The Cinderella of last season’s Frozen Four - Bemidji State - finds itself as one of just two undefeated Division I programs. Cornell is the other, with five fewer games played. With their torrid start and the nation’s longest current winning streak, the Beavers find themselves ranked in the top 10 in the INCH Power Rankings and in other polls for the first time in the program’s history.
The Beavers have swept two-game series against Air Force and Robert Morris at home, earned a win and a tie at Northern Michigan and swept Alabama-Huntsville on the road.
After the Jordan George-Matt Read-Ian Lowe line accounted for all the offense and Dan Bakala stopped 23 shots for his first career shutout in the series-opener against RMU, it was the fourth line that came alive in the second tilt. Emil Billberg-Aaron McLeod-Darcy Findlay combined for two goals, three assists and a +7 as BSU completed the conference sweep over Robert Morris.
“We are very happy with this win because we put more of 60 minutes together rather than last night where we had just 30 good minutes,” Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore said to the Bemidji Pioneer after the second game. “We were fortunate enough to get the sweep and I’m very proud of the energy level we had in the third period. “I thought our fourth line played really well tonight and they all had a part in the three goals we had in the third period,” Serratore said. “It’s nice to have that balance and the production was nice tonight.”
Next it’s future conference rival Minnesota on the wider sheet this weekend for a Saturday-Sunday series. The last time the two teams collided was 2003-04 during the Beavers first 20-win season as a Division I program. The Golden Gophers swept the series.
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
· Bemidji State sophomore defenseman Tyler Jundt is no longer listed on the Beavers roster after reporting leaving the team. He appeared two games this season without a point after seeing action in 20 games during his freshman campaign.
· Alabama-Huntsville wraps up their longest homestand in three seasons when they host UMass-Lowell this weekend. But Chargers fans should take a picture with a 10-game road marathon covering 4,608 miles between next weekend and Jan. 29 when they return to the Von Braun Center.
· Robert Morris managed just one goal over the two conference games this season and that was scored by a defenseman. They head into a home-and-home with Niagara looking to take advantage of spotty Purple Eagles goaltending. Starter Adam Avramenko was pulled in the second period in the home loss to UMass Sunday. “Two very, very bad goals,” said Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder as to the decision to switch goalies. “This team is fragile enough…we couldn’t wait to see if he would snap out of it. It’s undue stress on Greg (Assistant Coach Gardner) and myself, but we’ll sort it out and who deserves it will get the call (Friday).” Niagara won the regular season series last year 4-0-2, but the Colonials rebounded with a 2-1 decision in the CHA semi-finals.
· UAH and Niagara hold the bottom two spots in the nation in power play percentage. Combined, they are 3-for-74 for the season and 0-for their last 27 chances.
