The @BSUBeavers men’s ice hockey team (1-0-1; 0-0-0-0 WCHA) continues non-conference play this weekend as it welcomes long-time rival the United State Air Force Academy (3-0-1; 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) to Sanford Center for a two-game series. The teams, who have a storied history as members of the College Hockey America Conference, have not met since the 2009-10 season. With brothers Tom and Frank Serratore at the coaching helm of their respective teams, and Tom’s son Matt Serratore on the Falcons’ roster, while former Bemidji High School teammates Dillon Eichstadt and Jordan Heller on the BSU bench, there will be no shortage of anticipated connections and reunions this weekend.

The Beavers opened their 2017-18 season last weekend, getting a dose of exactly what they expected. Third-Team All-WCHA forward, senior Gerry Fitzgerald led the team with three points (1g-2a), which included his team-leading 20th career power-play goal, while sophomore defender Zach Whitecloud pitched in a pair of assists on the power play. CCM All-America West First Team goaltender Michael Bitzer allowed just two goals in the opening weekend, which included his 17th career shutout–a new WCHA record. A year ago, Bitzer posted a 22-14-3 record in 39 appearances. In addition to owning the nation’s best goals against average (1.71), he ranked third in save percentage (.932) and backstopped a BSU penalty-kill unit that ranked among college hockey’s best all season (.880). Offensively, Gerry Fitzgerald shared the team’s lead with 13 goals, eight of which came on the power play, and 26 points. Zach Whitecloud posted a team-best 14 assists from the blueline.

Air Force comes to Bemidji, Minn., with a 3-0-1 record and is on the fringe of the USAToday/USA Hockey Top 15 poll. Junior forward Matt Koch leads the Falcons in scoring with four points (2g-2a), while Evan Giesler has a team-best four assists and Erik Baskin leads the team with three goals. Billy Christopoulos has been in net for all four of the Falcons’ contests and has a 3-0-1 record with a 1.96 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and has backstopped a penalty-kill unit that is clicking at 92-percent (23-of-25). Last season the Falcons narrowly missed the Atlantic Hockey regular-season title (27-10-5; 20-6-3) but won the conference tournament and made a run to the NCAA’s final eight teams.

Bemidji State and Air Force began their rivalry in 1997 while BSU was still a member of NCAA Division II. The Falcons captured both games of the first series between the schools, winning 6-3 and 5-3 (12/5-6/97), but from there the series has been tilted heavily in favor of BSU. BSU leads the all-time series with Air Force 25-8-2, but since the Beavers joined Division I in 1999 the margin is a more-impressive 23-6-2, which includes a 14-1-2 advantage when hosting the Falcons.