Bemidji State โคForward Luke โฃRoelofs Focused on Defensive improvements, Leadership Role
ANCHORAGE, AK – Bemidji State University forward Luke Roelofs isโ entering his sophomore season โwith a renewed focus on defensive play and a commitment to โขmentoring incoming players, according to recent interviews and โteam updates. Roelofsโ detailed his offseason workโข addressing areas forโค advancement identified during his exit meeting โคwith BSU coaching staff.
Roelofs, reflecting on his 2024-25 season exit meeting, said head coach Tom Serratoreโฃ emphasized the need for โquicker defensive reactionsโฃ andโ shutting down โplaysโค more aggressively. โ”Tom really emphasized defending quicker and shutting down plays, being more aggressive in our D-zone,” Roelofs stated. “That’s something I workedโข on โa lot this summer, retrieving pucks. I feel like, in those areas andโ trying to jump โขup more on offense, that’s big for me.”
Beyond individual โskill development, Roelofs is embracing a leadership role within the Beavers’ programme, which โฃfeatures aโ mix of returning veteransโค and new โfaces. “I told them I want to be somebody the new โguys can look up to and ask questions or comeโฃ to if they’re โขstruggling with โขsomething,”โค he said.Heโ added that he intends to emulate the support he received as a freshman, having frequently sought guidanceโข from โคthe team’s juniors last season.
Roelofs spent โthe summer back home in Mound, Minnesota, โฃprioritizing โstrength and conditioning – working inโ the weight room three to four times a week – while alsoโ reconnecting with โขfriends.The โฃBeavers โare navigating early-season challengesโค with injuries to sophomore defensemanโ Isaโ parekh and senior โforward Adam Flammang,creating opportunities โfor โplayers to earn increased ice time.
“At the end of the day, we have to โmake decisions based on play and trust,” โSerratore said. “That’sโข what we’re trying to do, and that’s tough because I want everybody to playโ good.”
