The Bemidji State University Men’s Hockey team opens Central Collegiate Hockey Association play this weekend and hosts (RV) Augustana University for a pair of league games at Sanford Center.
The Beavers (2-4-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) are looking to snap a four-game losing streak and open conference play on a high note against the (RV) Vikings (3-1-0, 0-0-0 CCHA). Bemidji State hosts the two-game series beginning Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:07 p.m., from Sanford Center in Bemidji. The teams then close out their series Saturday at 6:07 p.m.
Each game will be streamed exclusively online at MidCo Sports Plus with the Beaver Radio Network providing play-by-play. Beaver Hockey fans can also tune-in to a Beaver Radio Network broadcast for both games on the radio dial at 92.1 FM or online at www.beaverradionetwork.
The Beavers aim to right the ship against the Vikings having lost their last four games since opening the season with a sweep at University of Alaska Anchorage.
Bemidji State was swept by non-conference opponent (RV) University of Minnesota Duluth last weekend in a home-and-home series with the Bulldogs. The teams opened the series at Sanford Center Friday night with Minnesota Duluth claiming a 7-3 victory despite the Beavers scoring the game’s first two goals within the first five minutes of the game. The Bulldogs responded by scoring the next six goals en route to their 7-3 series opening victory. Game two took place at AMSIL Arena in Duluth where the Bulldogs took advantage of Beaver mistakes and penalties scoring four power-play goals on seven chances to earn a 5-1 victory and series sweep.
Vincent Labelle and Kasper Magnussen led the Beavers with two points in the series after each scored a goal and added an assist.
Labelle, Magnussen, Noah Quinn and Hudson Thornton all scored in the series marking their first goals of the 2025-26 season while Labelle and Thornton each scored their first collegiate goals.
Labelle and Magnussen each recorded a point in both games of the series leading the team with a two-game active point scoring streak.
Junior Oliver Peer has recorded a point in five-of-six games in his first NCAA college hockey season after transferring from the University of New Brunswick (USports). Peer leads the team with seven points (3g-4a) and has two multiple point efforts in six games. The Burlington, Ont., native is second in the CCHA in points only to University of St. Thomas’ Alex Gaffney who has nine points in five games for the Tommies.
Senior Reilly Funk paces the team and is tied for the CCHA lead with four goals. He has added an assists for five points on the season tied for sixth most in the CCHA.
Bemidji State has four skaters who are ranked in the top-10 in the CCHA in points (Peer, Adam Flammang, Magnussen, Funk).
Funk has posted a team-high 16 shots on goal which is the second most in the league.
22-of-24 BSU skaters this season have recorded at least one point.
Magnussen paces the team and the CCHA with a +6 rating on the ice. He is followed by rookie defenseman Max Vig who is a +5 rating on the ice.
Sophomore Hudson Thornton paces the Beavers’ blueline with three points (1g-2a) all of which have come on the power play leading the team.
Bemidji State has scored four power-play goals this season, third most in the CCHA and third in the conference with a .182 power-play percentage (4-of-22).
Bemidji State leads the CCHA with 22 goals scored ranking third in the league averaging 3.67 goals per game.
Freshman Max Hildebrand has started four of the teams six games and is 1-3-0 with a 4.36 goals against average and .857 save percentage. Junior Raythan Robbins has made two starts and is 1-1-0 with a 2.54 goals against average and .917 save percentage. Sophomore Trent Wiemken made his collegiate debut last weekend playing 30 minutes in relief and made nine of 10 saves.
Bemidji State is 4-3-0 all-time against the Vikings since their series first started during the 2023-24 season. The two teams meet for the first time since the Beavers ended the Vikings season in the first round of the CCHA Playoffs last season. The teams have played just twice at Sanford Center splitting their series Feb. 2-3, 2024.
Senior defenseman Vince Corcoran leads the team with six points (1g-5a) in seven games versus the Vikings with Adam Flammang (3g-2a) and Reilly Funk (3g-1a) following.