The Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team (5-8-5; 5-4-3 WCHA) looks to correct a four-game winless string this weekend as it hosts University of Alaska at Fairbanks (6-8-2; 3-7-0 WCHA) for a two-game Western Collegiate Conference series at Sanford Center.
BSU opens the series after posting back-to-back 2-2 ties at Michigan Technological University Dec. 6-7. Bemidji State erased third period deficits in each game to earn consecutive ties for the first time since a series versus Niagara Nov. 17-18, 2006. Rookie goaltender Jesse Wilkins made his collegiate debut in the series piling up 75 saves, including a career-best 39 Saturday, and backstopped a penalty-kill unit that held the Huskies’ power play scoreless on 12 opportunities.
Eighteen games into the 2013-14 season, junior forward Danny Mattson has taken the BSU scoring lead with 14 points (3g-11a) and has a team-best 11 assists. Netting five goals in BSU’s last six games, sophomore Cory Ward holds down the teams top goal scoring spot with a career-best 11. Ruslan Pedan, a freshman defender, is BSU’s top power-play threat, recording a team-high seven (3g-4a) of his eight points on the man advantage this season.
The Nanooks head into the WCHA series after spliting with intrastate rival University of Alaska-Anchorage in the Governor’s Cup series Dec. 6-7. After being defeated 3-2 Friday, UA battled back to earn a 5-4 win in the finale backed by three-point efforts from senior forwards Colton Beck and Cody Kunyk.
Kunyk has recorded a team-high 11 goals this season and has 17 points (11g-6a) to assume the Nanooks’ top scorer role through 16 games. Sophomore blueliner Colton Parayko has logged 11 assists to lead Alaska in that category. All three of the Nanooks’ goaltenders have seen significant time in net this season with Sean Cahill (1-2-0) getting starts in three of UA’s last four games. The junior has a 3.05 goals against average and .882 save percentage.

The Rivalry
The Beavers and Nanooks will go head-to-head for the first time in 29 years this weekend. In a series that began during the 1981-82 season, BSU and Alaska have met on just three prior occasions. BSU holds a 3-0-0 advantage in the series with all three games taking place on the Beavers’ home ice. As infrequent as the BSU-UA series has been, Alaska plays a fairly significant role in Beaver Hockey history. BSU hosted the Nanooks March 10-11, 1984 for a NCAA Division II national semifinal series. BSU defeated Alaska 9-6 and 4-2, and went on to defeat Merrimack to complete its perfect 31-0-0 season and earn its eighth national championship under iconic head coach R.H. “Bob” Peters.

Bemidji State Notables
• The Bemidji State men’s ice hockey team posted a pair of 2-2 ties in its WCHA series at Michigan Tech Dec. 6-7.

• Five of the Beavers’ last seven games have been pushed to overtime. BSU is 1-1-4 in OT this season and is unbeaten in its last five overtime contests (1-0-4).

• The Beavers have not posted back-to-back draws since Nov. 17-18, 2006 versus Niagara University. BSU has never logged three consecutive ties.

• Cory Ward recorded his first multi-goal night of 2013-14 and the second of his career Friday posting both of BSU’s goals. He now leads the team with a career-high 11 goals and is second with 13 points (11g-2a).

• Cory Ward saw his five-game scoring streak come to an end Saturday night. Between Nov. 22 and Dec. 6, the sophomore had five goals and an assist.

• Ruslan Pedan has scored all but one of his eight points this season (3g-4a) on the man advantage. He, along with Danny Mattson (2g-5a), lead BSU in power-play scoring.

• The BSU penalty-kill unit snuffed out all 12 of Michigan Tech’s power-play opportunities last weekend. BSU has now killed its opponents’ last 14 man advantage opportunities dating back to the first period of its Nov. 30 game versus Miami.

• BSU has snuffed out 71-of-81 (.877) opponent power plays to rank sixth in nation. Killing 48-of-54 (.889) opponent chances, which includes the last 15 opportunities in league play, BSU’s PK leads the WCHA in penalty-kill efficiency.

• BSU was 1-for-7 on the man advantage at Michigan Tech bringing it to 14-of-72 (.194) on the season and are 10-for-48 (.208) to rank fourth in the league standings. The Beavers are 3-for-13 in their last two games (.230).

• This season BSU has averaged more than a goal more on Friday than it has in Saturday games. It has netted 31 goals Friday to 21 on Saturday. That works out to an average of 3.44 per Friday contest and 2.33 goals per game Saturday.

• This season slow first period starts have been an issue for the Beavers. BSU has scored 12 first period goals to its opponents’ 19, while it has been out scored 11-7 in the first period of WCHA play.

• Cory Ward (8g-1a) and Markus Gerbrandt (7g-2a) currently lead BSU in WCHA scoring while ranking 11th with nine league points. The duo also ranks two and three in WCHA goal scored this season.

• Danny Mattson and Graeme McCormack each have seven assists in league play to sit tied for fourth in the WCHA.

• Danny Mattson collected his third goal of the season Saturday at Michigan Tech. He now leads the team in scoring with 14 points and a team-high 11 assists.

• Brendan Harms has registered 10 points (3g-7a) as a rookie to lead all BSU freshman in scoring. He has scored in BSU last two games and has accumulated five points (1g-4a) in the Beavers’ last five games.

• BSU has averaged 3.08 goals per game in league play this season to rank third in WCHA scoring behind Ferris State (3.92) and Minnesota State (3.10).

• Freshman Jesse Wilkins is WCHA Rookie of the Week this week after a debut weekend in which he collected 75 saves. He is 0-0-2 in two career appearances with a .949 save percentage and a 1.85 goals against average.

• At just 10.3 penalty minutes per game, BSU is the least penalized team in the WCHA in 2013-14.

• BSU is 3-5-2 at home this season which includes a 3-3-2 mark at home in WCHA play.

• This season Danny Mattson (2g-7a) and Matt Prapavessis (1g-8a) have led BSU at Sanford Center. Each has collected nine points in home games.

• In just six home games played this season due to injury, Radoslav Illo has a team-best five goals at Sanford Center.

• The Beavers welcome Alaska to Sanford Center for the first meeting between the teams as WCHA counterparts and the first in more than 29 years. BSU is 3-0-0 versus the Nanooks all-time. All three of the previous meetings have taken place in Bemidji, Minn.

• BSU hosted UA March 10-11, 1984 with the NCAA Division II National title on the line. BSU defeated Alaska 9-6 and 4-2 to complete its perfect 31-0-0 season and earn its eighth national championship under iconic head coach R.H. Bob Peters.