Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In the first at-large bid to the NCAA Div. I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, the Bemidji State University men’s hockey team dropped the opening round game of the Midwest Regional to the University of Michigan by a score of 5-1 Saturday night at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.

In its 20th straight trip to the national tournament, Michigan extended its win streak to seven; now having won nine of its last 10 games. As one of the most distinguished programs in men’s hockey, the Wolverines own the record for the most NCAA Div. I championships with nine.

Dan MacIntyre (Jr, Def., Fort Frances, Ontario) was called for a checking from behind penalty at 4:10 of the first period. BSU killed off the penalty, but as MacIntyre was returning to the ice the Wolverines jumped onto the scoreboard first. With Michigan’s Luke Glendening parked in front of the net, Chad Langlais took a slap shot from the point and Glendening tipped the puck out of midair, redirecting it past BSU goalie Dan Bakala (So., Calgary, Alberta).

Under nine minutes left in first period Chris McKelvie (Sr., For., New Brighton, Minn.) had a chance to put his own rebound in for a goal, but a big save by UM tender Shawn Hunwick denied the Beaver forward. Just seconds later the Wolverines found Bakala out of position on a turnover and made a back-door pass to Glendening. Bakala wasn’t going to let him score twice in one period and recovered sliding to his right to stone-wall Glendening.

BSU walked away from the first period down 1-0, which didn’t bode well for the Beavers as Michigan’s record when leading after first period was 18-1-1.

Starting off the second period, a hard slash by UM’s Chris Brown knocked Jordan George (Fr., For., Verona, Wis.) off his feet while shooting. The Beavers entered the power-play scoreless on the previous four man-advantage opportunities and BSU would be denied on the power play for a fifth time in a row.

Goaltending was the again the name of the game in the second period. Bakala was force to make another huge save on Glendening. UM’s Louie Caporusso got a centering pass into the front of the net to Glendening. Bakala made a sliding pad-stack save to his left blocking the shot just below his neck, denying Glendening for a second time in big fashion. Later, George found himself with the puck alone in front of the net with only Hunwick between himself and the net. George made a move to his left before pulling back to the right, but Hunwick reacted quickly making the desperation save using the cuff of his trapper to keep the Wolverine lead.

Ben Kinne (So., For., St. Paul, Minn.) had a breakaway opportunity, but a hard back-checking Steve Kampfer disrupted the scoring opportunity. Diving in stick first, Kampfer broke-up Kinne’s shot and forcing it high wide and high over the net.

At the 17:18 mark of the period Bemidji State got called for its second penalty of the game. Under two minutes later, Michigan’s Brandon Burlon was called for tripping after making an open-ice hit on Tyler Lehrke (Sr., For., Park Rapids, Minn.). Burlon was called for the penalty when he stuck his knee out at the last second as Lehrke tried to go around him. Seconds later Chris Peluso was called for holding the stick, which resulted in 23 seconds of four-on-three action in favor of the Wolverines.

After the first Bemidji State penalty expired, creating four-on-four hockey, UM’s Louie Caporusso received a pass from Brown and beat Bakala over the glove from the right face-off circle. Just like the first goal, the Wolverines scored with a Bemidji State player returning from the penalty box.

The Beaver offense would be shut down again and BSU would leave the second period with a two-goal deficit.

Looking to finally break the shutout streak in the third, George had a beautiful behind the back pass through a defender’s legs to an open Ian Lowe (Jr., For., Bradwardine, Manitoba) who rang a hard one-timer off the left post. The Wolverines were then assessed a penalty on the ensuing scrum for the loose puck. The Beavers finally answered on the special teams as Lowe scored on a one timer from Matt Read (Jr., For., Ilderton, Ontario) at the 11:24 mark of the third period. Read picked up the puck from the point, weaved to his right around a defender before taking a shot that ended up going off the shin guards of a Michigan player. The deflection bounced back to Read’s stick and he passed it cross-ice to Lowe who beat Hunwick just under his waffle board.

However, just over two minutes later Michigan scored on a two-on-one. UM’s Carl Hagelin entered the Beaver zone and passed the puck to his right to Kevin Lynch who then faked a shot before dishing it back to Hagelin at the back door allowing the Wolverines to take back their two-goal lead.

The dagger-through-the-heart for the Beavers came as Hagelin scored on a shorthanded breakaway goal in the final four minutes of the game. It was the fifth shorty on the year for the Wolverines. After the goal Bakala was replaced for an extra attacker in the waning minutes. Brian Lebler then capped the Michigan victory scoring on the empty net making the score 5-1.

Bemidji State ends the 2009-10 season with a 23-10-4 record. BSU is now owns a 2-4 record in the NCAA Div. I National Tournament.

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