Inside College Hockey | Bemidji Back at Niagara to Highlight CHA Slate

November 21, 2008

Bemidji Back at Niagara to Highlight CHA Slate

By Warren Kozireski

Brandon Marino and the rest of the Bemidji forwards have had a slow start to 2008-09.

The last time Bemidji State visited Niagara’s Dwyer Arena, they sent Wayne State into permanent mothballs with a CHA playoff semifinal win before losing to the host Purple Eagles 3-2 in the title game.

Earlier last season, the Beavers’ trip to western New York was much more pleasant with a win and a tie on their way to winning the regular season CHA crown.

It’s a much different team from the one that appeared in last year’s championship game as Bemidji makes its return this weekend. Sophomore Matt Dalton and super-senior Orlando Alamanno are splitting time in net after the departure of four-year starter Matt Climie. Offensively, goals have been a premium this season, as the Beavers have scored more than two goals in a game just twice over their first nine games — both in a split at nationally ranked St. Cloud State.

The Purps are on a two-game winning streak, having swept regional rivals RIT and Canisius over a four-day span last week. Included was a successful penalty kill against Canisius that featured three shorthanded goals.

Niagara is now 4-1 this season at Dwyer, with the only blemish coming in the opener against St. Lawrence. During the last three years, the Purps are the winningest home team in the nation at 35-6-6 in 47 games.

This weekend’s games mark the end of four straight at home for Niagara and begin a stretch of three home conference games over the next four before the holiday break.

Bemidji WCHA Bound?

On Wednesday, WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod confirmed that his conference will consider lifting its moratorium on expansion in January. That could pave the way for Bemidji State to join the league.

League representatives will vote at the January meeting on whether to lift the moratorium. If the vote is in favor of lifting, there is no report as to how long afterward an official decision would be made on the Beavers.

Chargers & Colonials on the Road

Alabama-Huntsville travels to Yale this weekend to reciprocate for the Bulldogs’ trip south last season. The 2007-08 two-game series featured a pair of one-goal games, with each team winning once.

Robert Morris travels to Lake Superior this weekend to meet the Lakers for the first time since 2005. That young RMU squad lost both games but extended the second to an overtime session before losing.