Bemidji State may not be a mystery to Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson, whose team will face the Beavers in Saturday's NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal in Fort Wayne, Ind.

But for those who wonder just where the Wolverines' opening-round opponents hail from, here's a list of 10 facts to bring your Bemidji, Minnesota knowledge up to date.

1. Bemidji was settled in 1750 by a Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian tribe. The Ojibwe word for Bemidji (Bay-me-ji-ga-maug) means "lake that traverses another body of water" for the Mississippi River's course through the city of just more than 13,000 residents.

2. Bemidji considers itself the home of Paul Bunyan, the mythical lumberjack who was believed to possess a booming voice that forced lumberjacks to wear earmuffs year round. His lung power was so great, he called his logging crews together by whistling through a hollow in a tree. According to legend, he blew too hard and blew down 12 acres of jack pine.

Every time Paul sneezed, he blew the roof off the bunkhouse. An 18-foot statue of Paul Bunyan was constructed in Bemidji in 1937 and the lumberjack is the namesake of several area businesses including a mall, a sub shop and a mini storage. Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, a collection of 16 radio stations that broadcasts to northern Minnesota, is headquartered in Bemidji.

3. Bemidji is located four hours north of Minneapolis and is two hours northeast of Fargo, N.D.

4. Bemidji State's hockey team has won six NCAA national championships (Five Division II, one Division III). The Beavers have made four NCAA Tournament appearances since becoming a Division I program.

5. Of Bemidji State's student population, 85 percent come from Minnesota. Fifty-five percent come from northern Minnesota.

6. Bemidji is the birthplace of NFL Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper (Oakland Raiders) and actress Jane Russell.

7. The average annual snowfall in Bemidji is 41 inches and Lake Bemidji is normally frozen over between late November and April 26. The record low temperature was 39 below zero and the record high temperature was 101.

8. Bemidji is considered the curling capital of the United States.

9. Bemidji is also considered to be The First City on the Mississippi River.

10. In addition to Bemidji State, Northwest Technical College and Oak Hills Christian College also call Bemidji home.