Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey

Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey
University Bemidji State University
Conference WCHA
Head coach Tom Serratore
16th year, 248–242–67 (.505)
Captain(s) Charlie O'Connor
Alternate captain(s) Nate Arentz
Brendan Harms
Arena Sanford Center
Capacity: 4,734
Surface: 200' x 85'
Location Bemidji, Minnesota
Colors Green and White[1]
         
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
2009
NCAA Tournament Appearances
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
Current uniform

The Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Bemidji State University. The Beavers are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and play at Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota, as of the 2010 season, after previously playing at the John S. Glas Field House.

History

Early history

The Bemidji State men's ice hockey program began in 1946. From the inaugural 1946-47 season through the 1966-67 season BSU played as an independent member of Division I.[2] In 1968 the team became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).[2] The program continued to operate as an independent member, now in the NAIA from 1968-69 through the 1979-80 season. For the 1980-81 season the program joined the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), in which Bemidji State is a charter member. BSU won the 1981-82 and 1982-83 NCHA regular season championships. <ref nchahistory">"Northern Collegiate Hockey Association History". Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved September 10, 2010. </ref>[3] Following the 1982-83 season BSU moved to NCAA Division II remaining in the NCHA.[2] During the program's 16-season tenure in the NAIA the team won NAIA national ice hockey championships 9 times, including the first NAIA Championship in 1968.

The Beavers won their third straight NCHA regular season championship in 1983-84 and qualified for the NCAA tournament.[3] In the 1984 tournament BSU won its first NCAA title at the Division II level with BSU sweeping Merrimack in a best-of-three series winning 6-3 and 8-1.[2] Beginning in the following season, the Division II tournament was combined with the NCAA Division III level. The Beavers won the NCHA regular season championship for the third straight season and qualified for the school's first NCAA Division III ice hockey championship. BSU came in second after a 1-5 loss in the finals to RIT.[4] Bemidji State won the first ever NCHA playoff tournament at the conclusion of the 1985-86 season and continued momentum into the NCAA DIII tournament winning the Division III Championship in an 8-5 win over Plattsburgh State.[4] BSU made the NCAA Division III tournament three more times in the 1980s, 1987-1989 but finished fourth once and third twice.[2] The Division II Ice Hockey Tournament was reinstated beginning in 1992-93 season and BSU won The Division II championship three straight years 1993-1995. In the 1996 championship the Beavers came up short to Alabama-Huntsville. The following season Alabama-Huntsville would get revenge, beating Bemidji State in the 1998 championship game. That would be the last year BSU participated in the DII tournament, the Beavers failed to qualify for the last NCAA DII Tournament in 1999 and the following season the Beavers moved to NCAA Division I level.[2]

Recent history

CHA era

Bemidji State joined two other former Division II ice hockey members Alabama–Huntsville and Findlay along with former DI independent teams Air Force, Army, and Niagara and expansion program Wayne State to form College Hockey America at the Division I level after the NCAA ended sponsorship of a Division II ice hockey tournament due to lack of membership.[5][6] Ted Belisle joined the coaching team as an assistant,[7] and BSU won their first CHA regular season championship in the 2003-04 season but lost 2004 CHA Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in overtime 3-4 to (#2) Niagara.[8]

The 2004-05 marked a historic season for the BSU hockey program. The team swept through the CHA winning the CHA regular season championship and winning the 2005 CHA Championship over Alabama-Huntsville.[9] The 3-0 shutout win gave the Beavers their first berth in the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament in program history.[2] the team came close to a major upset, losing 3-4 in overtime to the #1 ranked Denver in the opening round.[10] Bemidji beat Niagara 4-2 to win the 2006 CHA Championship and advance to the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament for the second year in a row.[11] BSU again lost in the opening round, this time to Wisconsin 0-4.[12]

The 2008-09 season was the most successful season the team has had at the Division I level. The Beavers finished the regular season 1st in the CHA with a record of 12-5-1 and won the 2009 CHA Championship in 3-2 in overtime over Robert Morris.[2][13] The team picked up the first NCAA Division I tournament win in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament with a 5-1 upset over Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey, a #1 seed and ranked 2nd in the national rankings.[14] The Beavers advanced for the first time in the Division I tournament and beat Cornell 4-1 to advance to the school's first ever Frozen Four held at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C..[15] Bemidji faced Miami (Ohio) in the National Semifinal game with a 1-4 loss to the RedHawks.[16][17]

WCHA era

In addition to the on-ice success, in 2008 Bemidji began exploring options to strengthen the program. The CHA had lost many of the original member to programs at Findlay and Wayne State folding and other teams transferring to other college hockey conferences. Travel expenses to remaining members in Huntsville, Alabama, and Western New York and Pennsylvania was also a concern. BSU began looking at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) as a solution. In a first step the university signed a scheduling agreement against WCHA schools, many within a few hours drive to Bemidji, Minnesota.[18] Other than the WCHA BSU's only option was to end the historic program.[19] In 2009 it was announced the university and city of Bemidji would build a 4,000-5,000 seat state-of-the-art arena to meet WCHA requirements, that the 2,400-seat John S. Glas Field House did not meet. With the news of the Bemidji Regional Events Center BSU applied to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in early 2009.[20][21] Bemidji State along with University of Nebraska-Omaha (transferring from the CCHA) was accepted into the WCHA as the 11th and 12th members. BSU officially became a member on July 1, 2010.[22]

The Beavers opened WCHA play in the new Bemidji Regional Events Center on October 15, 2010 against North Dakota in a 2-5 loss.[23] Bemidji picked up their first WCHA win at St. Cloud State 3-2 in overtime.[23] Bemidji ended the regular season with a conference record of 8-15-5 as the 10th seed entering the 2011 WCHA Tournament. In the first round of the WCHA playoffs the Beaver beat 3rd-seeded Nebraska-Omaha two games to none with 4-3 and 4-2 wins.[24] The series sweep sent Bemidji to its first ever WCHA Final Five and upset Minnesota–Duluth 3-2 in overtime,[25] before losing to Denver 2-6 in the semifinal game.[26]

Players

Roster

As of August 5, 2016.[27]

# S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Minnesota Bitzer, MichaelMichael Bitzer Junior G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1993-10-23 Moorhead, Minnesota Lincoln (USHL) —
2 Colorado Billett, DanDan Billett Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1995-02-17 Highlands Ranch, Colorado Aberdeen (NAHL) —
3 Minnesota Muck, TommyTommy Muck Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1996-01-05 Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota Madison (USHL) —
4 Saskatchewan Struthers, CarterCarter Struthers Senior D 6' 5" (1.96 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1993-01-20 Weyburn, Saskatchewan Weyburn (SJHL) —
5 Minnesota Janco, IanIan Janco Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1994-07-27 Bloomington, Minnesota Janesville (NAHL) —
6 Minnesota Dickman, JayJay Dickman Sophomore F 6' 6" (1.98 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1993-06-03 Shoreview, Minnesota Austin (NAHL) —
7 Minnesota Roo, T.J.T.J. Roo Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1994-04-30 Champlin, Minnesota Fargo (USHL) —
9 Ontario Marinaccio, PhillipPhillip Marinaccio Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1993-04-14 Nobleton, Ontario Lincoln (USHL) —
11 Minnesota Arentz, NateNate Arentz Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1994-06-19 Lakeville, Minnesota Fargo (USHL) —
12 Quebec McCrory, DylanDylan McCrory Freshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1995-04-13 Kirkland, Quebec Brooks (AJHL) —
13 Ontario Soucier, MikeMike Soucier Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 169 lb (77 kg) 1995-02-11 Caledon, Ontario Aberdeen (NAHL) —
14 Florida Bauman, KyleKyle Bauman Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 1993-04-14 Apopka, Florida Wichita Falls (NAHL) —
15 Minnesota Heller, JordanJordan Heller Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1994-06-27 Bemidji, Minnesota Aberdeen (NAHL) —
17 Minnesota Lovick, AdamAdam Lovick Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1994-05-18 Lino Lakes, Minnesota Coulee Region (NAHL) —
18 Manitoba Harms, BrendanBrendan Harms Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1994-12-02 Steinbach, Manitoba Fargo (USHL) —
19 British Columbia Fitzgerald, LeoLeo Fitzgerald Junior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1993-08-26 Port Alberni, British Columbia Victoria (BCHL) —
20 Minnesota Eichstadt, DillonDillon Eichstadt Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1994-02-07 Bemidji, Minnesota Sioux Falls (USHL) —
21 British Columbia Fitzgerald, GerryGerry Fitzgerald Junior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1993-08-26 Port Alberni, British Columbia Victoria (BCHL) —
22 Illinois O'Connor, CharlieCharlie O'Connor Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1993-03-23 Elk Grove Village, Illinois Chicago (USHL) —
23 Sweden Sjödahl, HampusHampus Sjödahl Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1995-09-27 Stockholm, Sweden Odessa (NAHL) —
26 British Columbia Fitzgerald, MylesMyles Fitzgerald Junior F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1993-08-26 Port Alberni, British Columbia Victoria (BCHL) —
27 Ontario Brady, AdamAdam Brady Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1995-08-06 Delhi, Ontario Lincoln (USHL) —
28 Prince Edward Island Beauvais, BrettBrett Beauvais Junior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1994-10-24 Summerside, Prince Edward Island Penticton (BCHL) —
29 Manitoba Baudry, JustinJustin Baudry Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1996-10-23 La Broquerie, Manitoba Fargo (USHL) —
30 British Columbia Burgart, JackJack Burgart Freshman G 6' 5" (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1995-08-14 Fort St. James, British Columbia Weyburn (SJHL) —
32 Manitoba Whitecloud, ZachZach Whitecloud Freshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1996-11-28 Brandon, Manitoba Virden (MJHL) —
33 Minnesota Mimmack, ReidReid Mimmack Senior G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1992-01-13 Brainerd, Minnesota Jamestown (NAHL) —
35 Alberta Wilkins, JesseJesse Wilkins Junior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1992-10-21 Calgary, Alberta Melfort (SJHL) —

Notable alumni

Over 60 former Beavers have gone on to play professional hockey, including in the National Hockey League (NHL) and international professional leagues.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bemidiji Visual Identity Standards" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-06-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bemidji State Men's Hockey Team History". U.S. College Hockey Online. 1996–2010. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Men's NCHA Regular Season, Playoff Team Champions". Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Men's Division III Ice Hockey Championship History". NCAA. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  5. ↑ "New Conferences Set To Debut in 1999-2000". American Hockey Coaches Association. 1999. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  6. ↑ "College Hockey America - 1999-2000 Standings". College Hockey Stats.com. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  7. ↑ http://www.bsubeavers.com/athletics/staff/5487/ted-belisle/
  8. ↑ Staff (March 14, 2004). "Tallari Sends Niagara Into NCAAs". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  9. ↑ Staff (March 13, 2005). "Breaking The Ice: Bemidji State Heads To NCAA Tourney". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  10. ↑ Connelly, Jim (March 26, 2005). "Close Escape: Ulanski Goal Sends Denver Past Bemidji State". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  11. ↑ Mackinder, Matt (March 12, 2006). "Bemidji State Downs Niagara To Retain CHA Championship". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  12. ↑ Panger, Robert (March 25, 2006). "Hats Off: Pavelski Nets Three As Wisconsin Rolls". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Bemidji State 3, Robert Morris 2". U.S. College Hockey Online. March 14, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  14. ↑ Miller, Bob (March 28, 2009). "First Time For Everything: Bemidji State Topples Top-Seeded Notre Dame". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  15. ↑ Weston, Paula C. (March 29, 2009). "Believe: Bemidji State Earns Historic Frozen Four Berth". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  16. ↑ Weston, Paula C. (April 9, 2009). "RedHawks Advance To First-Ever Title Game". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  17. ↑ Seal, Ben (April 9, 2009). "Bemidji State Hockey Awakens From Incongruous Dream". New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  18. ↑ Staff (January 18, 2008). "Bemidji State, WCHA Reach Scheduling Agreement". College Hockey News. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  19. ↑ Staff (April 7, 2009). "Cinderella Bemidji State's Future on Ice". AOL News. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  20. ↑ Albright, David (April 8, 2009). "Bemidji State finally takes big stage". ESPN. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Bemidji State to pursue membership in Western Collegiate Hockey Association". Bemidji State University. January 15, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Bemidji State men's hockey program begins WCHA membership July 1". Bemidji State University. July 1, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  23. 1 2 "Bemidji State Men's Hockey 2010-2011 Schedule and Results". U.S. College Hockey Online. 2010–2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  24. ↑ Stromgren, Eric (March 13, 2011). "BSU hockey team sweeps Nebraska-Omaha, advances to face Bulldogs in WCHA Final Five". Bemidji Pioneer.
  25. ↑ Staff (March 18, 2011). "Bemidji State upsets UMD at Final Five". Pierce County Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  26. ↑ Staff (March 18, 2011). "Denver beats Bemidji St. 6-2 in WCHA semis". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  27. ↑ "2016–17 Roster". Bemidji State University. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Alumni Report". Internet Hockey Database. 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2010.

External links

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