A look at the Beavers-Gophers series, from the BSU perspective:
Story lines: Bemidji State to face Minnesota for first time since 2003-04;
Beavers look to stretch unbeaten streak beyond eight games
Setting the Scene
Date: Sat., Sun.
Location: Minneapolis
Time: 7:37 / 6:07 p.m.
Ice: Mariucci Arena
Size / Capacity: 200x100 / 10,000
Local Radio in Bemidji: KKBJ FM Mix 103.7
Play-by-play: Brian Schultz
Analyst: Brian Bissonette
Internet Audio: www.kkbjfm.com
Local Television: FSN North
Play-by-play: Frank Mazzocco
Analyst: Doug Woog
The Match up
The Bemidji State University men's ice hockey team (7-0-1; 4-0-0 CHA)
hits the road this weekend for a pair of nonconference affairs with
intrastate rival University of Minnesota (3-4-1; 3-4-1 WCHA). The
Beavers, who currently carry their best national ranking since moving to
the NCAA Division I level 11 years ago--No. 7, look to extend the
nation's longest unbeaten streak.
This is their best stretch to open the season since the team rattled
off 11 consecutive wins to begin the 1984-85 campaign. Minnesota, which
has won three of its last four games, has posted a 3-4-1 record this
season despite opening the season versus a pair of top 5 opponents in
North Dakota (Oct. 16-17) and Denver (Oct. 23-24).
The Rivalry
Although the Bemidji State / Minnesota rivalry features two of the most
tradition-rich hockey programs in all of collegiate hockey, the series
dates back just 10 seasons to a single game that opened the 2000-01
season and spans just six games. The Beavers enter the weekend in
search of their first victory over the Golden Gophers as Minnesota has
outscored BSU 35-9, while taking a 6-0-0 lead in the all-time series.
This weekend marks the first time the teams have met since the
2003-04 season when BSU swept the series 2-1 and 5-1 at Mariucci Arena.
The Unparalleled Tradition
The 2009-10 season represents the 11th at the NCAA Division I level,
and the 54th year of intercollegiate competition, for a BSU program
which has assembled one of the finest traditions in all of American
collegiate sports.
* BSU owns 13 NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III national
titles.
* The Beavers have captured 21 conference titles in 53 seasons of
intercollegiate competition.
* BSU won the CHA regular-season championship in 2003-2004 and
2004-2005, becoming the league's first repeat regular-season titlest
and captured the 2008-09 championship on the heels of a 2007-08 crown.
BSU has also won CHA Tournament titles in 2005, 2006, and 2009 en route
to participating in NCAA tournaments.
* In 2009, the Beavers became the first No. 16 seed ever to reach the
Frozen Four. In just its 10th year of competition at the NCAA Division I
level, only Denver reached hockey's grandest stage faster.
* BSU has developed six NHL players, six Olympians and 81 All-America
honorees.
* BSU has compiled an all-time record of 950-458-83 (.665) in 1,491
games and has the highest all-time winning percentage of the 58 programs
which currently comprise NCAA Division I ice hockey.
The Coach
* Bemidji State's Tom Serratore (Bemidji State '86) is in his ninth
season in his current post at BSU and has an overall record of
147-118-30 (.549).
He has guided the Beavers to seven consecutive
seasons with a record of .500 or better. Serratore's teams have won
CHA Regular Season Championships four times in the last six years (2004,
2005, 2008 and 2009) and made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament
(2005, 2006, 2009), included a trip to the Frozen Four in 2009.
He was named CHA Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009 and is a
five-time Spencer Penrose finalist for national coach of the year with a
runner-up finish in 2009.
