The Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team opens this weekend’s two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series versus the University of Alaska Anchorage as the nation’s No. 20 team. It marks the first time the Beavers have played in front of a Sanford Center crowd as one of the nation’s top 20 teams.
The Beavers and Seawolves will open the series ay 7:07 p.m. Friday and invite everyone to get a jump on Halloween and come dressed as your favorite ghost, goblin or superhero. All youth (grade 12 and under) wearing a costume will be eligible to purchase an $8 ticket (including fees). Saturday, again at 7:07 p.m., BSU is partnering with Sanford Health and Edith Sanford Brest Cancer Center to “Pink the Rink” for breast cancer awareness and ask you to wear your favorite pink Bemidji State gear.
The Beavers come into the series after a pair of one-goal losses at top-ranked University of North Dakota. The Beavers saw an early 2-0 lead slip away at the hands of a Brock Boeser hat trick Friday, 3-2, and battled back from a 5-1 third period deficit Saturday to come within a goal of extending the non-conference game to overtime, 5-4. Tickets for both games are still available at the Sanford Center Bob Lowth Ford Pickup Window or at Ticketmaster.com.
The Beavers have been led offensively by Brett Beauvias. With six points (2g-4a), the junior blueliner has matched his 2015-16 scoring output (1g-5a) in just six games this season. Gerry Fitzgerald, who led the Beavers in scoring a year ago (14g-11a), had three assists last weekend to match three of his teammates for the team’s assists lead with four. Michael Bitzer, now a junior, has been in net for 356:28 of 360 minutes this season. He ranks among the nation’s top 10 goaltenders in shutouts (2), wins (4), goals against average (1.68) and save percentage (.935). He has been lights out in WCHA play. Through four games, he owns a 4-0-0 record to go with a pair of shutouts, a 0.50 goals against average and a .977 save percentage. He has also backstopped a BSU penalty-kill unit that is a perfect 22-for-22 in league play and ranks fifth in the country overall stopping 28-of-30 (933) opponent power-plays.