MARQUETTE, Mich. (Berry Events Center) -- Michael Bitzer turned aside all 21 shots he faced and Leo Fitzgerald and Jay Dickman provided scoring punch as the Bemidji State University men's hockey team used a 2-0 victory over Northern Michigan University to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Beavers' special teams play continued to click. BSU was 1-for-6 on the man advantage, while its penalty-kill unit continued to be perfect this season, holding the Wildcats scoreless on four opportunities.

Fitzgerald opened the scoring just 7:02 into the game when Dan Billett and Brendan Harms found the forward streaking up the ice for a breakaway goal and a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

After a second period during which the Beavers out shot the Wildcats 14-6 but were held without a goal, BSU doubled its lead in the third. Dickman recorded his first goal of the season on the power play at the 10:59 mark. Myles Fitzgerald and Kyle Bauman were credited with the power-play assists.

The victory propelled the Beavers to their first 3-0-0 record to open a season since the team went 4-0-0 to begin the 2005-06 campaign.

Bitzer improved to 3-0-0 on the season with victory. With his 11th career shutout, the Moorhead, Minn. native move to within one of Matt Climie (2004-08) and the BSU all-time shutouts record (12).

The Beavers look for their second series sweep of the season tomorrow when the Beavers again face the Wildcats. The opening faceoff is set for 6:07 p.m. form Berry Events Center.

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.

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