MINOT, N.D. – It might be in the 70s and sunny outside, but the three-time ACHA National Champion Minot State men's hockey team is ready to heat things up inside on the ice.

The Beavers open the 2024-25 season this week with a pair of exhibition contests on the road, heading North of the Border to play at Saskatchewan on Thursday and at Briercrest on Friday.

A welcome opportunity for Minot State to face-off against someone other than teammates.

"There's a lot of excitement in the air," head coach Wyatt Waselenchuk said. "It's been a long three weeks of practicing and just battling one another; it's going to be nice to face that competition this weekend, it's going to come quick, we're facing two very good teams; definitely excited to get the ball rolling, for sure."

Two tough teams indeed as the Saskatchewan Huskies come into the weekend 3-1 already this season after nearly claiming the Canada West title last year.

As for the Briercrest Clippers, they won the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference last season and have a history with the Beavers over the last two seasons, splitting exhibitions at Maysa Arena to start the 2022-23 season, then falling 5-4 to Minot State last September in Canada.

Many of the Minot State players know Briercrest as 20 Beavers are back, including team captain Jay Buchholtz, who was third on the team in scoring last season with 10 goals and 23 assists, Christian Kadolph, who tied a single-season team record with 41 assists while adding 8 goals, and star goalie Jake Anthony who is No. 3 all-time with 12 shutouts and needs just 5 more to break the career school record.

The two exhibitions will provide a big tune-up for the Beavers who officially open the season next weekend back on the road, playing at Illinois on Sept. 27-28 as Minot State makes its Midwest Collegiate Hockey (MCH) conference debut.

"Every night is so important now that you have that conference," Minot State's fourth-year head coach said, adding, "trying to try to make sure that we're ready every single night; I think that's the biggest thing for us and why we're excited about joining that conference is it means something every single night."

The Beavers early-season road swing continues closer to home on Wednesday, Oct. 2, as Minot State plays at Mary, then on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Jamestown before the Beavers' home debut as they host the Ohio Bobcats on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19, at the Maysa Arena.