Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey
Encyclopedia
The Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I college ice hockey
and a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
. The Beavers represent Bemidji State University
and play at the Bemidji Regional Events Center
in Bemidji, Minnesota
as of the 2010 season, after previously playing at the John S. Glas Field House
.
in 1946. From the inaugural 1946-47 season through the 166-67 season BSU played as an independent member of Division I. In 1968 the team became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA). The program continued to operate as an independent member, now in the NAIA from 1968-69 through the 1979-80 season. For the 1980-81 season the program joined the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
(NCHA), in which Bemidji State is a charter member. BSU won the 1981-82 and 1982-83 NCHA regular season championships. Following the 1982-83 season BSU moved to NCAA Division II remaining in the NCHA. During the program's 16-season tenure in the NAIA the team won NAIA national ice hockey championship
s 9 times, including the first NAIA Championship in 1968.
The Beavers won their third straight NCHA regular season championship in 1983-84 and qualified for the NCAA tournament. In the 1984 tournament BSU won its first NCAA title at the Division II level with BSU sweeping Merrimack
in a best-of-three series winning 6-3 and 8-1. Beginning in the following season, the Division II tournament was combined with the NCAA Division III level. The Beavers won the NCHA regular season championship for the third straight season and qualified for the school's first NCAA Division III ice hockey championship. BSU came in second after a 1-5 loss in the finals to RIT
. Bemidji State won the first ever NCHA playoff tournament at the conclusion of the 1985-86 season and continued momentum into the NCAA DIII tournament winning the Division III Championship in an 8-5 win over Plattsburgh State. BSU made the NCAA Division III tournament three more times in the 1980s, 1987-1989 but finished fourth once and third twice. The Division II Ice Hockey Tournament was reinstated beginning in 1992-93 season and BSU won The Division II championship three straight years 1993-1995. In the 1996 championship the Beavers came up short to Alabama-Huntsville. The following season Alabama-Huntsville would get revenge, beating Bemidji State in the 1998 championship game. That would be the last year BSU participated in the DII tournament, the Beavers failed to qualify for the last NCAA DII Tournament in 1999 and the following season the Beavers moved to NCAA Division I level.
and Findlay
along with former DI independent teams Air Force
, Army, and Niagara
and expansion program Wayne State
to form College Hockey America
at the Division I level after the NCAA ended sponsorship of a Division II ice hockey tournament due to lack of membership. BSU won their first CHA regular season championship in the 2003-04 season but lost 2004 CHA Championship
and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in overtime 3-4 to (#2)Niagara
.
The 2004-05 marked a historic season for the BSU hockey program. The team swept through the CHA winning the CHA regular season championship and winning the 2005 CHA Championship
over Alabama-Huntsville. The 3-0 shutout win gave the Beavers their first berth in the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament in program history. the team came close to a major upset, losing 3-4 in overtime to the #1 ranked Denver
in the opening round. Bemidji beat Niagara 4-2 to win the 2006 CHA Championship
and advance to the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament for the second year in a row. BSU again lost in the opening round, this time to Wisconsin
0-4.
The 2008-09 season was the most successful season the team has had at the Division I level. The Beavers finished the regular season 1st in the CHA with a record of 12-5-1 and won the 2009 CHA Championship
in 3-2 in overtime over Robert Morris
. The team picked up the first NCAA Division I tournament win in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament with a 5-1 upset over Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey
, a #1 seed and ranked 2nd in the national rankings. The Beavers advanced for the first time in the Division I tournament and beat Cornell
4-1 to advance to the school's first ever Frozen Four held at the Verizon Center
in Washington D.C.. Bemidji faced Miami (Ohio)
in the National Semifinal game with a 1-4 loss to the RedHawks.
and Western New York
and Pennsylvania
was also a concern. BSU began looking at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
(WCHA) as a solution. In a first step the university signed a scheduling agreement against WCHA schools, many within a few hours drive to Bemidji, Minnesota
. Other than the WCHA BSU's only option was to end the historic program. In 2009 it was announced the university and city of Bemidji would build a 4,000-5,000 seat state-of-the-art arena to meet WCHA requirements, that the 2,400-seat John S. Glas Field House
did not meet. With the news of the Bemidji Regional Events Center
BSU applied to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in early 2009. Bemidji State along with University of Nebraska-Omaha (transferring from the CCHA
) was accepted into the WCHA as the 11th and 12th members. BSU officially became a member on July 1, 2010.
The Beavers opened WCHA play in the new Bemidji Regional Events Center on October 15, 2010 against North Dakota in a 2-5 loss. Bemidji picked up their first WCHA win at St. Cloud State
3-2 in overtime. Bemidji ended the regular season with a conference record of 8-15-5 as the 10th seed entering the 2011 WCHA Tournament
. In the first round of the WCHA playoffs the Beaver beat 3rd-seeded Nebraska-Omaha two games to none with 4-3 and 4-2 wins. The series sweep sent Bemidji to the it's first ever WCHA Final Five and upset Minnesota–Duluth 3-2 in overtime, before losing to Denver
2-6 in the semifinal game.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I college ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
. The Beavers represent Bemidji State University
Bemidji State University
Bemidji State University is a public state university in Bemidji, Minnesota, USA, located on the shores of Lake Bemidji. It is a part of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities .-History:BSU was founded in 1919 as Bemidji State Normal School...
and play at the Bemidji Regional Events Center
Bemidji Regional Events Center
The Sanford Center is a 4,700-seat multi-purpose arena and convention center in Bemidji, Minnesota, United States that opened in October 2010. On October 18, 2010 the venue was renamed from the Bemidji Regional Events Center to the Sanford Center after Sanford Health Systems purchased naming rights...
in Bemidji, Minnesota
Bemidji, Minnesota
Bemidji is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was at 13,431 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beltrami County. Bemidji is the most major city in North Central Minnesota and the largest commercial center between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth,...
as of the 2010 season, after previously playing at the John S. Glas Field House
John S. Glas Field House
John S. Glas Fieldhouse is a 2,399-seat hockey arena in Bemidji, Minnesota. It was home to the Bemidji State University Beavers men's and women's ice hockey teams until October, 2010...
.
Early history
The Bemidji State men's ice hockey program began after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1946. From the inaugural 1946-47 season through the 166-67 season BSU played as an independent member of Division I. In 1968 the team became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
(NAIA). The program continued to operate as an independent member, now in the NAIA from 1968-69 through the 1979-80 season. For the 1980-81 season the program joined the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference....
(NCHA), in which Bemidji State is a charter member. BSU won the 1981-82 and 1982-83 NCHA regular season championships. Following the 1982-83 season BSU moved to NCAA Division II remaining in the NCHA. During the program's 16-season tenure in the NAIA the team won NAIA national ice hockey championship
NAIA national ice hockey championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics held a men's national ice hockey championship from 1968 to 1984 when ice hockey was dropped as an NAIA sport.-Winners of the NAIA national ice hockey championship:...
s 9 times, including the first NAIA Championship in 1968.
The Beavers won their third straight NCHA regular season championship in 1983-84 and qualified for the NCAA tournament. In the 1984 tournament BSU won its first NCAA title at the Division II level with BSU sweeping Merrimack
Merrimack College
Merrimack College is an independent college in the Roman Catholic, Augustinian tradition located in North Andover, Massachusetts, north of Boston, Massachusetts. It offers undergraduate degrees in business, education, science, engineering, and the liberal arts...
in a best-of-three series winning 6-3 and 8-1. Beginning in the following season, the Division II tournament was combined with the NCAA Division III level. The Beavers won the NCHA regular season championship for the third straight season and qualified for the school's first NCAA Division III ice hockey championship. BSU came in second after a 1-5 loss in the finals to RIT
RIT Tigers men's ice hockey
The RIT Tigers men's ice hockey team is one of two hockey teams representing Rochester Institute of Technology in suburban Rochester, New York. The school's men's team competes in the Division I Atlantic Hockey conference. The team has won two national championships, one each at the Division II and...
. Bemidji State won the first ever NCHA playoff tournament at the conclusion of the 1985-86 season and continued momentum into the NCAA DIII tournament winning the Division III Championship in an 8-5 win over Plattsburgh State. BSU made the NCAA Division III tournament three more times in the 1980s, 1987-1989 but finished fourth once and third twice. The Division II Ice Hockey Tournament was reinstated beginning in 1992-93 season and BSU won The Division II championship three straight years 1993-1995. In the 1996 championship the Beavers came up short to Alabama-Huntsville. The following season Alabama-Huntsville would get revenge, beating Bemidji State in the 1998 championship game. That would be the last year BSU participated in the DII tournament, the Beavers failed to qualify for the last NCAA DII Tournament in 1999 and the following season the Beavers moved to NCAA Division I level.
CHA era
Bemidji State joined two other former Division II ice hockey members Alabama–HuntsvilleUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
and Findlay
University of Findlay
The University of Findlay is a private university located in the city of Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the city of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay offers more...
along with former DI independent teams Air Force
Air force academy
An air force academy or air academy is a national institution that provides initial officer training, possibly including undergraduate level education, to air force officer cadets who air preparting to be commissioned officers in a national air force...
, Army, and Niagara
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
and expansion program Wayne State
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
to form College Hockey America
College Hockey America
College Hockey America is a women's college ice hockey conference in the United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The conference is currently made up of four women's teams in New York and Pennsylvania....
at the Division I level after the NCAA ended sponsorship of a Division II ice hockey tournament due to lack of membership. BSU won their first CHA regular season championship in the 2003-04 season but lost 2004 CHA Championship
2004 CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
-All-Star team:*Goaltender: Matt Kelly *Defensemen: John Haider , Andrew Lackner *Forwards: Aaron Clarke , Billy Collins , Kris Wiebe -External links:*...
and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in overtime 3-4 to (#2)Niagara
Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey
The Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Niagara University. The Purple Eagles are a member of Atlantic Hockey...
.
The 2004-05 marked a historic season for the BSU hockey program. The team swept through the CHA winning the CHA regular season championship and winning the 2005 CHA Championship
2005 CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
-All-Star team:*Goaltender: Scott Munroe *Defensemen: Brian Gineo , Peter Jonsson *Forwards: Brendan Cook , Brett McConnachie , Ryan Miller -External links:*...
over Alabama-Huntsville. The 3-0 shutout win gave the Beavers their first berth in the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament in program history. the team came close to a major upset, losing 3-4 in overtime to the #1 ranked Denver
Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey
The University of Denver Men's Hockey Program has been playing NCAA Division I hockey since 1949. Pioneer Hockey is one of the most successful hockey programs in the history of collegiate hockey. The Pioneers rank second in all-time NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championships with 7. Only the University...
in the opening round. Bemidji beat Niagara 4-2 to win the 2006 CHA Championship
2006 CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
-All-Star team:*Goaltender: Layne Sedevie *Defensemen: Andrew Lackner , Andrew Martens *Forwards: Logan Bittle , Ted Cook , Ryan Miller -External links:*...
and advance to the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament for the second year in a row. BSU again lost in the opening round, this time to Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey
The Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The team plays at the Kohl Center and is coached by former Badger and NHL player Mike Eaves...
0-4.
The 2008-09 season was the most successful season the team has had at the Division I level. The Beavers finished the regular season 1st in the CHA with a record of 12-5-1 and won the 2009 CHA Championship
2009 CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 2009 CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was played on March 13 and March 14, 2009 at the John S. Glas Field House in Bemidji, Minnesota. By winning the tournament, Bemidji State received College Hockey America's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.-Format:The...
in 3-2 in overtime over Robert Morris
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
. The team picked up the first NCAA Division I tournament win in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament with a 5-1 upset over Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the University of Notre Dame. The team competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association at the NCAA Division I level.- History :...
, a #1 seed and ranked 2nd in the national rankings. The Beavers advanced for the first time in the Division I tournament and beat Cornell
Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey
The Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey team represents Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, in NCAA Division I men's competition. Cornell is one of eight members of the academically prestigious Ivy League conference and the hockey team plays in the ECAC Hockey conference.The 1970 Cornell...
4-1 to advance to the school's first ever Frozen Four held at the Verizon Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
in Washington D.C.. Bemidji faced Miami (Ohio)
Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey
The Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Miami University. The RedHawks are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
in the National Semifinal game with a 1-4 loss to the RedHawks.
WCHA era
In addition to the on-ice success, in 2008 Bemidji began exploring options to strengthen the program. The CHA had lost many of the original member to programs at Findlay and Wayne State folding and other teams transferring to other college hockey conferences. Travel expenses to remaining members in Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
and Western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
was also a concern. BSU began looking at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
(WCHA) as a solution. In a first step the university signed a scheduling agreement against WCHA schools, many within a few hours drive to Bemidji, Minnesota
Bemidji, Minnesota
Bemidji is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was at 13,431 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beltrami County. Bemidji is the most major city in North Central Minnesota and the largest commercial center between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth,...
. Other than the WCHA BSU's only option was to end the historic program. In 2009 it was announced the university and city of Bemidji would build a 4,000-5,000 seat state-of-the-art arena to meet WCHA requirements, that the 2,400-seat John S. Glas Field House
John S. Glas Field House
John S. Glas Fieldhouse is a 2,399-seat hockey arena in Bemidji, Minnesota. It was home to the Bemidji State University Beavers men's and women's ice hockey teams until October, 2010...
did not meet. With the news of the Bemidji Regional Events Center
Bemidji Regional Events Center
The Sanford Center is a 4,700-seat multi-purpose arena and convention center in Bemidji, Minnesota, United States that opened in October 2010. On October 18, 2010 the venue was renamed from the Bemidji Regional Events Center to the Sanford Center after Sanford Health Systems purchased naming rights...
BSU applied to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in early 2009. Bemidji State along with University of Nebraska-Omaha (transferring from the CCHA
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
) was accepted into the WCHA as the 11th and 12th members. BSU officially became a member on July 1, 2010.
The Beavers opened WCHA play in the new Bemidji Regional Events Center on October 15, 2010 against North Dakota in a 2-5 loss. Bemidji picked up their first WCHA win at St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey
The St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents St. Cloud State University. The Huskies are a member of Western Collegiate Hockey Association. They play at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud,...
3-2 in overtime. Bemidji ended the regular season with a conference record of 8-15-5 as the 10th seed entering the 2011 WCHA Tournament
2011 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 2011 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament will be played between March 11 and March 19, 2011 at six conference arenas and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota...
. In the first round of the WCHA playoffs the Beaver beat 3rd-seeded Nebraska-Omaha two games to none with 4-3 and 4-2 wins. The series sweep sent Bemidji to the it's first ever WCHA Final Five and upset Minnesota–Duluth 3-2 in overtime, before losing to Denver
Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey
The University of Denver Men's Hockey Program has been playing NCAA Division I hockey since 1949. Pioneer Hockey is one of the most successful hockey programs in the history of collegiate hockey. The Pioneers rank second in all-time NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championships with 7. Only the University...
2-6 in the semifinal game.
Notable alumni
Over 60 former Beavers have gone on to play professional hockey, including in the NHL and other major professional leagues internationally.:- Matt ClimieMatt ClimieMatt Scott Climie is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League . He was signed by the Stars, being undrafted out of Bemidji State University....
- Andrew MurrayAndrew Murray (ice hockey)Andrew Murray is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
- Joel OttoJoel OttoJoel Stuart Otto is an American former professional ice hockey center and current assistant coach of the Calgary Hitmen of the major junior Western Hockey League...
- Gary SargentGary SargentGary Alan Sargent is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 402 games in the National Hockey League between 1975–1983...
- Dale SmedsmoDale SmedsmoDale Darwin Smedsmo is a retired American professional ice hockey forward who played 4 games in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He would also play 110 games in the World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers, Cincinnati Stingers, and Indianapolis Racers...
- Matt ReadMatt ReadMatthew Read is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...