Bemidji State Beavers Logo PNG
The modern logo of the Bemidji State Beavers sports department of Bemidji State University features the organization’s mascot, the noble beaver, symbolizing tranquility, confidence, and the aspiration for victory. An important distinction is the absence of intimidation.
Bemidji State University was founded in 1919 in northern Minnesota, with intercollegiate sports emerging in the 1920s. Men’s basketball debuted in 1921; football followed in 1926, and early competition remained regional and resource-limited.
Men’s hockey began in 1946 and gradually became the program’s core. The team trained outdoors with a starting equipment budget of $100 and spent its early years in NAIA as an independent.
A turning point came in 1966 when Robert Peters arrived from North Dakota. Within two seasons, he led Bemidji State to its first national title. Under his leadership, the program won 13 championships across NAIA and NCAA divisions, including titles in 1968–1971, 1973, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986, and 1993–1997.
The 1983–1984 season produced a 31–0–0 record, still standing as a benchmark in college hockey. An unbeaten streak of 43 games ran from November 1983 to January 1985. Peters retired in 2001 with 702 wins and became the only coach to reach national finals across NAIA, Division II, and Division III.
In 1999, the program moved to NCAA Division I and joined College Hockey America alongside Alabama-Huntsville. The strongest Division I season came in 2008–2009, when Bemidji State won the CHA title and defeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Cornell to reach the Frozen Four, where Miami RedHawks ended the run.
The men’s team joined WCHA in 2010–2011 and later helped relaunch CCHA in 2021–2022. Women’s hockey, founded in 1998–1999, remains in the WCHA, highlighted by a four-overtime NCAA game against Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 2020.
Meaning and History
The mascot, named Bucky Beaver, is depicted on the official logo of the university’s teams. It’s a beaver positioned in profile. Unlike competitors, the animal is not made intimidating or evil. On the contrary, the expression on its face is calm, confident, and welcoming. The head conveys the aspiration for victory tilted upwards, for which the central element is placed diagonally.
Bucky’s only weapon is his powerful incisors. They are highlighted in white and indicate that the beaver, though quiet, is goal-oriented, ready to stand until the end until the “tree” falls entirely. Its determination for victory is incredibly resolute.
What is Bemidji State Beavers?
Bemidji State Beavers consists of 14 student teams united within a sports division of Bemidji State University. They compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The most successful among them are the hockey players, who compete in the CCHA and WCHA and play at the NCAA Division I level.
The animal’s coloring is beige-brown. Black strokes form shadows. Around the head are two elliptical green lines. They form an open oval and slightly overlap, creating a unique “portrait” frame for Bucky Beaver.
Bemidji State Beavers Hockey
The men’s hockey team is one of the most successful in the university’s sports department. It had its first season in 1947-1948. It belongs to the College Hockey America hockey association. It’s part of the WCHA conference. Tom Serratore coaches the athletes.