The Bemidji State men’s hockey team suffered a significant setback on Saturday, March 2, 2024, as they fell to Bowling Green State University with a score of 5-1 at the Sanford Center. This defeat marked the Beavers’ sixth consecutive loss in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), extending their winless streak to ten games. They now sit ten points behind the final home-ice playoff spot in the CCHA standings, despite being among the top two teams in the league just over two weeks ago.
The match not only highlighted the Beavers’ struggles on the ice but also raised concerns about player safety. In the second period, Bowling Green’s Gustav Sternberg delivered a hard hit to freshman forward Max Namestnikov, who crashed head-first into the boards. Namestnikov required assistance to leave the ice and did not return to the game. Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore expressed his concern, stating, “It’s tough when you see one of your teammates go down like that. He cuts back, he’s making a pretty good play and he’s in a vulnerable spot. It’s tough to see.”
Sternberg, who leads the CCHA with 60 penalty minutes despite playing fewer games than other players, faced consequences for his actions. He was on the receiving end of a head-high cross-check from Connor McClennon, resulting in both players receiving five-minute major penalties and game misconducts. Serratore emphasized the need for players to maintain their composure, noting, “You don’t want to take retaliatory penalties. It gives the opposing team momentum.”
The Beavers faced further challenges as they finished the game without senior defenseman Vince Corcoran, who left in the first period with an undisclosed injury. They were already missing their top-line center, Oliver Peer, due to illness, and sophomore defenseman Isa Parekh, who suffered an upper-body injury in Friday’s 3-1 loss.
Serratore reflected on the team’s situation, stating, “You have to move on to the next day. There’s no time to feel sorry for yourself. It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself — it is. But you have to get out of it because nobody else cares.” He acknowledged the necessity for the team to dig deep and continue competing despite their difficult circumstances.
Bowling Green’s victory was marked by strong performances from their players. Goals were scored by Ben Doran, Jake Sloan, Brett Pfoh, Dominik Rymon, and Sternberg. The Falcons improved their record to 14-6-4, with an impressive 8-1-1 record in their last ten games. Bemidji State’s defensive struggles were evident as they conceded back-to-back goals for the fourth time in the last three games.
In goal, Bemidji State’s Max Hildebrand was replaced by sophomore Trent Wiemken in the second period after Pfoh’s goal. Hildebrand finished with 16 saves, while Wiemken added four more. Serratore noted the difficulty of the current situation, quoting a former player who now competes professionally in Europe: “Play simple and compete.” He emphasized the importance of focusing on the basics and maintaining a competitive spirit.
Bemidji State managed to score once in the third period when Kasper Magnussen found the net on a power play. However, their struggles with the man advantage continued, as they went 1-for-6 in this game and have converted only 3 of 35 power plays over their last six matches. Serratore acknowledged the team’s frustrations, saying, “We’re in a funk. Period. We have to get ourselves out of the funk, and it’s not going to get any easier.”
Looking ahead, the Beavers will travel to face Northern Michigan University next weekend, the last team they managed to defeat on November 22. While time remains for the Beavers to turn their season around, the pressure is mounting as the playoffs approach. Serratore emphasized the need for focus and determination, reiterating, “You have to make sure you compete for 60 and simplify your game.”
