# 2020–21 Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey season

The 2020–21 Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey season was the 65th season of play for the program, the 22nd at the Division I level and the 11th in the WCHA conference. The Beavers represented Bemidji State University and were coached by Tom Serratore, in his 20th season.

## Season

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Bemidji State's players would lose a season of play. However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.
Bemidji State's start to the season was a bit rocky but the team started playing better by the beginning of January and took 3 out of four games from a highly ranked Bowling Green squad. After flirting with a ranking of their own for a few weeks, the Beavers put a string of wins together towards the end of the regular season that placed them firmly in the top 20. The team's performance against the top teams in the WCHA made it possible that BSU would make the NCAA tournament without a conference title, but sweeping Michigan Tech in the quarterfinals all but guaranteed them a spot.
The Beavers were ranked 13th by the NCAA selection committee and were placed opposite Wisconsin for the first tournament game. The Beavers played well from the start, recording 16 shots and taking an early lead after the first period. After the Badgers cut their lead in half the game tightened up but BSU continued to fire the puck on goal and regained their two-goal lead late in the second. A gaffe by Wisconsin's netminder allowed Owen Sillinger to score the team's fourth goal and the Beavers added another early in the third. Wisconsin fought back to score twice in the final frame but the Beavers' lead was too great and an empty net goal with less than 2 seconds remaining sent Bemidji State to the regional final. The Beavers' performance in their second game was nightmarish for the team. BSU ended up recording just 18 shots all game and were unable to score on any of their six power play opportunities, which included a five-minute major. To make matters worse, Massachusetts opened the scoring with a short-handed goal and never let the Beavers onto the game, winning the match 4–0.
Austin Jouppi and Nick Leitner sat out the season.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Adam Brady | Forward | Canada | Graduation (Signed with Stockton Heat) |
| Charlie Combs | Forward | United States | Transferred to Michigan State |
| Hank Johnson | Goaltender | United States | Transferred to Mercyhurst |
| Tommy Muck | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (Signed with Kansas City Mavericks) |
| Hampus Sjödahl | Forward | Sweden | Graduation |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Gavin Enright | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Farmington, MN |
| Ethan Gauer | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Farmington, MN |
| Austin Jouppi | Forward | United States | 20 | Duluth, MN |
| Eric Martin | Forward | Canada | 20 | Calgary, AB |
| Aaron Myers | Forward | Canada | 21 | Thief River Falls, MN |
| Jack Powell | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Alexandria, MN |
| Lukas Sillinger | Forward | Canada | 20 | Regina, SK |

## Roster

As of December 31, 2020

## Standings

2020–21 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | 3/SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #4 Minnesota State † | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 56 | 15 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 100 | 46 |
| #14 Lake Superior State * | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 39 | 34 | 29 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 86 | 63 |
| #18 Bowling Green | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 46 | 34 | 31 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 108 | 67 |
| #10 Bemidji State | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 42 | 34 | 29 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 82 | 70 |
| Michigan Tech | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 38 | 35 | 30 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 78 | 63 |
| Northern Michigan | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 40 | 47 | 29 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 79 | 103 |
| Alabama–Huntsville | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 49 | 22 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 31 | 80 |
| Ferris State | 14 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 59 | 25 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 55 | 103 |
| Alaska | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Alaska Anchorage | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Championship: March 20, 2021 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular season ||||||||||
| November 22 | 5:07 PM | vs. #5 Minnesota State* | #16 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | | Driscoll | L 0–5 | 105 | 0–1–0 |
| December 12 | 4:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech* | | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | | Driscoll | W 6–3 | 105 | 1–1–0 |
| December 13 | 2:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech* | | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | | Driscoll | W 0–3 | 105 | 1–2–0 |
| December 18 | 7:37 PM | at #5 Minnesota State* | | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, MN | | Driscoll | L 4–5 | 0 | 1–3–0 |
| December 19 | 5:07 PM | at #5 Minnesota State* | | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, MN | | Driscoll | T 1–1 $^{SOL}$ | 0 | 1–3–1 |
| January 2 | 4:00 PM | at #19 Lake Superior State* | | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, MI | | Driscoll | W 4–1 | 0 | 2–3–1 |
| January 3 | 2:00 PM | at #19 Lake Superior State* | | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, MI | | Driscoll | W 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 0 | 2–3–2 |
| January 7 | 2:00 PM | at #7 Bowling Green | | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, OH | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | L 2–3 | 300 | 2–4–2 (0–1–0) |
| January 8 | 6:07 PM | at #7 Bowling Green | | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, OH | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 300 | 3–4–2 (1–1–0) |
| January 21 | 5:07 PM | vs. #5 Bowling Green* | | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | | Driscoll | W 2–1 | 0 | 4–4–2 |
| January 22 | 2:07 PM | vs. #5 Bowling Green* | | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | | Driscoll | W 3–1 | 0 | 5–4–2 |
| January 29 | 4:07 PM | vs. #3 Minnesota State* | | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | | Driscoll | W 4–1 | 25 | 6–4–2 |
| February 5 | 6:07 PM | at Ferris State | #18 | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, MI | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 200 | 6–4–3 (1–1–1) |
| February 6 | 6:14 PM | at Ferris State | #18 | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, MI | FloHockey.tv | Carr | W 7–2 | 234 | 7–4–3 (2–1–1) |
| February 12 | 7:07 PM | vs. Northern Michigan | #17 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | L 1–5 | 90 | 7–5–3 (2–2–1) |
| February 13 | 6:00 PM | vs. Northern Michigan | #17 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 90 | 7–6–3 (2–3–1) |
| February 19 | 6:07 PM | at #18 Michigan Tech | | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, MI | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | W 4–1 | 300 | 8–6–3 (3–3–1) |
| February 20 | 5:07 PM | at #18 Michigan Tech | | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, MI | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | W 2–1 | 300 | 9–6–3 (4–3–1) |
| February 25 | 7:07 PM | at #3 Minnesota State | #19 | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 250 | 9–7–3 (4–4–1) |
| February 27 | 6:07 PM | vs. #3 Minnesota State | #19 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 150 | 10–7–3 (5–4–1) |
| March 2 | 6:07 PM | vs. #20 Lake Superior State | #17 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 250 | 11–7–3 (6–4–1) |
| March 3 | 4:07 PM | vs. #20 Lake Superior State | #17 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | L 2–5 | 250 | 11–8–3 (6–5–1) |
| March 6 | 4:07 PM | vs. Alabama–Huntsville | #17 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | W 2–0 | 250 | 12–8–3 (7–5–1) |
| March 7 | 2:07 PM | vs. Alabama–Huntsville | #17 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | FloHockey.tv | Driscoll | W 4–0 | 250 | 13–8–3 (8–5–1) |
| WCHA tournament ||||||||||
| March 12 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech* | #15 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN (WCHA quarterfinals game 1) | | Driscoll | W 3–1 | 250 | 14–8–3 |
| March 13 | 6:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech* | #15 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN (WCHA quarterfinals game 2) | | Driscoll | W 4–1 | 250 | 15–8–3 |
| Bemidji State won series 2–0 ||||||||||
| March 19 | 7:37 PM | vs. #17 Lake Superior State* | #13 | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, MN (WCHA semifinals) | | Driscoll | L 1–4 | 250 | 15–9–3 |
| NCAA tournament ||||||||||
| March 26 | 12:00 PM | vs. #4 Wisconsin* | #14 | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, CT (NCAA East Regional semifinals) | ESPN2 | Driscoll | W 6–3 | 0 | 16–9–3 |
| March 27 | 3:00 PM | vs. #6 Massachusetts* | #14 | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, CT (NCAA East Regional final) | ESPNU | Driscoll | L 0–4 | 0 | 16–10–3 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time. ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Alex Ierullo | LW | 29 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 18 |
| Brendan Harris | C | 29 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 17 |
| Ethan Somoza | LW | 29 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 14 |
| Elias Rosén | D | 25 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 10 |
| Owen Sillinger | C | 20 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 14 |
| Lukas Sillinger | F | 28 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 46 |
| Aaron Miller | F | 27 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 10 |
| Ross Armour | F | 29 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 6 |
| Brad Johnson | D | 29 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
| Tyler Kirkup | C/LW | 29 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 14 |
| Tyler Vold | D | 29 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 2 |
| Eric Martin | F | 27 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Alex Adams | F | 26 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| Kyle Looft | D | 29 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| Nick Cardelli | RW | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Tyler Jubenvill | D | 29 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Brad Belisle | C | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Darby Gula | D | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Will Zmolek | D | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Sam Solenský | C/RW | 28 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Aaron Myers | F | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Carter Jones | F | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Gavin Enright | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Carr | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethan Gauer | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Powell | D | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Driscoll | G | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| Total | | | 82 | 123 | 205 | 229 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals against | Saves | Shut-outs | SV % | GAA |
| Gavin Enright | 1 | 5:10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 |
| Zach Driscoll | 28 | 1678 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 65 | 767 | 2 | .922 | 2.32 |
| Mike Carr | 2 | 70 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 0 | .903 | 2.57 |
| Empty Net | - | 12 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 29 | 1766 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 70 | 798 | 2 | .919 | 2.38 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | 18 | 17 | NR | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 14 | - | 10 |
| USA Today | 15 | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | 12 | 15 | 10 | 10 |
USCHO did not release a poll in week 20.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Elias Rosén | WCHA Defensive Player of the Year |
| Zach Driscoll | WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year |
| Elias Rosén | WCHA First Team |
| Zach Driscoll | WCHA Third Team |
| Lukas Sillinger | WCHA Rookie Team |