School-record point total helps Beavers check in at No. 21 in the nation

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Bemidji State men’s ice hockey program picked up a school-record 40 points in the first U.S. College Hockey Online Top 20 poll, released this afternoon by USCHO.com.

The 40 points have Bemidji State leading the group of “others receiving votes” in the USCHO.com poll, which expands this year to include the nation’s Top 20 programs. BSU would rank 21st in the nation if the poll were extended.

Bemidji State’s 40 points in the Oct. 3 ranking are more than it has garnered all last season in the USCHO.com poll. BSU picked up a total of 29 points in eight appearances last year, with a high of seven points on Feb. 7, 2005.

BSU’s previous high for points in a single USCHO.com ranking came on Feb. 9, 2004, when it picked up 10 points which would have been good for 19th place if the poll, then ranking the nation’s Top 15 teams, were extended. BSU picked up 47 points in 13 appearances in the USCHO.com poll in 2003-04.

Bemidji State is one of three College Hockey America programs to receive attention in this week’s poll. Alabama-Huntsville picked up 17 points to tie for 25th and Wayne State garnered two points to tie for 35th.

Bemidji State’s 2005-06 opponents are well-represented in the USCHO.com ranking. North Dakota leads the way at No. 7; Vermont, BSU’s potential second-round opponent in the Vermont Holiday Classic on Dec. 30 checks in at No. 19; BSU’s season-opening foe Minn.-Duluth is tied with Vermont at No. 19; Minnesota State picked up 15 votes to tie for 28th; Lake Superior State garnered two votes to tie for 35th; and Ferris State picked up one point to tie for 38th.

The USCHO.com Poll is compiled by U.S. College Hockey Online, and consists of 40 voters, including 28 coaches from the Division I conferences and 12 beat writers from across the country. The poll is published weekly by the Associated Press.

Bemidji State was unranked in the USA Today / American Hockey Magazine Top 15 poll, also released today.

Bemidji State lifts the lid on its 2005-06 regular season Friday, Oct. 7 when it opens a two-game non-conference series at Minn.-Duluth. Opening faceoff for Game 1 is set for 7:07 p.m. Central time at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center in Duluth, Minn.

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