BSU Beavers Hockey History

In the fall of 1946, a conversation between a former football player, H.J Erickson, and then current student Ed Johnson, at a small northern Minnesota college would be the humble beginnings of one of the more storied college hockey programs in the nation. With student Ed Johnson stating “You know what this school needs is a darn good hockey team” was the humble beginning of the Bemidji State Beavers Ice Hockey Team. In January of 1947, Bemidji State Vice President John S. Glas announced that the school approved $100 for hockey sticks, found some old football jerseys and with Ed Johnson donating some goalie pads, the Bemidji State Men’s Ice Hockey team hit the ice.

Even though the 1947 team is not included in the official records of BSU Hockey History, 1947 saw the Beavers play six games ending with a 0-5-1 record. Ken Johnson scored the first Beaver goal in history, although the Beavers lost that game to Itasca. The Bemidji Sports Arena would serve as the squads first rink for the Green and White, although it was never intended to be used as a hockey arena. The ice surface was undersized and the seating was poor, but it was home.

The following year, the Beavers would hire Jack Aldrich as their first coach. The team would notch their first win on February 1, 1948 against International Falls by a score of 6-2. The Beavers would finish the year 2-8, gaining a victory in the final game of the year against the Brunswick Aces.

1949 saw the Beavers notch their first winning record in school history as they would go 9-6 under the guidance of Eric Hughs. They started the season with two shutout wins over the Detroit Lakes Rangers by scores of 13-0 and 10-0. A game at St. Cloud State was called due to soft ice with the teams deadlocked at 1-1. With Eric Hughs back behind the bench for the 1949-50 season, the Beavers would go 8-7, but that would be the last time the team hit the ice for nine years. At 2:20 p.m. on January 4, 1949, the roof of the Bemidji Sports Arena would collapse under the weight of snow. Several children were skating directly under the section of the caved-in roof, but miraculously escaped the falling beams and timbers. The Beavers continued to use the ill-fated Sports Arena for another year following the collapsed roofs clean-up but numerous attempts by the Beavers to further use the arena, and at the possibility of placing a rink on Lake Bemidji failed. With the now departed rink, hockey at the University was halted until 1960 when Bemidji State again fielded a hockey squad.

January 1960 saw the Beavers take to the ice again under the guidance of Dr. Vic Weber. The team’s first game back would be a 4-0 loss at St. Cloud State- but they would go 2-2 on the season with victories over Concordia-Moorhead and Northland (Wis.). 1960 also marked the first season in Beaver History that all the teams on the schedule were from other Universities. Local papers recited the Beavers first game back to action as follows: "200 fans were on hand today to watch the return of Beaver Hockey to the 17th Street Rink located at the Bemidji High School Athletic Field today [February 13, 1960] as the Beavers dropped a 4-2 decision over visiting St. Cloud State. Referee Dick Kroll was injured at 3:21 of the third period, bringing a halt to the Beavers opening game of the season". One game later on the "new" 17th Street Rink saw an end to their new, very temporary, home ice. That first abruptly ended game with the visiting Huskies, and subsequent contests for the next seven years were conducted on an outdoor rink on campus referred to as the new 19th Street Rink. The movement from rink-to-rink in such as short duration of time gave the Beavers a local nickname of "Hard Luck Boys" in the media. The 19th Street Rink, or College Rink was located just south of the current Physical Education Building and Gymnasium on the BSU campus. The first game conducted on the new College Rink took place on January 5, 1961 where the Beavers defeated visiting St. John's 3-1 under balmy temperatures and on melting ice.

The next seven seasons saw the Beavers run up a

record of 50-18-3. At that time, the only National

Tournaments being played were for Division I teams,

so the Beavers were left to just playing for school

pride during their regular season schedule. Little did

anyone know at the time, the course of Bemidji State

hockey was about to change dramatically.

In April of 1966, Bemidji State University was able to

hire a young head coach from the University of North

Dakota by the name of RH “Bob” Peters. North Dakota

was a Division I program that had just gone to the

NCAA Tournament under Peters’ guidance. In his two

years at North Dakota, he compiled a record of 42-20-1.

But the lure of being able to build a college program from scratch at a small school, to put his "trademark" on a program per say, was just too much for Peters to pass up.

The 1966-67 season saw the Beavers with a new head coach and a new conference, the ICHA. The four team league consisting of: Bemidji State, Lake Superior State, Wisconsin-Superior and Lakehead (Ont.) saw the Beavers take the league title with a 10-2 record (13-5-1 overall). Peters would win his first game behind the Beaver bench with a 3-1 win at Lake Superior State. His first home game would also be a victory, a 5-1 win over St. Cloud State.

After the Beavers conducted their final game on the old 19th Street/College Rink [held on February 4, 1967 with an 8-1 win over Wisconsin-Superior] the Beavers would move into their newly constructed rink at the BSU Fieldhouse. And with it, another first for the Green and White with the ability to battle for a National Championship at the NAIA level. BSU would only go 6-6 in ICHA play, but would notch a 16-8 overall record. The Beavers would be invited to the NAIA tournament in St. Paul, MN, where they would be matched up with Boston State in the semifinals. Boston State would put up little fight as the Beavers would cruise to an 11-0 victory. That would set up a Championship match with ICHA rival Lake Superior State, who had defeated the Beavers four times during the regular season. BSU would get sweet revenge as they would win their first National Title with a 5-4 overtime victory over the Lakers. Terry Bergstrom, Terry Burns, Barry Dillion, Bryan Grand and Jim McElmury would be named the first of 80 All-Americans for Bemidji State. History was just getting started for the Beavers.

The following season, the Beavers picked up right

where they left off. Going 23-2, with an 11-1 ICHA

Championship record, the Beavers were again

invited to the NAIA National Championship in Sault

St. Marie, MI. In the first round, the Green

dispensed of Salem State 14-2 to advance to the

title match with Lake Superior State. Even though

the Lakers were on home ice, the Beavers were

able to take home their second straight title with a

6-2 victory. The 1969-70 season saw the same

results with the Beavers again winning the ICHA

title with a 24-3 overall record and a third trip to

the NAIA Championships. Again in Sault St. Marie,

MI, the Beavers took out Gustavus 5-2 before

claiming their third NAIA title, again stopping Lake

Superior State 7-4. One game of note during the

69-70 season was a Beaver victory of Division I North Dakota 7-5.

1970-71 saw the Beavers win their fourth straight ICHA and NAIA titles. Compiling a 20-7-1 overall record and had the Beavers hosting the National Tournament in Bemidji. Bemidji would thump Augsburg 12-1 in the semis to set up an all ICHA Championship where they would face Lakehead (Ont.). The Beavers protected their home ice with a 6-2 victory. The 1971-72 season saw the Beavers miss their chance at a fifth straight National Title, but they did see two of their own, Jim McElmury and Charlie Brown help Team USA to a Silver Medal at the Sapporo Olympics.

As the 70s continued, the Beavers would continue to make their mark in the

NAIA. In 1972-73, the Beavers would again win the ICHA Championship with

a 23-6-1 record and again move onto the NAIA Tournament. Hosted in

Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Beavers would take out Boston State 8-1 and

Gustavus 6-3 to set up a Championship match with host Lakehead. The

Beavers would take the title with a 3-2 overtime victory. 1973-74 would see

the Green and White host the NAIA championship, only to have them fall

4-1 to Lake Superior State in the Championship game. 1974-75 would be

the first of only three losing seasons the Beavers would have under the

guidance of Coach Peters. The Beavers would return to the 1976 NAIA

Tournament, but would only be able to take home fourth place honors, but

that would start another string of NAIA tournament appearances. 1977, the

Beavers would garner third place honors, 1978 would see them return with

second place honors and 1979, they would close out the decade with the

NAIA Championship. During the decade of the 1970s, Bemidji would notch

an overall 210-77-9 record with four National Titles.

The 80s saw the Beavers pick up right where they left off. Compiling a 24-8

record. Once again the Beavers made the 1980 NAIA Tournament in St.

Paul, MN. After picking up victories against St. Olaf and Wisconsin-Superior

the Beavers were pitted against Michigan-Dearborn, who they dropped 4-3

for the title. The 1980-81 season saw Bemidji enter into a new conference,

the newly formed Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). With

teams from Wisconsin-Superior, St. Cloud State, Mankato State, Wisconsin-

River Falls and Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the Beavers would go 24-7 and take

home NAIA third place honors. In 1981-82, the Beavers would go 25-5-1, win

the NCHA title and bring home the NAIA runner-up trophy.

1982-83 saw a new page in the Bemidji State annuals as the Beavers would

move from NAIA to NCAA Division II. With RH “Bob” Peters on sabbatical,

the Green would not miss a beat as they went 30-6-1 under the guidance of

Mike Gibbons. This would earn the Beavers the NCHA title and a bid in the

NCAA D-II tournament. After dispensing of Gustavus and Babson (Mass.) in

the first two rounds, the Beavers took on RIT in the Championship in Lowell,

Mass. The Tigers would be too much for the Green as they would drop

Bemidji 4-2 in the Championship game. Little did Bemidji know, something

special was about to happen.

1983-84 was one of those seasons that players, coaches and fans can only

dream of. With RH “Bob” Peters back behind the bench, the Beavers would

rattle off what became a still standing NCAA record, the most victories in an

undefeated season with a 31-0 record. The Beavers hosted the 1984

National Championship and defended their home ice defeating Merrimack

6-3 and 8-1 in a two goal, total goal series. BSU senior Joel Otto would be

named the Hobey Baker Division II winner and would move onto the NHL.

Bemidji was not done though as they would rattle off 11 more wins to start

the 1984-85 season and set another still standing NCAA record of 42 straight

wins (November 8, 1983-January 1, 1985). Bemidji would again win the

NCHA Championship and move onto the NCAA tournament, where they

would bring home second place honors.

The decade of the 80s closed out with another National Title in 1986, their

ninth in school history. They would also claim fourth place in 1987, third

place in 1988 and 1989. The Beavers ran up a record of 251-77-13 record

and three National titles while participating in the National Tournament

every year.

The decade of the 90s started off down for Beaver fans- at least compared

to what they had come accustomed to during the 80s. The 1989-90 season

saw the team finish just above .500 with a 15-11-2 record, compiling a 21-6-3

record to conclude the 90-91 season, and a 16-9-5 record in 91-92 and no

National Playoff appearances. That would change in 1992-93, when the

Beavers would run up a 24-7 record and be invited to host the NCAA D-II

Championship where they would take on Mercyhurst (Erie, PA) for the title.

BSU would win the two game series by scores of 10-6 and 5-0. 1993-94

found the Beavers back in the title series after going 21-9-3 and traveling to

Alabama-Huntsville. In what would be the beginning of a heated rivalry,

the Beavers would fall in the first game 5-3, but would win the second game

2-1 to set up a 20 minute mini game for the title. The Beavers and Chargers

would be tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes, meaning sudden death overtime

would decide the title. Bemidji would tally a goal in overtime and the

Beavers would bring home their eleventh National Championship title.

The Beavers never missed a beat going into the 1994-95 season. They

would tally a 24-7-2 record on their way to another National Championship

appearance. The Beavers would be shipped out to Erie, PA, where they

would do battle with Mercyhurst. Two victories later, 6-2 and 5-4, the

Beavers were bringing their twelfth National Title back to northern

Minnesota. 1995-96 saw another National Title appearance for the Beavers,

but this time on the road to Alabama-Huntsville would be too much as the

host Chargers would down Bemidji 7-1 and 3-0. The following year, the

Beavers would return the favor as they would host the Chargers and tally

National Title number thirteen with victories of 3-2 and 4-2. 1997-98 would

be the Beavers last appearance in a National Title game as they would

again travel to Alabama-Huntsville and fall 6-2 and 5-2 to the host Chargers.

Following the 1997-98 season, the NCAA announced they would no longer

sponsor a National Title at the D-II Hockey level. Bemidji had three choices:

Drop hockey altogether, compete as a D-II school and not have a National

Title to play for, or make the move to D-I hockey. On May 26, 1998, the

school announced that it was making the move to Division I hockey starting

with the 1998-99 season. The Beavers closed out the decade of the 90s with

a 17-13-0 record, going 201-88-21 over the 10 years.

With the start of a new century during the 1999-2000 season, Beaver fans

also saw the start of a new conference for Division I Hockey. College

Hockey America was born when Air Force, Alabama-Huntsville, Army,

Bemidji State, Findlay, Niagara and Wayne State decided to join forces at

the Division I level. The Beavers would see only their second losing season

under RH “Bob” Peters as they would go 13-20-1 on the season. 2000-01

would be Peters’ 35th and final year behind the bench of the Green and

White as the Beavers would limp their way to a 4-26-4 record. Peters would

finish his career at Bemidji State with an impressive 702-293-49 record, 13

National Titles and 26 National playoff appearances. Peters would not leave

college hockey though, as he would serve as the Commissioner of College

Hockey America from 2001 to 2008.

With the retirement of RH “Bob” Peters, the Beavers named BSU Alum Tom

Serratore as Head Coach to take over behind the bench. The first season

for Serratore was written in the books as a losing season as the Beavers

notched a 12-18-5 record- this would be the last loosing season in Beaver

history. The Beavers would finish with a 14-14-8 record in 2002-03 and

reach the CHA Title game, which was the first where the CHA had a NCAA

Tournament Berth on the line. The Beavers would be dropped by Wayne

State (MI) 3-2 to end their season.

The 2003-04 season saw much of the same as the Beavers ran up a 20-13-3

record and the CHA Championship. They would again reach the CHA

Tournament Championship game, but would be upset by Niagara 4-3 in

overtime. The Green and White would use that game as a springboard into

the 04-05 season as they would again take home the CHA Title with a 23-13-1

record. With the CHA Tournament being held in the Beavers’ backyard in

Grand Rapids, MN, they would earn their first NCAA D-I Tournament berth by

shutting out Air Force 6-0 and Alabama-Huntsville 3-0. The Beavers would

be matched up against number one Denver University in the first round of

the NCAA Tournament in Amherst, MA. The Beavers would give Denver

their toughest game on their path to the NCAA Title with a 4-3 OT loss.

Again, Beaver Hockey was alive and well in 2005-06 season. The Beavers

again took home the CHA Tournament Title, earning another NCAA Berth.

This time the Green and White would draw the University of Wisconsin in an

opening round game in Green Bay, WI. The Badgers proved too much for

the Beavers as they would shut them out 4-0 on their way to the National

Title. BSU would finish the year 20-14-3. 2006-07 would see the Beavers slid

back to .500 with a 14-14-1 record and only reach the CHA Semifinals. In

2007-08, they would return to the CHA Title game, but would fall to Niagara

University 3-2, finishing the year 17-16-3. Year 2006 also marked the 50th

season of intercollegiate competition. In celebration of its past 50 years

Bemidji State recognized fifty notable alum in their "50 Legends for 50

Years Team". The Legends team was established to recognize the top 50

players in the history of a program in celebrating its historic 50th season.

The 2008-09 season could be characterized as a season of ups and downs

for the Beavers. Bemidji state would start the season 1-6, with their only win

coming over St. Cloud State, their first against the Huskies in the D-I

era. The Green would then rattle of seven wins in their next eight to

enter the holidays with an 8-7 record. Following another six game losing

streak, the Beavers were looking to regroup and finish the season strong.

Like all coaches say: "they want their teams to peak at the right time", and

that is exactly what the Beavers did. Going 8-2-1 over their last 11

games, the Beavers brought home the CHA Regular Season Title and the

number one seed for the CHA Tournament, which they would host.

Following a 4-1 victory over rival Alabama-Huntsville, the Beavers would

face Robert Morris, a team coming in as hot as they were at the end of the

season. The John Glas Fieldhouse would witness another overtime thriller

to add to its history of Championship hockey as the Beavers would notch a

3-2 win over the Colonial. Not only did the Beavers take home the CHA

Tournament Championship, but they also took home an autobid to the

NCAA Tournament. Seeded number 16 in the 16 team field, the Beavers

would draw two seeded Notre Dame in the first round. Playing flawless

Beaver Hockey, they would take out the Irish 5-1 in what was written as "the

biggest upset in school history for the Irish". They would then take on

Cornell with a berth in the Frozen Four in Washington, DC, on the line. The

Beavers would again execute a flawless game plan and take down the Big

Red 4-1. In Washington, Bemidji State would draw the Miami Redhawks,

who would end Bemidji's "Cinderella Dream Season" with a heartbreaking

4-1 loss. Bemidji would finish the year with a 20-16-1 overall record, the

CHA Regular Season and Tournament Championship and a berth in the

Frozen Four. For the first decade of the 21st Century, the Green and White

accumulated a 157-164-34 record.

The 2009-10 season brought an end to an era of Bemidji State hockey.

Going into the season, the Beavers knew that it would be their last season

at the John Glas Fieldhouse and the last season of the CHA as Niagara and

Robert Morris were moving to Atlantic Hockey and Bemidji State was

moving to the WCHA (Alabama-Huntsville was left out, having to play as an

independent program). The Beavers opened the first half of the season

with a 13-4-1 record that included wins over a highly ranked Miami Redhawk

team and their first ever victory over the Minnesota Gophers, at Mariucci, no

less. That record and victories helped vault the Beavers to a number 4

ranking in the polls, their highest ranking in their D-I era. After Christmas

Break, the Beavers sputtered somewhat, going 10-4-2 down the stretch, but

still wrapped up another CHA Title and the number on seed in the CHA

Tournament. In the CHA Tournament, the Beavers fell to the hosts, Niagara

University, 5-4, and then ending up with a tie against Robert Morris in the

third place game. With a final record of 23-9-4 on the season, the Beavers

were able to secure an at large bid to the NCAA tournament, their first at

large bid in the D-I era, and second for the CHA (Niagara in 1999-2000

season). The Beavers garnered the number 8 seed in the NCAA

tournament, and after some realigning of the tournament, they were

matched up against the Michigan Wolverines, where the Wolverines were

victorious 5-1. Ending the season 23-10-4, it was another successful season

for the Green and White. 2010-11 opens a whole new world in the annuals

of Bemidji State Hockey. The Beavers will get a new home, the R.H. "Bob"

Peters Rink at Sanford Center (formerly known as the Bemidji Regional

Events Center), and a new conference home, the WCHA. Gone are the days

of playing Robert Morris, Niagara and Alabama-Huntsville six times a

season, and now there are games with North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin

and the rest of the WCHA. Excitement is high in BSU and the Beavers will

look to build on their 975-475-87 record (exhibitions included), 20 conference

titles and 30 National Playoff appearances the teams before them have

garnered.

The Beavers have had several players over the schools illustrious years

make the NHL. Jim McElmury would play with Minnesota, Kansas City and

Colorado over a six year career in the 1970s. Gary Sargent would suit up

for Los Angeles and Minnesota from 1975 to 1983 and Dale Smedsmo would

play with Toronto in 1972-73. Currently, Andrew Murray is with the

Columbus BlueJackets, as he started his NHL career their in 2006. In 2009

former Beaver Alum Matt Climie saw time with the Dallas Stars as goalie (he went 2-1 in his late season call up). It is without question that the most famous Beaver alumni to move up to the NHL is Joel Otto. Signed by the Calgary Flames in 1984 as a free agent, Otto would win the Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Flames. Joel would finally hang up his skates after the 1997-98 season, tallying 508 total points in 943 games.

Source in part 2008-10 Bemidji State University Men's Ice Hockey Media Guide

BSU Hockey Team Records 1947-Present

PLAYOFFS

Champion NAIA (2-0)

Champion NAIA (3-0)

Runner Up NAIA (1-1)

Fourth Place NAIA (1-2)

Third Place NAIA (2-1)

Runner Up NAIA (2-1)

Champion NAIA (3-0)

Third Place NAIA (2-1)

Runner Up NAIA (2-1)

Runner Up NCAA II (2-2)

Champion NCAA II (4-0)

Runner Up NCAA III (3-2)

Champion NCAA III (3-1 plus min-game win) Fourth Place NCAA III (2-2)

NCAA III Semifinals (2-2)

Champion NCAA II (2-0)

Champion NCAA II (1-1 plus min-game win) Champion NCAA II (2-0)

Runner Up NCAA II (0-2)

Champion NCAA II (2-0)

Runner Up NCAA II (0-2)

NCAA Super Sixteen (0-1)

NCAA Frozen Four

CONFERENCE

6-6-0 ICHA

11-1-0 ICHA Champ

10-2-0 ICHA Champ

10-1-1 ICHA Champ

5-6-1 ICHA

8-4-0 ICHA Champ

9-3-0 ICHA Champ

3-9-0 ICHA

8-4-0 ICHA Champ

7-3-2 ICHA Champ

11-3-0 ICHA Champ

8-4-0 NCHA

16-3-1 NCHA Champ

18-0-0 NCHA Champ

14-3-1 NCHA Champ

12-6-0 NCHA Champ

12-7-1 NCHA

15-6-3 NCHA

11-8-1 NCHA

11-11-2 NCHA

17-4-3 NCHA Champ

9-8-3 NCHA

14-6-0 NCHA

12-6-2 NCHA

16-3-1 NCHA Champ

13-5-2 NCHA

14-5-1 NCHA

14-6-0 NCHA

10-6-0 NCHA

8-8-1 CHA (3rd)

4-12-3 CHA (6th)

8-7-4 CHA (2nd)

10-6-4 CHA (4th)

16-3-1 CHA (1st)

16-4-0 CHA (1st)

12-7-1 CHA (2nd)

9-6-5 CHA (2nd)

13-4-3 CHA (1st)

12-5-1 CHA (1st)

RECORD

0-5-1

2-8-0

9-6-0

8-7-0

2-2-0

6-4-0

8-4-0

6-5-1

8-3-1

10-1-1

12-1-0

13-5-1

16-8-1

23-2-0

24-3-0

20-7-1

13-12-1

23-6-1

20-10-1

13-15-0

22-9-0

24-4-3

25-5-1

27-2-0

24-8-0

24-7-0

25-5-1

30-6-1

31-0-0

27-6-2

25-9-1

22-12-1

24-11-3

19-13-4

15-11-2

21-6-3

16-9-5

24-7-0

21-9-3

24-7-2

16-9-4

25-7-2

22-10-2

17-13-0

13-20-1

4-26-4

12-18-5

14-14-8

20-13-3

23-13-1

20-14-3

14-14-5

17-16-3

20-16-1

COACH

Jack Aldrich

Eric Hughes

NO TEAMS FIELDED

Vic Weber

Wayne Peterson

Vic Weber

R.H. "Bob" Peters

Mike Gibbons

R.H. "Bob" Peters

Tom Serratore

YEAR

1947 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50 1951-59

1959-60 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970-71 1971-72 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

**Special thanks to Troy Mills from TheBeaverPond.com for compiling this page for us

1948 Bemidji State University Hockey Team**

Bemidji State outdoor game action vs. St. Cloud State**