2007-08 ROYALS Welcome to the 2007-08 season of Bethel Royals Hockey! To All Royals Fans and Media: As Director of Athletics at Bethel University, let me take this opportunity to welcome you to another season of Bethel Men’s Hockey. Excitement surrounding the team is high and building. A repeat MIAC conference championship is one of many ambitions the Royals have their sights on. Coach Joel Johnson takes over the reins as head coach after serving as assistant coach at Bethel for three years. Joel brings a tremendous blend of challenge, discipline, and encouragement in his coaching style. The team is marked by skill and courage, while being recognized as one of the top programs in Division III hockey. Our sport teams collaborate as strong partners in education and seek to integrate Christian faith into every area of life. The athletes invest a tremendous amount of time and energy as they prepare for the thrill of competition. They are encouraged to experience the joy of giving their best on and off the ice every day. Enjoy the time you spend with us on campus and experience the excitement our men’s hockey program generates. Bob Bjorklund, Athletic Director About Bethel University Bethel University provides exceptional Christian higher education by integrating a broad choice of strong academic programs with a vital spiritual life and purpose. Approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries are enrolled in nearly 100 undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs through the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies, Graduate School, and Bethel Seminary. The College of Arts & Sciences offers 66 majors within 78 areas of study, including the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. It is renowned for a highly-credentialed faculty dedicated to teaching, integration of faith and learning, and the translation of Christian belief into global service. The college consistently ranks among top Midwestern Universities in U.S. News & World Report’s listing of “America’s Best Colleges.” Bethel’s campus, 231 acres of wooded hills on the shores of Lake Valentine in suburban Arden Hills, is equidistant from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. There is easy access to the many cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities of the Twin Cities. The academic buildings and student residences have been planned to take advantage of the natural beauty of the campus site and to help achieve a sense of community among students and faculty members in carrying out Bethel’s objectives. The Community Life Center, with its 1,700-seat Benson Great Hall, has enhanced greatly that sense of community. Boldly informed and motivated by the Christian faith, Bethel’s mission is to educate and energize men and women for excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. Bethel University is sponsored by the churches of the Baptist General Conference. For further information on Bethel University, go to www.bethel.edu. Acknowledgement: The action photos on the cover and throughout the media guide are courtesy of Brad Person of Minnesota Sports Photos, Greg Smith, and Andy Kenutis. This is a product of Bethel’s Office of Communications and Marketing. Special thanks to Dan Berglund, Dale Eng, Jenna Bolmgren, Woody Dahlberg, and Darin Jones. General Information Bethel University Arena at the National Sports Center Since the team began play during the 1979-80 season, the Royals had never had an ice rink to call “home” until Jan. 19, 2007. That’s the day they officially moved their home ice from Columbia Arena in Fridley, Minn., to Bethel Uni- versity Arena at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. Current Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Governor Wendell Anderson were on hand to dedicate the rink with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by the team’s first game, a 5-0 win over St. John’s University. Six weeks later, Bethel University Arena became the site of the Royals first MIAC playoff championship, which gave them an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Schwan’s Super Rink at the National Sports Center is the largest ice arena of its kind in the world. This state-of-the-art, $21 million facility features eight sheets of ice under one roof totaling more than 300,000 square feet. Bethel University Arena was part of a major expansion that took place in 2006 to include four new sheets of ice and the locker rooms that are home to the Royals hockey program. The Royals locker room features separate rooms for players and coaches, laundry machines, exercise equipment, and skate sharpening, making it inarguably one of the premier facilities in all of college hockey. Also added was the 12,500 square foot Herb Brooks Training Center that offers weight training, speed, and fitness machines. The 2007-08 season marks the Royals first full season in their new home. The arena, coupled with the support of the student body, parents, loved ones, and other loyal fans, will be the foundation of the men’s hockey program for years to come. Bethel University and Royal Athletics Quick Facts Address: 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112 Stadium/Capacity: Bethel University Arena / 1,200 Founded: 1947 Athletic Director: Bob Bjorklund Enrollment: Approximately 6,000 Assistant Athletic Director: Greg Peterson President: George K. Brushaber Senior Women’s Administrator: Gretchen Hunt Religious Affiliation: Baptist General Conference Sports Information Director: Dale Eng Team Colors: Navy Blue and Vegas Gold Director of Athletic Development: Jeff Westlund Nickname: Royals Head Athletic Trainer: Chad Osgood Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Assistant Athletic Trainer: Neal Dutton National Affiliation: NCAA Division III Assistant Athletic Trainer: Jamie Dolieslager Website: http://athletics.bethel.edu The MIAC Founded in 1920, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference spon- sors championships in 25 sports—13 for men and 12 for women. Conference teams are all affiliated with the NCAA Division III. The MIAC is recognized as one of the toughest NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic conferences in the country. The MIAC offers championships in the following sports each year: football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, volleyball (women), wrestling (men), men’s hockey, women’s hockey, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s swimming, women’s swimming, men’s nordic skiing, women’s nordic skiing, men’s indoor track, women’s indoor track, softball (women), baseball (men), men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s outdoor track, and women’s outdoor track. Teams from the MIAC are always nationally ranked and in the hunt for NCAA championships. The MIAC’s 13 private colleges an- nually attract many of the nation’s top student-athletes. The MIAC is a conference in which the athletes are students first, yet still have the opportunity to reach any height to which their athletic abilities take them. As a result of competing at the NCAA Division III level, no institution in the MIAC offers athletic scholarships. The members of the MIAC, all private, undergraduate colleges in Minnesota, are Augsburg College, Bethel University, Carleton College, Concordia College-Moorhead, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, Macalester College, The College of St. Bene- dict (women only), The College of St. Catherine (women only), St. John’s University (men only), St. Mary’s University, St. Olaf College, and the University of St. Thomas. The Bethel hockey seniors have selected Hebrews 12:11 as the team verse for the 2007-08 season: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” 2007-08 ROYALS MIAC Opponents Nov. 16 & 17 vs. St. Thomas Jan. 25 & 26 vs. Concordia Location: St. Paul, Minn. Location: Moorhead, Minn. Enrollment: 5,304 Enrollment: 2,826 Colors: Purple and Gray Colors: Maroon and Gold Head Coach: Terry Skrypek (21st season) Head Coach: Steve Baumgartner (22nd season) 2006-07 Record: 17-10-0/12-4-0 MIAC 2006-07 Record: 7-18-0/3-13-0 MIAC Key Returners: Key Returners: Nick Pernula (Sr., F, Osseo, Minn.) Kirby Markowsky (Sr., D, Warkaw, Sask.) Garrett Gruenke (Sr., D, Plymouth, Minn.) Alec Holen (Jr., Thief River Falls, Minn.) Nate Ryan (Sr., F, Apple Valley) Carl Babich (Jr., Eleveth, Minn.) Key Newcomers: Key Newcomers: Tyler Chestnut (So., GK, Faribault, Minn.) Isaac Vatnsdal (Fr., D, Fergus Falls, Minn.) Adam Davis (Jr., D, Lakeville, Minn.) Parker Metz (Fr., D, Fargo, N.D.) Nov. 30 & Dec. 1 vs. Augsburg Feb. 1 & 2 vs. Hamline Location: Minneapolis, Minn. Location: St. Paul, Minn. Enrollment: 3,785 Enrollment: 1,944 Colors: Maroon and Gray Colors: Red and Gray Head Coach: Chris Brown (2nd season) Head Coach: Scott Bell (3rd season) 2006-07 Record: 12-10-4/9-3-4 MIAC 2006-07 Record: 7-18-0/3-13-0 MIAC Key Returners: Key Returners: Dan Leopold (Sr., D, Afton, Minn.) Dustin Fulton (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) Andy Kent (Jr., G, Lakeville, Minn.) Steve Festler (Jr., Little Falls, Minn.) Chris Johnson (So., F, Verona, Wis.) Andrew Birkholz (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) Key Newcomers: Key Newcomers: Ben Roberts (Fr., D, Bloomington, Minn.) Kyle Mattson (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) Joel Sauer (Fr., F, Madison, Wis.) Austin Tavis (Grand Rapids, Minn.) Dec. 7 & 8 vs. St. John’s Feb. 8 & 9 vs. St. Mary’s Location: Collegeville, Minn. Location: St. Peter, Minn. Enrollment: 1,886 Enrollment: 1,350 Colors: Cardinal and Blue Colors: Red and White Head Coach: John Harrington (15th season) Head Coach: Don Olson (30th season) 2006-07 Record: 9-14-2/6-9-1 2006-07 Record: 7-17-1/4-11-1 MIAC Key Returners: Key Returners: Pat Eagles (Sr., F, Falcon Heights, Minn.) Adam Gill (Sr., F, Rochester, Minn.) Tom Freeman (Sr., F, Eagan, Minn.) Anthony Bohn (So., F, Spring Hill, Fla.) Jake Hipp (Jr., F, Bismarck, N.D.) David Gross (Sr., F, Grasston, Minn.) Key Newcomers: Key Newcomers: Jeremy Streit (So., Sauk Rapids, Minn.) Will Such (Fr., D, Broomfield, Colo.) Jake Koehler (So., Ramsey, Minn.) Kelly Kranz (Fr., D, Bloomington, Minn.) Jan.