Women’s Hockey opens conference play versus No. 8 Bulldogs

In a series highlighted by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the Bemidji State University women’s hockey team opens conference play by hosting No. 8 University of Minnesota Duluth, Oct. 18-19. The Beavers’ (1-2-1, 0-0-0-0 WCHA) rivalry with the Bulldogs (3-1-0, 2-0-0-0 WCHA) will be featured in the league’s Opening Faceoff initiative created to promote league wide rivalries. The Beavers and eighth-ranked Bulldogs begin the series with game one Friday at 6:07 p.m., followed by game two at 3:07 p.m., Saturday.

The Beavers and Bulldogs meet for the 97th and 98th meetings in the two program’s histories in a series that began in 1999. Minnesota Duluth has dominated the all-time series and holds a 74-18-4 edge over the Beavers. The Bulldogs have won three consecutive games against Bemidji State including knocking the Beavers out of the first round of the WCHA Playoffs last season in two games. Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth met six times last season and the Beavers were 1-5-0 against the Bulldogs. Bemidji State’s lone win last season came in Bemidji where the Beavers earned a 4-1 victory after Lydia Passolt scored twice in the game. BSU and UMD have played 42 games in Bemidji and the Beavers are 7-34-1 when playing at their home rink. Sixth-year head coach Jim Scanlan is 14-15-2 coaching against the Bulldogs while fifth-year head coach Maura Crowell is 12-10-2 coaching against the Beavers.

The Bulldogs enter their second week of WCHA action after opening league play with a series sweep versus Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota Duluth defeated the Mavericks 3-2 in game one and responded with a 4-1 victory in game two. The Bulldogs were led by senior Sydney Brodt in the series who posted five points off of two goals and three assists while sophomore Gabbie Hughes followed with four points (2g-2a). Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend as the eighth ranked team in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national polls.