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>Bemidji welcomes home victorious hockey team >Associated Press > > > >BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji residents are celebrating >Bemidji State's improbable run through the NCAA men's >hockey tournament, which will next take the team to >the Frozen Four. > >Dozens of fans braved the cold to welcome the Beavers >home at the Bemidji airport about 2 a.m. Monday, hours >after their 4-1 victory over Cornell in the NCAA >Midwest Regional championship game. > >Bemidji State will meet Miami of Ohio on April 9 in >Washington, D.C., in its first-ever Frozen Four >appearance. > >The Beavers are the first team from College Hockey >America to earn a Frozen Four berth. They are also the >first 16 seed to advance to the semifinals since the >field was expanded to 16 teams in 2002. > >"We believed," said Beavers head coach Tom Serratore >after Sunday's win. "That's what happens — you believe >in your program and your team. We knew what we were up >against, but we also believed. We really felt we could >win this. We knew it was an uphill battle, I mean come >on, who's kidding who?" > >Tyler Scofield had two goals and an assist on Sunday >and Matt Dalton recorded 25 saves to lead Bemidji. >Scofield scored early in the third period Sunday to >break a 1-1 tie. Matt Francis added an insurance goal >for the Beavers and Scofield scored into an open net >late in the game. > >Among those at the impromptu rally early Monday were >Bemidji Mayor Richard Lehmann and Bemidji State >University President Jon Quistgaard. The Bemidji State >women's hockey team tossed around green and white >balloons and displayed banners that read "Frozen 4" >and "D.C. Bound." > >Dalton, who made a a spectacular glove save off a >point blank shot, was the first player through the >airport doors, and he was nearly tackled by his >girlfriend. > >The fans lined up in rows on each side of the >automatic doors and the players streamed out between >them, getting a series of high-fives and hugs. > > > >Comment on this story | Read all 35 comments | >Hide reader comments >Register or log in to comment >Comments are subject to the site's terms of use and do >not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of the >Star Tribune. Readers whose comments violate the terms >of use may have their comments removed or all of their >content blocked from viewing by other users without >notification. > >What a great story! >Should have been the biggest story on the sports page >this weekend. I will be cheering for the guys from >BSU! Go Beavers! > >posted by macaroon on Mar 30, 09 at 4:31 pm | >4 of 4 people liked this comment. >lrtfan1 >what's with the Dettmet reference? >I wrestled with Bob at BSU and he is one of the nicest >people you would ever want to know,and a National >champion! Bummer that he picked the GOP but he is a >outstanding guy who has served his country in uniform >and out.May you know 100 Dettmers in your lifetiine >sir! > >posted by W2thdr on Mar 30, 09 at 4:41 pm | >2 of 3 people liked this comment. >Agree with bjaaland >It's not that Canadians are bad and it's not that the >team has to be all Minnesotans....nobody said that. I >think that everyone's giddiness should be kept in >perspective though. The rest of Minnesota's Division I >mens hockey teams have more local and USA >representation than Bemidji. Canada has their Major >Junior League (the WHL OHL, etc). it's a virtual >clearing house of NHL talent. Why come to Minnesota? >The fact is, Canadians prefer USA players stay south >of the border. We should do the same. Work with what >we've got. More pride is needed if we want more >Minnesota boys in th NHL. Like it or not, there is an >elitist attitude in Canada regarding hockey. You need >only attend a World Junior Cup game to figure this >out. When will the NHL start giving USA born players a >fair shake in the draft? No time soon. If you know the >inside circles of Canada/USA/Hockey, you won't argue. > >posted by frankworsley on Mar 30, 09 at 4:50 pm | >0 of 7 people liked this comment. >Canadien Players >So Bemidji has a bunch of Canadiens on the team? >Which college team doesn't? The reality these players >from Canada have great skills and help build some >strong hockey programs. Yes it would be nice if there >was more native talent on college teams, but the >reality is that there is a much larger core of >talented Canandien players. Our programs are getting >better,but we still have catching up to do. All you >have to do is look at how the US has done in Olympic >and other world competitions since the "Miracle" of >the 1980 Olympics to see the evidence of how far we >are behind international talent. >Moving Bemidji State into the WCHA and their success >this year in the NCAA tournament will make them much >more attractive to the limited pool of native >Minnesota talent that is capable at playing at that >level. So give them a few years, and you just might >see a few more native Minnesotans on the team, just >like it was back when Bemidji was a Division II or III >team. When it comes to seeing some good hockey, I >could really care less if the players are Canadien, >Russian, Finnish, German or American. > >posted by csitzman on Mar 30, 09 at 5:04 pm | >4 of 4 people liked this comment. >A BSU player occasionally makes his way to my rink for >open hockey in the summer months... a local kid. Its >amazing how talented these guys are- and whether >they're local or canadian I wish them well. If the >supporting cast around this guy helps him become a >national champion I'm all for it. > >posted by holdsteady on Mar 30, 09 at 5:30 pm | >1 of 1 people liked this comment.
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