The Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team returns to Western Collegiate Hockey Association play this weekend when it hosts No. 6 Bowling Green State University. The Beavers, fresh off a North Star College Cup championship, enter the series 9-12-3 overall and 5-8-3 in league play. The team looks to continue its recent success versus the nation’s top teams. After dropping No. 7 University of Minnesota Duluth and No. 1 Minnesota State University, Mankato at last weekend’s North Star College Cup, BSU is 3-8-0 versus nationally-ranked opponents.

Bowling Green opens the series owning an overall record of 15-5-4, an 11-3-2 mark in WCHA play and are ranked No. 6 in the nation. Despite splitting their last two WCHA weekends at Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State, the Falcons are unbeaten in 11 of their last 13 games (8-3-2). Kevin Dufour and Matt Pohlkamp each have 17 points to lead a Falcons’ offensive attack that ranks second in the WCHA netting 3.31 goals per game. Dufour stands as one of the league’s top goal scorers potting 11 through the first 23 games of the season, while Philadelphia draft pick Mark Friedman is the team’s top assist man with 12. Bowling Green has rotated between junior Tommy Burke and rookie Chris Nell in net this season. While both goaltenders are responsible for six victories and have been equally tough on opposing power-play units, allowing just four power-play goals this season (.938), Nell leads the team in goals against average (1.88) and save percentage (.930).