BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) -- Emil Billberg
(So., F, Stockholm, Sweden) broke a scoreless tie 6:27 into the third
period and the Bemidji State University men's ice hockey team pilled on
two more goals in the game's final 12 minutes to claim a 3-1 victory
over University of Alabama-Huntsville.
The
College Hockey America victory extended the Beavers' winning streak to
four game while the team improved to 6-7-0 overall and 3-2-0 in league
play.
The Chargers got their only goal of the contest with just 69-seconds remaining to spoil BSU goaltender Matt Dalton's (So., Clinton, Ontario) shutout with a power-play goal.
Dalton
turned away 24 shots before allowing the Kevin Morrison marker. He
improves to 6-4-0 on the season and has not lost Since Nov. 21 and has
allowed just three goals in the four games since.
Billberg got the Beavers on the board early in the third period netting his first goal since Jan. 18, 2007. Freshman Darcy Findlay (F, Bristol, Quebec) set the play up, by chipping the puck down the ice and eventually onto the stick of Chris McKelvie
(Jr., F, New Brighton, Minn.). The assistant captain found Billberg
streaking down the slot and the native of Sweden beat UAH goalie
Cameron Talbot with a one-timer from the right circle.
The
Billberg goal brought a delay in play as the antsy 1,968 in attendance
flooded the ice with a variety of stuffed animal toys in BSU's annual
Teddy Bear Toss. The BSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC),
which organized the event, collected several garbage bags full of
donated teddy bears to be delivered to less fortunate children in the
community by North Country Regional Hospital and local law enforcement
agencies.
Just two-minutes and five-seconds later, Jamie MacQueen (Fr., F, London, Ontario) lit the lamp again for Bemidji State. Fellow rookie Shea Walters
(F, Hibbing, Minn.) hit the streaking forward with a pass and MacQueen
tapped in his first collegiate game-winning goal, an his second marker
in as many games, from the left post.
Cody Bostock
(Sr., D, Salmon Arm, British Columbia) put the Beavers up by three,
3-0, with 4:19 to play, flinging a wrister into the back of the net
from the point. The power-play marker was the only one Beavers would
score in eight opportunities and was assisted by Brad Hunt (Fr., D, Ridge Meadows, British Columbia) and Brandon Marino (Sr., F, Riverside, Calif.).
When McKelvie,
was whistled for tripping at the 17:06-mark of the third period, it set
up the Chargers' power-play goal. UAH finished the night 1-for-3 on the
man advantage.
Despite being out shot for the
third consecutive game, 25-19, BSU made the best of its scoring
opportunities and minimized Ala.-Huntsville's. In addition to the 25
shots UAH landed on target, the Beavers blocked an additional 18 from
reaching the crease with it's hard-nosed defensive play.
With
the win, the Beavers gain a game on the Chargers in the all-time
series. BSU can even the series at 27-27-3 with a victory over UAH
tomorrow. Bemidji State has won six of its last seven meetings over the
Chargers.
Bemidji
State (6-7-0; 2-3-0 CHA) and Alabama-Huntsville (2-6-1; 1-3-1 CHA) will
wrap up the series tomorrow in a 7:05 p.m. opening face off at John S.
Glas Fieldhouse.