The three-time ACHA National Champions are set to hit the ice as the Minot State University (MSU) men’s hockey team and head coach Wyatt Waselenchuk have announced their schedule for the 2024-25 season.

And it is a schedule that is highlighted by the Beavers joining the Midwest College Hockey (MCH) league. Minot State will play MCH games against league foes Mary, Jamestown, Midland, Waldorf, Iowa State, and Illinois.

“I’m really excited for an incredibly competitive schedule this season,” Coach Waselenchuk said. “Having the conference play now, and a little something extra to play for, makes each and every game so important. We will have some fantastic teams coming to the Maysa Arena and we can’t wait to get going.”

MSU gets things started North of the Border with a pair of exhibitions, playing at the University of Saskatchewan on September 19, then at Briercrest College on September 20.

After two tune-ups in Canada, the Beavers open the regular season making their MCH debut playing at the University of Illinois on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28.

MSU then returns closer to home for a pair of in-state road contests, playing rival the University of Mary on October 2, then at the University of Jamestown on October 10.

After a half dozen games on the road to start the season, the Beavers finally make their home debut at the Maysa Arena on Friday, October 18, with a big grudge-match weekend against the Ohio Bobcats who twice have ended the Beavers season at the ACHA National Tournament in the past three seasons.

The weekend series concludes Saturday, Oct. 19, and both games are slated for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

That home debut starts a stretch of 8-of-9 at the Maysa Arena as Minot State makes a quick trip south to Mandan to play rival Mary on October 26 before hosting the next six at home, starting with a mid-week matchup with the Marauders who make their first trip to Minot on Wednesday, Oct. 30, for a 7 p.m. contest.

Then the Beavers host Grand Canyon for a pair of weekend contests, Friday and Saturday, November 1-2, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. each day.

The homestand continues as MSU entertains Waldorf (Iowa) on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8-9, with puck drop at 1 p.m. on Friday and slated for 3:45 p.m. on Saturday.

Nearly a month at home wraps up with the Jamestown Jimmies in town for the first time, visiting the Maysa Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.

Back on the road, the Beavers will play six straight away from home with a pair of games at Midland on Nov. 15 and 16, then three games against opponents yet to be determined in the Maryville Showcase in Chesterfield, Missouri, November 21-23.

MSU’s road trip wraps up back in North Dakota at Jamestown on Friday, Dec. 6, in the first of home-and-home games against the Jimmies, who will be in Minot at the All Seasons Arena at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds to battle the Beavers on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

Minot State then heads to the sunshine of Arizona prior to the Christmas break, playing at the University of Arizona on Dec. 12, then two games at Grand Canyon, Dec. 13-14.

After the turn of the new year, the Beavers return to the ice hosting five straight, a stretch that starts with Midland in town on Saturday and Sunday, January 4-5, with game times yet to be determined.

Mary then visits the Maysa Arena once again on Wednesday, January 8, at 7 p.m., before the Beavers renew a rivalry stretching back to Minot State’s second ACHA title when they beat Iowa State for the 2018-19 crown. The Cyclones visit Maysa Arena on Friday and Saturday, January 10-11, at 7:30 p.m. each night.

The Beavers then hit the road for a pair of games at Waldorf, January 17-18, before a busy finish to the month, hosting Jamestown once again at the All Seasons Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 24, then playing at Mary on January 25, before hosting the Marauders at 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 26. Minot State closes the month at Jamestown on January 31.

The Beavers then wrap up their home slate hosting Maryville on Friday and Saturday, February 7-8, at 7:30 p.m., then wrap up the regular season with two games at Ohio, February 14-15.

Then it’s time for the postseason, which begins with the Beavers making their first trip to the Midwest College Hockey tournament hosted by Illinois State, February 21-23.

The postseason then continues with Minot State heading to St. Louis, Missouri in the middle of March for the ACHA National Tournament, March 13-18, as the Beavers look to capture the program’s fourth national title.