“No. 6 is a stud.”
That was Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore’s first takeaway after watching video of UMD, his team’s opponent this weekend. The series starts at Amsoil Arena, then shifts to Bemidji’s lovely Sanford Center for the rematch Saturday.
Serratore, of course, is referring to sophomore forward Ben Steeves, the reigning NCHC Forward of the Week after a six-point performance in last weekend’s series against Northern Michigan.
“He’s a good player, boy,” said Serratore. “And they play fast. They play physical. The biggest thing is, too, and we talked about it, it just seemed like the first 10 minutes every time you play UMD, look out. We’ve just got to be prepared for the opening puck drop on Friday night, because it’s just what they do, how relentless they are from the opening puck drop.”
Serratore and UMD coach Scott Sandelin go way back, and their teams have engaged in some real battles over the years.
Sandelin won’t be fooled. He knows full well his team has a challenge this weekend.
“Tommy’s teams, again, I told our guys yesterday, when you play Bemidji, you can’t get outworked because that’s a staple of Tom’s teams.”
UMD changed nothing from Saturday’s lineup, except Zach Stejskal is back in goal.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Olson – Spicer – Loheit
McMenamin – Perkins – Biondi
Steeves – Loney – Bettens
Menghini – Smith – Johnson
UMD defense
Pionk – Gotz
Gallatin – Dubinsky
Bodnarchuk – Bast
Pierce
UMD goalies
Stejskal – Thiessen – Sandy
Bemidji State forwards
Roed – Martin – Flammang
Engstrom – Vaisanen – Jones
Lewandowski – Jutting – Jouppi
Irey – McLean – Quinn
Chiddenton
Bemidji State defense
Looft – Acheson
Satosaari – Pohlkamp
Follmer – Wolfe
Bemidji State goalies
Sholl – Enright
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