Women’s Hockey begins 2026-27 season by hosting No. 3 Gophers

The Bemidji State University Women’s Hockey team begins its 29th season of NCAA Division I women’s hockey and its third season under head coach Amber Fryklund this weekend by hosting No. 3 University of Minnesota Friday and Saturday at Sanford Center. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 6:02 p.m. Friday and 2:02 p.m. Saturday.

Bemidji State began the year with an exhibition game against St. Cloud State University on Sept. 19 at the Essentia Health Sports Center in Brainerd, Minn.

The Beavers were selected eighth in the 2026-27 WCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll after receiving seven points from the league’s head coaches.

Bemidji State finished the 2025-26 season with a 6-27-3 overall record and placed eighth in the WCHA standings.

The Beavers return their top two goal scorers and three of their top four point producers from the 2025-26 season.

Junior forward Morgan Smith returns after leading Bemidji State with 28 points on 13 goals and 15 assists during the 2025-26 campaign.

Morgan Smith enters her junior season after producing consecutive 20-point campaigns to begin her collegiate career.

Morgan Smith has totaled 48 points through her first two seasons, putting her within reach of becoming the 23rd skater in program history to reach 50 career points.

Senior forward Hailey Armstrong returns after leading the Beavers with 15 goals during the 2025-26 season.

Hailey Armstrong enters her senior campaign with 34 career goals, tying Caesare Stimson for 12th on Bemidji State’s career goals list.

Hailey Armstrong needs one goal to take sole possession of 12th on the program’s career list and six to become the 11th skater in program history to reach 40 career goals.

Hailey Armstrong has scored seven career game-winning goals, tying her for fourth in program history entering the season.

Senior defender Carmen Bray leads an experienced Bemidji State blue line after recording 12 assists last season.

The Beavers return six defenders from last season in Olivia Dronen, Lola Macuiba, Kasey Senden, Elly Klepinger, Katy Comstock and Carmen Bray.

Sophomore defender Katy Comstock returns after leading the WCHA with 69 blocked shots during her freshman campaign.

Bemidji State led the WCHA and ranked 12th nationally with 493 blocked shots during the 2025-26 regular season.

Junior goaltender Kaitlin Groess returns after leading Bemidji State’s netminders in appearances, starts and victories during the 2025-26 season.

Kaitlin Groess appeared in 23 games and made 21 starts last season, posting 639 saves and recording eight games with at least 30 saves.

Kaitlin Groess recorded three 40-save performances last season, including a career-high 50 saves at Minnesota on Nov. 14.

Fifth-year goaltender Ava Hills also returns to provide the Beavers with an experienced option in net.

Bemidji State carries four goaltenders on its 2026-27 roster: Kaitlin Groess, Sophia Villanueva, Ava Hills and Ashlyn Hazlett.

Sophia Villanueva joins the Beavers after spending her freshman season at Minnesota Duluth.

Forward Ruby Rauk joins Bemidji State after beginning her collegiate career at Quinnipiac University.

Freshman forwards Davina Davis and Dior Stringer begin their collegiate careers with the Beavers this season.

Davina Davis, a Calgary, Alberta native, comes to Bemidji State from Calgary Fire Red.

Dior Stringer, a Swift Current, Saskatchewan native, joins the Beavers from Stanstead College.

Bemidji State’s roster features 25 student-athletes with 15 forwards, six defenders and four goaltenders.

The roster includes eight upperclassmen, nine juniors and eight first- or second-year players.

Eight members of the roster enter the season as seniors or graduate students, giving the Beavers experience throughout the forward, defensive and goaltending groups.

Bemidji State’s 2026-27 schedule includes 32 regular-season games with 16 contests at Sanford Center.

Bemidji State’s nonconference schedule includes Maine at the Minnesota East/West Showcase, a home series against Lindenwood and a two-game road series at Boston College.

Amber Fryklund is assisted by Emma Sobieck, Sarah Bobrowski-Laird and Jess Strack.

Assistant coach Jess Strack joined Hungary’s Women’s National Team as its goaltending coach beginning with the 2026-27 season.