MHM 2018 Oct-digital

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