MINOT, ND – The Simon Fraser University Red Leafs head to Minot, North Dakota to wrap up the non-conference season with two games against the #1 ranked ACHA Minot State Beavers.

After an extended break with no game action since January in Rhode Island, Red Leafs hockey returns to action for the last time this season against the Minot State University Beavers of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). This weekend’s game mark the second time this season that the Red Leafs will face an ACHA opponent, defeating the University of Pittsburgh Panthers by a score of 6-1 back in November.

The Beavers have become one of the elite programs in the ACHA over the past few years, capping off last season with a national championship. The program is currently ranked #1 in the ACHA, and sits in 2nd place out of 72 in the league’s standings as of this weekend.

“The top teams [in the ACHA] are really good,” said Head Coach Mark Coletta, “Division One, Division Three, and club hockey kind of blends into itself after a little bit…that level of hockey is good, and it’s going to be a good test for our guys.”

For a handful of players, though, these will be their last games in the red and white.

“It’ll be an emotional weekend for some of the guys who have been with us for awhile,” said Coletta, “It’ll be the last games for some of our seniors…it sucks.”

“Hopefully our guys embrace it and work hard. What you do hope for is that your first and second year guys understand that that’s going to be them in two to three years, so [you want them to] lay it all on the line.”

“They’re going to expect that same effort from the freshman guys when they’re seniors.”

Puck drop for both games will be at 5:30pm PST; both games will also be streamed live for free via Minot State on the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Network.

MINOT LAST 5

02.10.24 | 2-3 SOL at Maryville

02.09.24 | 2-3 L at Maryville

02.03.24 | 7-0 W at Waldorf

02.02.24 | 5-0 W at Waldorf

01.27.24 | 3-2 W vs. Jamestown

SFU Red Leafs Non-Conference Squad vs. Minot State University Beavers (ACHA D1)

WHERE | Maysa Arena; 2501 W Burdick Expy., Minot, ND

WHEN | Friday, Feb. 16 and Saturday, Feb 17: 5:30pm PST / 7:30pm CST

WATCH | FRIDAY: https://nsicnetwork.com/msubeavers/?B=954507 / SATURDAY: https://nsicnetwork.com/msubeavers/?B=954512

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