BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 20 Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team skated to a 2-2 tie with Ferris State University Friday night in game one of their Central Collegiate Hockey Association series at Sanford Center. After a scoreless three-on-three overtime, Ferris State earned the extra point in the CCHA standings by downing the Beavers (3-2-2, 1-0-2 CCHA) 1-0 in the shootout.
 
Bemidji State out-shot the Bulldogs (3-4-2, 1-1-1 CCHA) 43-24 in the contest but Logan Stein from FSU held the Beavers' offense in check and turned aside 41-of-42 shots.
 
Ferris State opened the game with a power-play goal with 4:35 left in the opening period when Tyler Schleppe broke in behind the Beavers' defense and buried the breakaway chance for his second goal of the season. However, the Beavers responded just 57 seconds later when Ross Armour finished a two-on-one opportunity that was started when Mitchell Martan forced a turnover at the blueline.
 
The first period would end locked in the 1-1 tie but 3:36 into the second period, freshman Kirklan Irey scored his first collegiate goal for the Beavers after receiving a pass-off-pads play from Kaden Pickering.
 
However, just 5:16 later, Ferris State's Austin McCarthy tipped in a Brendan MacLaren shot after multiple Bulldogs chance created chaos in front of BSU netminder Mattias Sholl to even the game at 2-2.
 
Bemidji State fought to break the tie in the third period and out-shot FSU 12-5 in the final frame but Stein was lights out and denied every opportunity for the Beavers.
 
Ferris State would have the most opportunities in the overtime period, out-shooting BSU 6-1 but Sholl was strong as well and turned away all six shots.
 
The Bulldogs would eventually earn the extra point in the CCHA standings after Connor McGrath scored the lone shootout attempt in three rounds.
 
The Beavers are now 3-2-2 on the season and 1-0-2 in league play.
 
Bemidji State will attempt to earn three points in the league standings tomorrow night when the two teams meet again for game two at 6:07 p.m.
 
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey 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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