November 13-14, 2015 Bemidji Pioneer coverage

This past weekend I covered the top-5 Bemidji State women's hockey team for the Bemidji Pioneer when the Beavers came to town to face #3 Minnesota.

It didn't go too well for BSU. After being shut out 4-0 on Friday, Bemidji State gave up 8 goals in an 8-3 loss. All four of the team's losses have come to the two teams ahead of it in the WCHA standings, Minnesota and #1 Wisconsin.

The series had more to do with how Minnesota, its offense and power play against the outstanding Beaver defense is another tier above the rest than BSU's play. The margin is thin. Both nights Bemidji State forward Stephanie Anderson had two breakaways that would have made it a 1-1 game, but Gopher goaltender Amanda Leveille saved both. Once it was 2-0 the hill was that much steeper for a team whose calling card is its defensive play.

You can read both recaps below. Thanks goes out to Jack Hittinger for giving me the opportunity.

Friday's 4-0 loss - http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/sports/beavers/3882908-womens-hockey-gophers-blank-bemidji-state-4-0

Saturday's 8-3 loss - http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/sports/beavers/3883162-womens-hockey-bsu-falls-minnesota-8-3-series-finale

On Minnesota sports and the rough week, Parts I-IV

Good grief Charlie Brown, this was a rough week for Minnesota sports.

Emotions were put through the ringer. There were victories on the court, gridiron and rink. There were losses, both real and imaginary. There were tears shed for the fallen and lost.

Over the past seven days, the Minnesota sports landscape has seen its most successful NBA coach in Timberwolves head coach/GM Flip Saunders succumb to cancer and its lone Division 1 football coach step away from the game he loves less than a year after leading Minnesota to its first New Year’s Day bowl in over 50 years for health reasons.