HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Von Braun Center) -- Sophomore Markus Gerbrandt (F, Edmonton, Alberta) posted his first collegiate hat trick to lead the Bemidji State University men's ice hockey team to a 6-1 victory over the University of Alabama-Huntsville Friday at Von Braun Center. The win marked the beginning of the 2013-14 Western Collegiate Hockey Association season.
Gerbrandt's first multi-point game of the season stands as the first multi-goal game of his career. BSU's last hat trick came off the stick of Brad Hunt, Nov. 21, 2009; ironically it was against the same Alabama-Huntsville program.
The Chargers took an early 1-0 lead, making good on its first power-play opportunity of the evening.
Philip Marinaccio was whistled for tripping at the 15:41 mark and UAH would go up 1-0 just eight seconds later when Alex Allan posted a goal with help from Doug Reid.
The Beavers responded by netting a pair of goals 38 seconds apart, less than two minutes later.
Gerbrandt posted his second tally of the season at the 17:07 mark and Brendan Harms (F, Fr., Steinbach, Manitoba) registered the first goal of his collegiate career with 2:15 left in the frame. Sam Rendle (D, Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), Matt Prapavessis (D, Jr., Oakville, Ontario) and Danny Mattson (F, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) were credited with assists in the period.
Leading 2-1 to open the second period, BSU stretched its lead to 3-1 at the 12:45 mark. UAH turned the puck over between the circles and Cory Ward (F, So., Las Vegas, Nev.) netted his third goal of 2013-14. Mattson and Harms were each credited with their second point of the night after setting Ward up on the scoring play.
Gerbrandt scored his second and third goals just 16 seconds apart to open the third period. The sophomore posted his third marker of the season 2:45 into the frame and his team-leading fourth of 2013-14 to put BSU up 5-1, with help from Jeff Jubinville (F, Sr., Edmonton, Alberta) and Phil Brewer (F, F, Cambridge, Ontario), at the 3:01 mark.
Before time expired, newcomer Charlie O'Connor (F, Elk Grove Village, Ill.) buried his first goal in the green and white to settle the score at 6-1.
Bemidji State’s last five-goal victory dates back to Oct. 20, 2012 hen BSU shut out Lake Superior State University, 5-0, at Sanford Center.
After bending just eight seconds into the Chargers' first power play, the BSU penalty-kill unit finished the night killing four of five man advantage opportunities.
The Beavers out shot UAH 26-23, marking the first time this season BUS have registered more shot son goal than its opponent. BSU’s power-play unit was scoreless on two opportunities (0-for-2).
Goaltender Andrew Walsh (Jr., Dawson Creek, British Columbia) finished the game with 22 saves and one goal allowed in 60 minutes between the pipes. He improved to 1-3-1 on the season and a perfect 3-0-0 in three career appearances versus Alabama-Huntsville.
With four goals and an assist through five games of his sophomore season, Gerbrandt has already matched his offensive output of a year ago. The Edmonton, Alberta native netted four goals and a helper in 31 games as a rookie.
The Beavers, now 1-3-1 on the season and 1-0-0 in WCHA play, wrap up their league-opening series versus Alabama-Huntsville tomorrow at 7:07 p.m. from Von Braun Center.
For more information on the Bemidji State men’s hockey program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers or @BSUMHockey), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.
Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
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