January 15, 2008

BEMIDJI, Minn. - A convincing sweep over the University of Alabama-Huntsville in College Hockey America play last weekend has garnered more support for the Bemidji State University men's ice hockey team in the latest release of the national polls. The Beavers make their debut in the INCH Power Rankings while continuing to receive votes in the USCHO.com/CSTV ranking of the top 20 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey teams.

After four consecutive weeks "on the bubble" of the InsideCollegeHockey.com (INCH) power rankings, the Beavers broke through to earn the No. 18 spot in the top 20 poll. The series sweep in Alabama built on the 2-0 shutout of then-ranked 16 University of Minnesota Duluth to give BSU a three-game winning streak, during which the defense has allowed only one goal, and put BSU over the edge.

The Beavers remain the CHA's lone representative in the INCH publication.

The USCHO.com/CSTV poll placed the Beavers in its "others receiving votes" category with a total of 22 points--the team's highest point total since it gained 24 points in the Oct. 8, 2007 version of the poll. If the current poll was extended beyond its standard top 20, Bemidji State would find itself in a tie with former CHA foe Air Force for No. 22--its highest slotting in the poll since the team held down what would have been the No. 21 spot the week of Feb. 5, 2007.

The Beavers make their seventh appearance in the poll this season and sit along side fellow CHA members Robert Morris (6 pts) and Niagara (1 pt) as teams on the fringe of the top 20.

The USCHO.com/CSTV Networks Poll consists of 50 voters, including 28 coaches from the Division I conferences and 22 beat writers and sports professionals from across the country. The poll, published weekly by the Associated Press, is a joint production of USCHO.com, which provides in-depth coverage of college sports, including hockey, lacrosse, soccer and others, and CSTV Networks, Inc., the only digital media company dedicated solely to college sports. CSTV operates a 24-hour college sports cable network, also available via DISH and DirecTV satellite as well as CSTV.com, ranked in the Top 10 leading sports Web sites.

The INCH poll is a ranking of the nation's top men's ice hockey teams as seen by the Web site's editors and staff.

Bemidji State, 11-9-2 overall and 8-2-2 in CHA play, wraps up a four-game road swing this weekend in Colorado versus two of the country's top squads. Friday the Beavers battle No. 3 Colorado College (16-6-0) in a 8:37 p.m. start at Colorado Springs World Arena with a tilts versus the fourth-ranked Denver (17-5-0) the following evening. The series finale is set for a 8:07 p.m. opening face off at Magness Arena.

--bsu--