BEMIDJI — Joe Gramer knows exactly what he brings to the ice. And even before he steps foot on campus this fall, the junior defenseman already sounds like a true Beaver.
"I'm hard to play against, a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy," Gramer said. "The hard-working culture at Bemidji is perfect for me."
A Moorhead native, Gramer is one of four transfer additions committed to Bemidji State so far. Standing at 6-foot, 196 pounds, the left-shot defenseman spent his first two college seasons at Omaha in the NCHC. Now, he's heading back to northern Minnesota to finish his collegiate career close to home.
"It's huge for me. Playing close to home is something I've grown to appreciate," Gramer said. "When I went into the portal, it was definitely a priority of mine. Landing at Bemidji is pretty sweet, especially to have family come for every game."
Gramer verbally committed to Bemidji State on April 27, a move that came after he returned to junior hockey midway through his sophomore year at Omaha. After two seasons in the USHL with Des Moines, he played 33 games as a freshman, recording four assists. He added one more assist in his sophomore season before deciding to use his last year of junior eligibility.
"I like to take care of the defensive side of the game first," Gramer said. "Being good in the D-zone and being hard to play against is my bread and butter—it's how I shine in this game. But there's some offense in my game as well. I'm a pass-first defenseman who can create some secondary offense in the lineup. I have a well-rounded game, and I think that's something I added going back to juniors in the Western Hockey League this year."
The NCAA's recent eligibility changes allowed Gramer to join the Seattle Thunderbirds as an overage player for the 2025-26 season. Since he doesn't turn 21 until July 14, he was young enough to claim that spot and develop his game further.
"I had a great experience and I'm super grateful for Seattle," Gramer said. "It was just what my game needed. I was able to establish myself defensively and carve out a reliable role in college hockey, but going back to juniors allowed me to add some offense and puck poise. It was huge for me, and it was all new."
With Seattle, Gramer posted one goal and 14 assists in 29 regular-season games, then added two goals and two assists in five postseason contests. That offensive spark, combined with his steady defensive foundation, is exactly what the Beavers are getting—a reliable, hard-nosed blue-liner ready to make an impact from day one.