Men's Hockey | 10/21/2015 7:49:00 AM

On Tap: Minnesota State (0-4-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) is at Bemidji State (1-1-1, 0-0-0 WCHA) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend. MSU and BSU play at Sanford Center (4,373) Friday (7:37 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.) CST.

Minnesota State Most Recently: Minnesota State fell twice to a National Collegiate Hockey Association-foe for the second consecutive weekend with St. Cloud State earning 4-0 and 3-0 victories over the Mavericks in a pair of games played in St. Cloud.

About Bemidji State: The Beavers are off to a 1-1-1 start on the season with a 3-2 home win over Minnesota Duluth to open the 2015-16 campaign Oct. 10 and a 4-4 tie and a 5-2 loss in a nonconference home-and-home series with the University of North Dakota last weekend. BSU is paced offensively by sophomore forward Gerry Fitzgerald (4-0--4), along with senior defenseman Graeme McCormack (2-1--3) and senior forward Markus Gerbrandt (0-3--3). Sophomore netminder Michael Bitzer (1-1-1, 3.26, .890%) was a member of last season's WCHA All-Rookie Team and was named WCHA Rookie of the Year. Tom Serratore is in his 15th season as head coach of the BSU men's hockey program and owns a 228-225-62 mark behind the Beaver bench.

Mavericks vs. Beavers: Bemidji State is one of Minnesota State's oldest and most-played opponents, with the two programs having faced each other 115 times since the first meeting in 1974-75. The Mavericks own a 46-52-17 all-time record against the Beavers and went 3-2-0 vs. BSU in 2014-15.

Maverick Notes:
The Mavericks are unrated nationally this week, marking the first time Minnesota State hasn't appeared in either the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine or USCHO polls since midway throught the 2013-14 season. Minnesota State was rated #1 in the nation five times during the course of the 2014-15 season and were ranked in the top five for 15 weeks in a row. The 2014-15 season marked the first time that Minnesota State has ever been rated #1 in the nation in men's hockey.

As a team Minnesota State is outshooting its opponents 120-100 through the team's first four games. The Mavericks' 30.0 shots on goal per game average stands tied for 24th in the nation.

Minnesota State is one of eight teams in the nation not to have given up a power play goal this year. The Mavericks have successfully killed off all seven opposition power plays this year.

Minnesota State men's hockey has a new athletic trainer. Matt Schmidt joins the Mavericks after serving as the athletic trainer for Sioux City of the USHL the last two years. Minnesota State's announcement about Schmidt's hiring appears here.