MHM 2018 Oct-digital
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COLLEGE HOCKEY PRIMER<br />
MINNESOTA STATE EXPECTED TO DEFEND TITLE; BEMIDJI STATE WILL MISS BITZER<br />
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first two college seasons, and Jaremko, the 2015 Mr.<br />
Hockey winner out of Elk River, had 39 points in his<br />
rookie campaign.<br />
“We’re going to lean on those guys up front to fill<br />
the ice time and the responsibilities of those guys<br />
who are no longer with is,” Hastings said.<br />
Defense is also a strength. Blaine High School<br />
alum Ian Scheid had 50 points in his first two<br />
seasons, while sophomores Connor Mackey and<br />
Rochester native Riese Zmolek logged a lot of<br />
important minutes as freshmen.<br />
The biggest question for Minnesota State is<br />
in goal where three new faces, including two<br />
freshmen and Mathias Israelsson, a graduate<br />
transfer from Northern Michigan, are competing to<br />
replace LaCouvee.<br />
“We’re very unproven back at the goaltending<br />
position,” Hastings said, “the most important<br />
position that you can have on a team.”<br />
While the Mavericks appear to be reloading, the<br />
Beavers might be rebuilding.<br />
Bemidji State<br />
“For us, it’s kind of a new year, a different team,”<br />
said Tom Serratore, who is entering his 17th season<br />
as Bemidji State’s head coach. “Every four years<br />
we all have that one cycle where you kind of don’t<br />
know where you’re at. That’s probably this year for<br />
us.”<br />
Bitzer is the most significant loss. There’s been<br />
little to no question over the last four years as to<br />
who was going to be in goal for the Beavers. Bitzer,<br />
an All-American in 2017, played in 138 games,<br />
winning 65 and stopping more than 92 percent of<br />
opponents’ shots.<br />
“Take a look at what Bitz accomplished,”<br />
Serratore said. “Statistically speaking, he has to be<br />
one of top goalies to play college hockey.”<br />
Also gone are the Fitzgerald triplets — Gerry,<br />
Miles and Leo — and Kyle Bauman, four forwards<br />
who played a total of 527 games.<br />
Bemidji State was picked to finish fifth by the<br />
WCHA coaches. The team does return experience<br />
on defense with three experienced seniors, captains<br />
Justin Baudry and Bemidji native Dillon Eichstadt,<br />
and Dan Billet and junior Tommy Muck.<br />
Senior Jay Dickman of St. Paul Johnson High<br />
School, junior Adam Brady and sophomores<br />
Brendan Harris and Charlie Combs are the top<br />
returning forwards.<br />
Here’s a look around the rest of the WCHA at the<br />
start of the <strong>2018</strong>-19 season:<br />
Bemidji State’s Dillon Eichstadt.<br />
Photo courtesy of BSU Athletics<br />
The contenders<br />
There are three teams that should give<br />
Minnesota State a run for its money this season:<br />
Northern Michigan, Bowling Green and Michigan<br />
Tech.<br />
Northern Michigan took second place last<br />
season after Potulny arrived from the University<br />
of Minnesota, his alma mater, where he was an<br />
assistant coach for eight seasons, and has several<br />
top players back at each position. Senior Atte<br />
Tolvanen was the top goalie in the league last<br />
season, while senior forwards Adam Rockwood and<br />
Troy Loggins had 48 and 47 points, respectively.<br />
Continued on next page<br />
OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong> MINNESOTA HOCKEY MAGAZINE MINNESOTA HOCKEY MAGAZINE OCTOBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
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