Michael Bitzer, a former Bemidji State University hockey player, looks back on a career that began on the frozen ponds of Moorhead and grew into a professional journey across the Atlantic. His early years at Bemidji State culminated in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association championship in 2017 and a top‑10 finish as a Hobey Baker Award finalist, achievements that still resonate in the program's record books.
After those collegiate highlights, Bitzer took his game to Germany, where he now prepares for his eighth season overseas. The move brought more than just a new league; it led to German citizenship, two children born in the country, and a life that feels like a second home. He credits the disciplined European style with sharpening his instincts between the pipes.
Homecoming and Community Ties
Bitzer still returns to his hometown of Bemidji for events such as the Galen Nagle Memorial Golf Tournament, a fundraiser honoring another former net‑minder and supporting the Beaver hockey program. Under the guidance of coach Tom Serratore, he participates in local gatherings that keep his connection to Minnesota strong, even as his professional life unfolds abroad.
Beyond the ice, Bitzer holds several Division I program records at Bemidji State, including the highest career save percentage and shutouts. His path also includes a stint in the ECHL, stints with teams like Eispiraten Crimmitschau and Schwenninger Wild Wings, and a commitment to improving year by year, always measuring progress against the standards he set in his early years.