BEMIDJI — When the Bemidji State men’s hockey team constructed its 2025-26 roster, there were several newsworthy additions.

The Beavers dipped their toes in the Canadian Hockey League player pool, adding freshmen Max Namestnikov, Max Hildebrand and Ben Vigneault. They also brought in Maxon Vig, a seventh-round pick by the Montreal Canadians in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Then came the U Sports transfers, some of them more polarizing than others. Along with Oliver Peer and Vincent Labelle, former professional hockey players Connor McClennon and Hudson Thornton also had their eligibility reinstated through the NCAA Eligibility Center to play Division I hockey in the United States.

In a transformative offseason, one addition feels like it was lost in the cracks, despite playing a major role in the

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