SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program (7-6-1, 5-1-0) is set to welcome the Bemidji State Beavers (7-6-2, 4-3-1 CCHA) to Taffy Abel Arena for a weekend series. 

Stories to watch:

• These historic rivals faced one another in multiple national championship games back in their NAIA days with the Lakers having defeated them for the 1974 NAIA national title. 
• Both teams are deadlocked in the all-time series 41-41-6, but the Beavers came away with the most recent victory in the 2024 Mason Cup Semifinals. 
• The last time Bemidji State made the trip to Sault Ste. Marie, the Lakers earned a weekend sweep, earning a 4-3 win in overtime on Friday before besting the Beavers 5-1 the following day. 
• The Lakers are coming off of a sweep at St. Thomas while the Beavers came away with a win and a tie in a home and home with North Dakota.
• Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) is the reigning CCHA Forward of the Week after a 5-point weekend against the Tommies, and he was also named the CCHA Forward of the Month after leading the nation in November points with 14. 
• The Beavers are currently receiving votes in both the USCHO and the USA Hockey / The Rink Live national polls. 
• This weekend will also feature two of the top goaltenders in the league in BSU's senior Mattias Sholl against LSSU's rookie netminder Rorke Applebee (Chateauguay, Que.).  Sholl recorded five wins in November for the Beavers while Applebee secured six for the Lakers. 
• C. Milburn enters the weekend leading the team in both goals (7) and points (15).
• Nate Schweitzer (Champlin, Minn.) enters the weekend leading the team in assists with 9. 
• 20 different Lakers have recorded at least one point so far this season while 14 Lakers have scored at least one goal.
• The Lakers are 7-0-1 when leading after the opening period this season, and they are 7-0-0 when taking a lead into the final 20 minutes. 
• Since the start of the 2023-24 season, the Lakers are 18-2-1 when holding opponents to two goals or fewer.