Beavers kick-off 2019-20 with exhibition versus Regina

The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team drops the puck on the 2019-20 season by hosting University of Regina for an exhibition game Friday, Sept. 27. The Beavers host the Cougars at 6:07 p.m., from the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn., before officially opening the season Oct. 4-5.

The Cougars travel over the border for a pair of exhibition games against NCAA Division opponents in Bemidji State and St. Cloud State University. The Cougars compete in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association and are a year removed from finishing with 34 points in conference play and earning the sixth seed in the Canada West Playoffs. Regina finished 2018-19 with a 14-17-3 overall record and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by University of British Columbia in a best of three series. The Cougars hosted two exhibition series with Minot State University and University of Manitoba before traveling to Minnesota and defeated Minot State in both games before splitting their series with the Bison.

The Beavers are coming off a 13-21-2 season in 2018-19 where they finished fifth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with a 10-12-2 league record and fell in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs to University of Minnesota Duluth.

The Beavers return 19 letterwinners from last season and welcome six newcomers to the team. Bemidji State returns its leading scorer from last season in junior Clair DeGeorge who has posted 20+ point seasons in each of her first two years with the Beavers. DeGeorge led the team with 22 points (9g-13a) last season and has totaled 45 career points (16g-29a) which is second among active skaters.

The Beavers also return its leading goal scorer from last season in senior Jacqueline Kaasa who led the team with 10 goals and totaled 19 points for third on the team. BSU also returns three players who totaled nine goals last season in DeGeorge, junior Paige Beebe and senior captain Abby Halluska. Senior Haley Mack also returns after totaling eight goals in 22 games last season.

BSU returns nine of its top 10 scorers from last season, all of which posted double-digits in points. The Beavers also return five of their six starting defensemen during 2018-19 including junior Mak Langei who led the defense with 11 points (3g-8a) and was a All-WCHA Third Team selection last season. In just two seasons, Langei ranks among the top-10 BSU defenders in career points and career assists.

Bemidji State also returns all three of its goaltenders from last season including All-WCHA Third Team selection Lauren Bench who led the Beavers with 1338 minutes played, .909 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average. Bench posted a 9-11-2 record in net last season and posted four shutouts during the season.

The Beavers also return junior Kerigan Dowhy in net who posted a 4-9-0 record in 14 games last season and had a .898 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average.

Six freshmen join the Beavers for the 2019-20 season in Cheyenne Abear, Paige Anderson, Kate Boland, Abby DeLaRosa, Reece Hunt and Mya Neugent.

Bemidji State officially opens the season with a non-conference series with Lindenwood University, Oct. 4-5 at the Sanford Center.