MEN'S HOCKEY: Beavers to open 2023-24 season with Ice Breaker Tournament at Sanford Center

Jun. 7—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State men's hockey team announced its full 2023-24 schedule Wednesday afternoon.

The Beavers begin the fresh schedule with an exhibition at the University of Minnesota on Oct. 8 before officially opening the 34-game slate by co-hosting the 2023 Ice Breaker Tournament at Sanford Center in Oct. 13-4.

"Year in and year out, we have one of the most challenging schedules in the nation and this year is no exception," head coach Tom Serratore said. "We host 18 home games, including 10 games against teams who played in the NCAA tournament last year, as well as our traditional showdowns with regional rivals of Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State and North Dakota."

The Beavers begin the 68th season of men's hockey at Bemidji State and the 25th season of Division I hockey by hosting the non-conference tournament for the first time.

Following an exhibition game with Minnesota at the newly renovated Mariucci Arena on Sunday, Oct. 8, Bemidji State will begin the Ice Breaker Tournament by hosting University of Wisconsin on Friday, Oct. 13 followed by Army, Saturday, Oct. 14.

The Ice Breaker Tournament, which began in 1997 in Madison, Wis., annually brings together four teams typically from different conferences, to celebrate the start of the college hockey season. College Hockey Inc. administers the Ice Breaker on behalf of the Hockey Commissioners Association.

"We're also excited to co-host this year's Ice Breaker with the University of North Dakota," Serratore said. "This is a prestigious, traditional opening series of the college hockey season. We're excited to host the Badgers for the first time since 2011-12 and to host Army for the first time since 2007-08. It all kicks off on October 13th and we can't wait to drop that first puck."

Following the tournament, Bemidji State will continue non-conference play with their first home-and-home series of the season and will face University of Minnesota Duluth. The Beavers will first travel to Duluth for game one of the series Friday, Oct. 20 before returning to Sanford Center for the series finale, Saturday, Oct. 21.

The Beavers will the play their first Central Collegiate Hockey Association series of the new season Oct. 27-28, with a home series against University of St. Thomas at Sanford Center.

Bemidji State will then travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., for a series at Lake Superior State Nov. 3-4 before returning home for a series with Michigan Tech Nov. 10-11. The Beavers will travel to Minnesota State the following weekend to begin a four-game road trip ending with a non-conference series at regional rival North Dakota Thanksgiving weekend.

BSU then returns home to begin a four-game home stand following its first bye week of the season and will host Lake Superior State and Bowling Green Dec. 8-9 and 14-15, respectively.

The Beavers end play in the 2023 calendar year with a home-and-home series against St. Cloud State. Bemidji State will first host the Huskies Dec. 29 at Sanford Center before traveling to St. Cloud for the series finale on New Years Eve.

Bemidji State brings in the new year with a road series at Ferris State Jan. 5-6 and will then face Michigan Tech for the second time Jan. 19-20 in Houghton, Mich. The Beavers then host new CCHA member Augustana for the first time Feb. 2-3 but the series will be a non-conference affair until the Vikings become a full member in 2025-26.

BSU then resumes play for league points Feb. 15-16 with a home series with Ferris State before facing St. Thomas again in Mendota Heights Feb. 23-24. The Beavers conclude the 2023-24 regular season at home Mar. 1-2 against 2023 Mason Cup Champions, Minnesota State.

The 2024 Mason Cup Playoffs are set to begin Mar. 8-10 with the quarterfinal round followed by the semifinals Mar. 16 and the championship game TBA. Teams will fight for the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Tournament set to begin Mar. 29-31.