Matt Read, a sophomore forward on Bemidji State, was the CHA's Rookie of the Year and a member of the conference's All-Rookie team in 2007-08; as well as an all-CHA selection this season. For the second season in a row, Read is leading the team in scoring. It was his overtime goal in the CHA championship game against Robert Morris that put the Beavers into the NCAA tournament.
Read talked to Puck Daddy about making an immediate impact as a freshman, beating Notre Dame, and college life in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Q. Since you upset Notre Dame in the opening round of the tournament, how much more confidence is there now in the locker room?
READ: There's a lot more confidence now. You can tell within our practices now, a lot of us are all excited and having a good time now. We're starting to get a little bit stressed out now going to Washington next Tuesday, but right now our whole team is confident and it's fun to be around the guys and we're just having a great time.
How strong is the feeling around the locker room now that "Cinderella label be-damned, we can win this thing?"
I've never been in a locker room where there's such a good feeling going around and, all of us, we know what we have at stake and what we can do. It's an unbelievable experience right now and I don't know how to put it into words.
Having a chance, coming to Bemidji, you never think of even in a national tournament of coming to the Frozen Four and now you have the opportunity we've got to make the best out of it. It's just exciting right now.
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Q. So, you're a 22-year-old college-athlete ... what the are the parties like in Bemidji? What does a college kid do up there?
READ: Um, ice fishing. [Laughs] There's not much here in Bemidji , but we have our fun. We like to play cards once in a while. Trying to think, we don't do much up here really, just do what we can. Spend a lot of time at the rink and just goofing around on campus.
Other great reads
Bemidji State Hockey Goes From 16th Seed to the Frozen Four.
Grand Forks Hearld: Men's hockey: Busy Beavers.
Bemidji State fitting itself for hockey's glass slipper
WCCO --- Bemidji State Hockey Looks To Erase Underdog Status.
Adam Wodon, CHN --- Bemidji State Playing For Something More.
Matthew Conyers, CHN --- Beaver Players Trying to Re-Focus.
I have jumped solidly onto the Bemidji bandwagon.
ReplyDeleteis it GO BEMIDJI GO or Go beavers or what?
What's the crowd chant?
I am not sure, It has been a long time since my days in Bemidji 1992. Beaver Feaver has returned though.
ReplyDelete