Cody Strang to Bemidji State

It looks like Madison native Cody Strang's dream of playing in the WCHA still has legs. The Sixty Minutes blog was able to speak with Strang Tuesday night and he indicated to us that the rumors of him heading to Bemidji State next year were true. Strang told us that he will have to sit out one season and will join the Beavers for 2012.

Strang, who plays for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League was originally committed to the University of Wisconsin, his hometown team for the 2011 hockey season. Due to academics, Strang didn't qualify academically for the 2011 season, virtually ending his career with the Badgers before it started.

A standout at Madison Edgewood in high school, Strang won the 2009 Mr. Hockey Award. Currently one of the top forwards in the USHL, Strang was named to the 2011 USHL mid-season All-Star team. Strang's 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points in 47 games rank him second on the Phantoms in points this season. His +19 plus/minus rating is tied for sixth in the USHL.

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Badgers handle business, sweep Beavers

First of all, I want to apologize for my lack of posting in the past week. It was a busy week and I was almost done with the Bemidji preview on Thursday but I've been having computer/Internet issues since then and this is the first time I've had access. For that I apologize.

As for the series, it was nice to get a sweep. I was a bit worried when we went down 2-0 so early on Friday night but the boys were able to bounce back and earned four hard fought WCHA points.

You won't believe me but in the preview I wrote for the Bemidji series I was focusing on Wisconsin getting secondary scoring behind their top line and Gardiner/Shultz. Podge Turnbull stepped up this weekend with some extended playing time with two goals and Michael Mersch and Tyler Barnes each chipped in a couple of points on the weekend as well.

For the second straight weekend, Scott Gudmandson played in net both nights. He played well, stopping 46 of 48 shots on the weekend including all 21 on Saturday night.

The Badgers have the next two weekends off before hosting a Thursday/Friday non conference series at the Kohl Center on New Years Eve vs UMass.

Friday Night: Wisconsin 3, Bemidji State 2

WSJ (Baggot): It wasn't pretty but it's a win
Up North Sports Report (Stromgren): Wisconsin rallies, ends Bemidji State’s three-game winning streak with 3-2 win
UWBadgers.com: Badgers rally for 3-2 win over Bemidji State
UWBadgers.com: Statistics
UWBadgers.com: Quotes
UWBadgers.com: Photos
UWBadgers.com: Highlights
BSUBeavers.com: Badgers score three unanswered goals to drop Bemidji 3-2

Saturday Night: Wisconsin 2, Bemidji State 0

WSJ (Baggot): Badgers use blue-collar play to earn sweep of Bemidji State
Up North Sports Report (Stromgren): Wisconsin sweeps Bemidji State with 2-0 victory to end seasons' first half
UWBadgers.com: Badgers blank the beavers 2-0
UWBadgers.com: Statistics
UWBadgers.com: Quotes
UWBadgers.com: Photos
UWBadgers.com: Highlights
BSUBeavers.com: Offense dries up in 2-0 loss at Wisconsin

Photo courtesy of Melody Hasse

If your a Beaver fan, stand up and clap your hands!

The game of hockey never ceases to amaze me. Performances like the one that Bemidji State University put on this weekend are one of the main reasons that I love college hockey as much as I do.

If you've been living under a rock here's a little nugget of information you might be interested in. BEMIDJI STATE IS GOING TO THE FROZEN FOUR. Yes, you heard me correctly. The little CHA school from northern Minnesota that is on the brink of losing it's program, is heading to Washington, D.C. to take a shot at the Division 1 National Championship.

Bemidji shocked the world on Saturday when they beat the #1 seed in the Mid-West regional Notre Dame in convincing fashion 5-1. They took it one step futher tonight when they defeated Cornell 4-1 to advance to the Frozen Four for the first time in the programs history.

Welcome to the WCHA Bemidji State University!