Beavs gone pro: List of former Bemidji State hockey players skating professionally

Hockey photos.jpg — Former Bemidji State hockey players Michael Bitzer, left, Clair DeGeorge, top right, and Zach Whitecloud compete in their respective professional leagues after leaving the Beavers.

By Jared Rubado

August 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM

For some, high-level hockey doesn’t end in college.

The Bemidji State men’s and women’s hockey teams routinely advance players to compete in the professional ranks. The Pioneer tracked where the former Beavers landed in their respective leagues.

This list will be updated semi-regularly.

Last updated Feb. 7, 2025.

NHL

– D, Vegas Golden Knights, 48 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 Pts, 16 PIM, +/- -1

– F, Columbus Blue Jackets: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, 2 PIM, +/- 0; Played 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL: 41 GP, 11 G, 17 A, 28 Pts, 18 PIM, +/- -2

PWHL

– F, Montreal Victorie: 13 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, 0 PIM, +/- +2

AHL

– D, Hershey Bears: 29 GP, 3 G, 12 A, 15 Pts, 10 PIM, +/- -3

– F, Coachella Valley Firebirds: 44 GP, 11 G, 13 A, 24 Pts, 10 PIM, +/- +12

– D, Texas Stars: 30 GP, 0 G, 4 A, 4 Pts, 19 PIM, +/- +3

– D, Iowa Wild: 4 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 Pts, 0 PIM, +/- +2; Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL): 32 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 Pts, 5 PIM, +/- +2

ECHL

– F, Savannah Ghost Pirates: 34 GP, 15 G, 15 A, 30 Pts, 22 PIM, +/- -14

– F, Wichita Thunder: 44 GP, 17 G, 27 A, 44 Pts, 32 PIM, +/- +13

– F, Jacksonville Icemen: 21 GP, 9 G, 10 A, 19 Pts, 6 PIM +/- +12

– F, Wichita Thunder: 33 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 Pts, 11 PIM, +/- -9

– F, South Carolina Stingrays: 36 GP, 14 G, 13 A, 27 Pts, 46 PIM, +/- +16

— F, Wichita Thunder: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, 0 PIM, +/- 0

SHL (Sweden)

– D, Växjö Lakers HC: 40 GP, 3 G, 9 A, 12 Pts, 10 PIM, +/- +1

KHL (Russia)

– D, Vityaz Moscow Region: 34 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 Pts, 30 PIM, +/- -10

DEL (Germany)

– G, Schwenninger Wild Wings: 13 GP, 3.26 GAA, .881 SV, 1 SO, 5-7-0

Ligue Magnus (France)

– D, Angers: 32 GP, 5 G, 24 A, 29 Pts, 14 PIM, +/- +21

EIHL (United Kingdom)

– F, Dundee Stars: 36 GP, 17 G, 18 A, 35 Pts, 28 PIM, +/- -11

Erste Liga (Hungary/Romania)

– F, Gyergyói HK: 10 GP, 2 G, 12 A, 14 Pts, 4 PIM, +/- +12

– F, Budapest Jégkorong Akadémia HC: 34 GP, 15 G, 11 A, 26 Pts, 8 PIM, +/- +18

– F, Ferencvárosi TC: 34 GP, 22 G, 19 A, 41 Pts, 6 PIM, +/- +14

DEL2 (Germany)

– D, Blue Devils Wieden: 42 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 Pts, 4 PIM, +/- 0

– F, Selber Wölfe: 8 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts, 0 PIM, +/- -6; Played with Nidaros in Norway2: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, 0 PIM, +/- +1

HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden)

– F, AIK: 31 GP. 11 G, 19 A, 30 Pts, 20 PIM, +/- +10

Germany3

– F, Tilburg Trappers: 38 GP, 30 G, 48 A, 78 Pts, 74 PIM, +/- +41

SDHL W (Sweden)

– F, Luleå HF: 6 GP, 5 G, 3 A, 8 Pts, 8 PIM, +/- +9

ICEHL (Italy)

– F, Asiago: 37 GP, 12 G, 25 A, 37 Pts, 19 PIM, +/- -14

Finland3

– F, Shakers: n/a

Czech Extraliga

– D, Mountfield HK: 40 GP, 8 G, 6 A, 14 Pts, 14 PIM, +/- -3

Netherlands2

– F, Nijmegen Devils: 22 GP, 28 G, 45 A, 73 Pts, 4 PIM, +/- +3

Slovak Extraliga

– F, HK Dukla Michalovce: 42 GP, 5 G, 7 A, 12 Pts, 37 PIM, +/- -1

Asia League

– G, HL Anyang: 13 GP, 2.39 GAA, .907 SV, 0 SO, 10-3-0

EWHL (Hungary)

– F, HK Budapest: 18 GP, 11 G, 18 A, 29 Pts, 6 PIM, +/- +11

Developmental Cup (W)

– D, Colombia: 4 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 Pts, 2 PIM, +/- +4

By Jared Rubado

Jared Rubado took over as sports editor at the Bemidji Pioneer in February 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Alexandria Echo Press and sports editor of the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena Pioneer Journal newspaper group.

He graduated from Augustana University in 2018 with journalism and sports management degrees.

You can reach Jared at jrubado@bemidjipioneer.com or (218) 316-2613. Follow him on Twitter at