Women’s Hockey travels to No. 1 Wisconsin for final road trip

The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team plays its final road series of the season this weekend and travels to Madison, Wis., to face No. 1 University of Wisconsin for their lone series this season. The Beavers (2-10-2, 2-10-2 WCHA) battle the top-ranked Badgers (9-2-1, 9-2-1 WCHA) in a pair of Western Collegiate Hockey Association games scheduled for Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13. Puck drop for game one is slated for 2:07 p.m., from LaBahn Arena followed by game two Saturday at 2:07 p.m., as well.

Bemidji State and Wisconsin will meet for the 89th and 90th meetings in the all-time series history and only series in 2020-21. The Badgers dominate the all-time series record at 77-7-4 (.903) and are 37-4-1 (.893) when playing in Madison.

Bemidji State won the last meeting between the two teams however, a 3-2 upset over the No. 1 Badgers Jan. 11, 2020 in Bemidji. The Beavers were led by Clair DeGeorge in the game who posted two goals including the game-winning goal in the second period.

Bemidji State is 2-4-0 in its last six games versus Wisconsin.

Head Coach Jim Scanlan is 3-22-1 (.135) when coaching against the Badgers while UW head coach Mark Johnson is 64-6-4 (.917) when facing the Beavers.

Bemidji State is led by senior captain Clair DeGeorge who has posted eight points (3g-5a) in 13 career games against Wisconsin while senior Paige Beebe follows with five points off of three goals and two assists in 13 games. Senior blueliner Mak Langei paces the Beavers’ defense with two assists in 13 games. Senior Kerigan Dowhy has appeared in five games in net against the Badgers with four starts. She has posted a 0-4-1 record to go along with a .909 save percentage and 3.24 goals against average.

Bemidji State stands sixth in the WCHA with a .274 point percentage and has earned 11.5 points in league play by going 2-8-2. Bemidji State is currently on a three-game losing skid and its past five games have been decided in overtime or the shootout. The Beavers have played in eight overtime games this season, most of any team in the WCHA.

Bemidji State had last weekend off from play and last played at Minnesota State University, Mankato Jan. 29-30. BSU fell in both games to the Mavericks in overtime by scores of 1-0 and 3-2.

Bemidji State’s penalty kill is sixth in the WCHA and has stopped 26-of-31 chances for an .839 percentage. The Beavers have killed off the last nine power play chances for its opponents.

Bemidji State has been led by senior goaltender Kerigan Dowhy in its past three series. Dowhy is 2-9-2 on the season and is fifth in the league with a 2.18 goals against average but third with a .929 save percentage. However, since Jan. 15, Dowhy has posted a 1.45 goals against average and .951 save percentage which is second in the WCHA during that time frame.

Dowhy has set a career high with 796:23 minutes played this season and boasts career numbers in goals against average and save percentage.

Listen to the games this weekend on 94.3 The Legends and online at beaverradionetwork.com.