Minot State Beavers

The Minot State Beavers are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Minot State University (MSU), located in Minot, North Dakota. The Beavers compete at the NCAA Division II level. The university was previously a member of the NAIA's Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) and competed as an independent as a provisional member for the 2011–12 academic year before joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in 2012.^[3][4] Minot State Beavers men's and women's ice hockey teams currently play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the men's team plays as is an independent team at the ACHA Men's Division I level and women's team at the ACHA Women's Division II level.^[5]

Minot State Beavers
University	Minot State University
Conference	Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)
NCAA	Division II
Athletic director	Kevin Forde[1]
Location	Minot, North Dakota
Football stadium	Herb Parker Stadium
Basketball arena	MSU Dome
Baseball stadium	Corbett Field
Nickname	Beavers
Colors	Green and red[2]
Website	www.msubeavers.com

History

Minot State University athletics previously competed in the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) which was a part of the NAIA. The Minot State University Beavers won NAIA national championships in men's cross country in 2002 and 2003, the only team national championships in the school's history.

In January 2011, MSU was admitted to the NSIC with the University of Sioux Falls, also transitioning from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. The two schools will join the conference for the 2012–13 academic year creating a 16-member conference split into two 8-member divisions.^[6] MSU will compete in the NSIC North Division, consisting of Bemidji State, U-Mary, Minnesota-Crookston, Minnesota-Duluth, MSU-Moorhead, Minot State, Northern State and St. Cloud State.^[6]

In July 2012, the university became one of six universities to join the NCAA as full members, with official membership commencing on September 1, 2012. As part of the successful transition to the NCAA, Minot State will be eligible for postseason conference and NCAA postseason competition.^[7]

National championships

Team

Sport	Association	Division	Year	Opponent/Runner-up	Score
Cross Country (2)	NAIA	Single	2002	Eastern Oregon	120–144 (+24)
			2003	Black Hills State	162–152
Men's Ice Hockey (3)	ACHA	I	2013	Lindenwood University	9-5
			2019	Iowa State University	3-1
			2023	Adrian College	1-0

Sports

Men's sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Ice Hockey (ACHA) Track & Field Wrestling

Women's sports Basketball Cross Country Golf Ice Hockey (ACHA) Soccer Softball Track & Field Volleyball

Football

See also: Minot State Beavers football

Minot State's football team competes in NCAA Division II. The team plays home games at Herb Parker Stadium (capacity 4,300), and has made the NCAA DII National Playoffs 9 times, including an appearance in the playoffs in 1992. The team is currently coached by Ian Shields. The Beavers have produced NFL players, including Randy Hedburg, who was an 8th round selection in the 1977 NFL Draft, and Ron Marsh, an undrafted free agent signed by the Denver Broncos.

Ice hockey (M)

See also: Minot State Beavers men's ice hockey

Minot State men's ice hockey team competes in the ACHA Division I level as the NAIA discontinued the sponsorship of the sport in the 1980s. The team plays at the All Seasons Arena, with select games at the Maysa Arena.^[8] The men's team competes as an ACHA DI independent team and plays a schedule consisting ACHA DI members along with a number of games against local NJCAA schools, Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks and newly formed Williston State College Tetons, as well as Canadian colleges.^[9] The Beavers are coached by Wyatt Waselenchuk^[10]

The Beavers have won three ACHA Men's Division I national championships (2013, 2019, 2023), and finished as runner-up in 2021.^[11]

Ice hockey (W)

Further information: Minot State Beavers women's ice hockey

Softball

Minot State's softball team appeared in three consecutive Women's College World Series in 1970, 1971 and 1972.^[12]

References

1. "Kevin Forde - Director of Athletics - Staff Directory".
2. Minot State University Athletics Brand and Graphic Standards (PDF). January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
3. Pickle, David (July 13, 2011). "Five new active members join Division II". NCAA. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
4. "MSU moves to Year Three in process to NCAA Division II". Minot State University. July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
5. "ACHA 2011–2012 League membership". ACHA. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
6. Peterson, Cindy (January 20, 2011). "NSIC adding Minot State, Sioux Falls". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
7. "New members for 2012–13 could include Association's first Canadian school". NCAA. July 13, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
8. Blasco, Jason (September 16, 2011). "Minot State hockey in search of new chemistry". Minot Daily News. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
9. "Minot State Hockey Opens Season". KXMC-TV. September 15, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
10. "Wyatt Waselenchuk Named Head Coach of Minot State Men's Hockey". Retrieved September 19, 2021.
11. "National Champions". achahockey.org. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
12. Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.

External links

• Official website