The Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team looks to maintain its grip on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings this weekend as it hosts a two-game league series at Sanford Center. The Beavers enter the series seated in first place with a 12-1-1-1 record in league play, including a perfect 6-0-0 mark versus the WCHA on home ice. With 38 points through 14 league games, BSU owns an eight-point edge over its closest league counterpart.

No. 13/15 Bemidji State comes into the weekend after seeing its 13-game (12-0-1) league unbeaten streak come to an end with a split at second place Michigan Tech last weekend. The Beavers earned a 3-2 victory to open the series before dropping a 2-1 decision in the finale in Houghton, Mich.

Senior forwards Phillip Marinaccio and Brendan Harms currently lead the Beavers in scoring, logging team-highs of six goals and eight assists a piece through 18 games. Harms has come on strong as of late, netting 10 points (3g-7a) in the Beavers’ last nine games. Despite posting just two points in BSU’s last eight games, Gerry Fitzgerald also shares the team’s goal-scoring lead with six and has a total of 12 points (6g-6a). Junior goaltender Michael Bitzer has shouldered the bulk of the duties between the pipes, backstopping the naton’s top defense. He is 12-4-1 in 17 appearances and opens the series as the nation’s leader in wins (12) and tied for first in goals against average (1.47), second in save percentage (.940) and seventh with 393 saves. Through 14 WCHA contests, he owns a 12-1-1 record to go with a 0.99 goals against average and a .957 save percentage. He has also backstopped a BSU penalty-kill unit that is 52-for-55 (.945) in league play and ranks seventh in the country overall stopping 63-of-70 (.900) opponent power-plays.

Lake Superior State opens the series as the WCHA ‘s most potent offense. In 16 games the Lakers have averaged 3.38 goals to lead the league. Sophomore Mitch Hults has led the charge piling up 19 points (5g-14a), which includes a league-leading 10 assists in WCHA play. Diego Cuglietta has recorded a team-best eight goals, which includes a pair of short-handed tallies and two game-winning goals. LSSU has also seen its blueliners chip in offensively, headlined by Owen Headrick, who has 13 points (2g-11a). Junior Gordon Defiel has started 15 of the Lakers’ 16 contests this season and carries an 8-7-0 record into the series. He owns a .911 save percentage and has allowed 2.57 goals per game.