BEMIDJI — The announcement of a sequel often comes with mixed reviews.
On one hand, films like “The Empire Strikes Back,” “The Godfather Part II” and “The Dark Knight” are revered in Hollywood, setting the bar for continuous storytelling. Now, though, the unveiling of an incoming sequel is often met with criticism, with movie studios garnering claims of repetitiveness and laziness.
For the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, the announcement of a sequel in the 2026 Mason Cup quarterfinals was met with anticipation.
The Bemidji State men’s hockey team is set to dance once again with third-seeded Augustana. The No. 6 Beavers head to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this weekend for a best-of-three series against the Vikings, starting at 7:07 p.m. on Friday at Midco Arena.
The two teams met in last year’s quarterfinal as well.
“We know our league pretty good. We know everybody pretty good,” BSU coach Tom Serratore said. “Maybe not the teams we play twice, but the teams we play four times, teams you play year in and year out. I don’t know if there’s as much familiarity with Augustana as there is with anybody else, but it’s unique that we’re playing the same team on the same weekend in the same building two years in a row.”
A year ago, Augustana won the series opener 3-1. Bemidji State didn’t record a shot on goal in the third period and surrendered all three of the Vikings’ tallies in the final 20 minutes. Then-senior goaltender Mattias Sholl made 41 saves in the loss.
The Beavers celebrate Adam Flammang’s overtime goal to beat Augustana in the Mason Cup Playoffs quarterfinal on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Courtesy / Brent Cizek Photography
The Beavers evened the series the following night, pulling out a gritty 4-3 win behind goals from Reilly Funk, Jackson Jutting, Tony Follmer and Adam Flammang.
In the winner-take-all Game 3, Noah Quinn tied the game with 6:19 left in regulation before Flammang scored just over four minutes into 5-on-5 overtime. Sholl made 41 saves again in the 3-2 win as BSU advanced to the Mason Cup semifinals. The Beavers ultimately lost against Minnesota State, the eventual Mason Cup champions.
“There’s going to be a fine line this weekend,” Serratore said. “There was last year. There’s always is this time of year. The first round of the playoffs is always nerve-racking for the players, fans, coaches, everybody.”
This year’s first-round series is a little different than the last. Augustana, which is currently in the third year of the program’s existence, had just 17 man-games played in the postseason a year ago compared to the Beavers’ 123. The Vikings didn’t lose a single player to the transfer portal and had just seven seniors depart for graduation following the quarterfinal loss.
In terms of postseason experience, the Beavers still have more, but they also have more players without any. Bemidji State has eight rostered skaters and one goalie who could suit up for their first Division I playoff games this weekend, while Augustana only has four.
“I’m not really sure how it’s going to be, but I’m very excited,” BSU freshman forward Max Namestnikov said. “I know in juniors — in the OHL — it’s a whole different league. It’s a whole different pace. There’s a lot more on the line now, and I’m excited to see how college (playoffs) are going to be like. I’m ready to get going.”
Namestnikov is one of three traditional freshmen expected to make their NCAA postseason debuts this weekend against Augustana. While playing for the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League, Namestnikov competed in best-of-seven series, as did his counterparts in other junior leagues.
But in college hockey, the runway to keep a season alive is shorter.
“Even in the second round, it’s one game, do-or-die,” Namestnikov said. “Every game is going to be a grind and I’m looking forward to it.”
Bemidji State senior Vince Corcoran celebrates his goal against Augustana on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the Sanford Center.
Courtesy / Brent Cizek Photography
Augustana (20-10-4, 14-8-4 CCHA) tied for second with St. Thomas in the league with 50 points. The Tommies won the tiebreaker through regulation wins. Bemidji State (13-17-4, 11-11-4 CCHA) finished in sixth place.
BSU went 2-1-1 against Augie this season, but the two schools haven’t met since Dec. 7.
“We all have a ceiling . . . but it’s hard getting to that ceiling,” Serratore said. “There’s a lot of things that have to go your way to get to that ceiling, is what I’m getting at. (Auguatana has) kind of been there all year. There’s always going to be bumps in the road, and we had a big bump in the road in January, but I hope that we’ve hit our ceiling.
“The last four games, I can’t ask any more out of that locker room than they’ve given me. Augustana, they’ve been so darn consistent all year. You just have to be really dialed in and a lot of things have to go your way, but you also have to create those things that go your way.”
While the chances aren’t great, reinforcements could be on the way for BSU. On Feb. 6, Flammang, asenior alternate captain and Hobey Baker Award nominee, went down with a lower-body injury. He’s been out of the lineup since, but is now questionable to play this weekend against Augie.
Augustana captain Hunter Bischoff, who scored both goals for the Vikings in Game 3 last year, is out for the season with an upper-body injury.
No team in the country has played Augustana more than Bemidji State, with the Beavers holding a 6-4-1 edge in 11 games. Bemidji State is 3-1-1 in its last five games after a 1-11-1 stretch from late November through January.
“They’re a heck of a hockey team, tied for second in our league,” Serratore said. “They’ve probably been the most consistent team in our league all year, so we have our hands full. They have home ice, so we have to go down here and try to defeat them on their home ice.”
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