times better.”

Carl Davis also scored a few goals back in the day, finishing his career, which lasted from 1975 to 1979, with 46, and averaging more than a point per game. Kurt Davis, who is the first son of a former Maverick to play at MSU, can score goals, too. He has four on the season, including a “backhanded slap shot” in last Saturday’s win at Bowling Green State that teammates, coaches and others were still raving about this week.

Jutting called it a play that required “enough skill, enough oomph and a little luck.”

“But when you’re playing well, you create your own luck,” the coach added.