ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel Royals women's hockey team returns to the ice for the 2021 season opener Saturday afternoon at Bethel University Arena. The Royals open with a non-conference clash with the Falcons from Concordia University-Wisconsin.
 
Check out the complete 2021 schedule with watch and live stats links by clicking here. Dates and start times are subject to change. All home games will be streamed live on the BU Royal Sports Network which can be accessed by clicking here.
 
STRONG SENIOR CLASS
Leading the way for the Royals in 2021 will be an experienced and talented senior class of defensemen Ashley Kirchoff, Kennedi Mitchell, Cali Pearcy and Sydnee Hanson along with forward Bri Stafne. Mitchell and Stafne were both on the All-MIAC Rookie team after their freshman campaigns back in 2018 with Stafne since earning a pair of All-Conference awards in 2019 and 2020 and Mitchell named Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2019. Stafne enters her senior season tied for 12^th on Bethel's all-time scoring list with 63 career points. Three points could move her into the top 10 at eighth.
 
OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Seniors Sydnee Hanson, Kennedi Mitchell and Bri Stafne will serve as the Royals captains during this shortened season. The trio were three of the Royals top four scorers in 2019-20 along with the graduated Bailey Thompson who tied with Stafne for the team lead at 17 points.
 
TEN NEWCOMERS
Head coach Brian Carlson brought in a promising group of newcomers which includes nine freshman and one transfer. All 10 newcomers played their high school careers in the State of Hockey, Minnesota. In all, the Royals only have one player on the roster who hails from outside of Minnesota, sophomore Lara Trulove from Glenwood Springs, Colorado. While not technically a newcomer, sophomore forward Emily Roder joined the Royals at the semester break last year and made an immediate impact. This year Roder will start on the Royals top line.
 
THE STOPPERS
A position of strength for the Royals will be the goaltenders. Returners Mallory Tidona and Bailey Shuck are joined by freshman Ava Patnode from Simley High School. Tidona made 17 starts in net last season, picking up seven wins and four shutouts. Her save total of 456 was the fourth most in the MIAC. Shuck made seven starts allowing just 2.39 goals per game in her rookie campaign in 2019-20. Goalie coach Al Fritzinger returns for his second year working with the Royals netminders.
 
RECORD vs OPPONENTS
vs CUW: The Royals and Falcons have been evenly matched over the last several seasons with Bethel holding a 5-4-1 overall advantage. BU has not beaten CUW in Bethel University Arena however, holding a 5-1 mark at CUW and a 0-3-1 record at home.
vs Saint Ben's: Bethel holds a strong advantage all time vs. the Bennies at 25-13-5 including a current five-game winning streak and a 16-1-1 record over the last 18 matchups dating back to 2011-12.
vs St. Thomas: The Royals last win over the Tommies came back in 2016-17 and UST holds a 34-7-5 all-time advantage which includes victories over the Royals in the 2015 & 2016 MIAC Championship games.
vs Hamline: The Pipers are two years removed from an NCAA Runner-Up finish and hold a two-game winning streak but the Royals hold the all-time advantage at 27-14-2.
vs Augsburg: Bethel owns an all-time advantage over the Auggies at 21-12-2 though AU currently holds an eight game winning streak over the Royals.
vs Concordia: The Cobbers and Royals have historically been very evenly matched with many great contests. Bethel won the last game played between the two teams in 2020 and an all-time advantage of 22-18-6.
vs Saint Mary's: The Cardinals won the first 10 matchups back in the early 2000's helping them to an all-time lead in the series of 24-13-6 but Bethel is 5-3-2 over the last 10 games including a 7-1 victory in the 2014-15 MIAC Playoffs.
vs Gustavus: The Gusties have been a long-time power in the MIAC and Bethel holds a 5-44-1 record against Gustavus with those five wins coming in the 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16 seasons.