Beavers host No. 4 Gophers to begin final homestand
After returning from Madison, Wis., this past weekend, the Bemidji State University women’s hockey team prepares for another nationally ranked opponent in No. 4 University of Minnesota this weekend. The Beavers (2-12-2, 2-12-2 WCHA) host the No. 4 Gophers (9-7-1, 9-7-1 WCHA) for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series beginning Friday, Feb. 19 and ending Saturday. The series begins a four-game homestand for the Beavers who end the season next weekend by hosting St. Cloud State University. Game one between the Beavers and Gophers is slated for 6:07 p.m., followed by 3:07 p.m. for game two.
In the interest of maintaining the safest possible environment for student-athletes, coaches, officials and staff, fan attendance at Bemidji State athletic events will be limited to an allotted number of invited family members and guests. In addition, a limited number of current BSU students will be admitted. All fans in attendance will be required to follow current MDH and local health guidelines. With the number of schedule changes this season, we are currently not planning to sell tickets to athletic events. Our primary goal will be to continue to provide our student-athletes with the best opportunity to complete their seasons in the safest manner.
Bemidji State and Minnesota will meet for the 97th and 98th meetings in the all-time series history and only series in 2020-21. nThe Gophers dominate the all-time series record at 80-9-7 (.870) and are 37-3-3 (.895) when playing in Bemidji.
Bemidji State’s last win against the Gophers came on Dec. 2, 2017 and Minnesota on an eight-game winning streak against the Beavers.
Head Coach Jim Scanlan is 5-22-1 (.196) when coaching against the Gophers while Minnesota head coach Brad Frost is 49-7-4 (.850) when facing the Beavers. Bemidji State is led by senior co-captain Mak Langei who has posted eight points off of two goals and six assists in 12 career games versus the Gophers while fellow co-captain Clair DeGeorge follows closely with seven points off of two goals and five assists in 12 career games. Sophomore Reece Hunt leads all BSU skaters with three goals in four games against the Gophers after she posted her first career hat trick last season on Feb. 8.
Senior Kerigan Dowhy leads the Beavers’ netminders with three career games against Minnesota and has posted an 0-3-0 record. Dowhy has a 3.05 goals against average and .906 save percentage against the Gophers and last faces Minnesota Nov. 16, 2019.
Minnesota enters the weekend’s action as the fourth-ranked team in both the USCHO.com and USAToday/USA Hockey Magazine national polls and boasts a 9-7-1 record in league play for fourth in the conference standings. The Gophers are 9-7-1 overall and play their final series of the regular season against the Beavers. Minnesota will be looking to rebound against the Beavers after being swept at home by then No. 4 Ohio State University.
Bemidji State is currently on a five-game losing skid and have scored just two goals during the losing streak. nThe Beavers have played in eight overtime games this season, most of any team in the WCHA. Bemidji State traveled to No. 1 University of Wisconsin last weekend where it fell to the Badgers in two games by scores of 4-0 and 7-0.
Bemidji State is last in the league by averaging 1.19 goals per game and rank sixth on defense by allowing 3.12 goals per game.
Bemidji State’s penalty kill is seventh in the WCHA and has stopped 34-of-40 chances for an .850 percentage. The Beavers have killed off the last eight power play chances for its opponents.
Bemidji State has been led by the play of senior netminder Kerigan Dowhy this season. Despite posting a 2-11-2 record, Dowhy boasts a .922 save percentage and 2.47 goals against average to rank fifth in the league in both categories.
Bemidji State is led offensively by Clair DeGeorge who has totaled nine points in 16 games (4g-5a) but has been held off the scoresheet in the last five games.
Listen to the games this weekend on 94.3 The Legends and online at beaverradionetwork.com.