Box Score BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University men's hockey team ended its 2021-22 regular season in thrilling fashion when junior Elias Rosén netted the game-winning overtime goal to give the Beavers the 4-3 victory over University of St. Thomas Saturday night (Feb. 26).
Bemidji State honored its eight seniors in part of senior night and were led seniors Alex Ierullo (2g-1a) and Owen Sillinger (1g-2a) after the each recorded three points. With his three-point effort, Sillinger ties former Bemidji State legend Matt Read for the most points in a single season during the Division I era at BSU with 41 points.
The Beavers also found out their opponent for the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Playoffs and will host sixth-seed Bowling Green State University at Sanford Center for a best-of-three series March 4-6. Tickets are on sale now at the Sanford Center box office with limited $10 tickets available.
St. Thomas opened the scoring with a power-play goal 11:28 into the first period when Luke Manning buried the man-advantage goal for his seventh of the season. The Beavers responded 4:19 later when Alex Ierullo scored his 13th goal of the season at the 15:47 mark.
St. Thomas retook the lead 4:42 into the second period with a goal from Aaron Swanson but the Beavers responded again when Owen Sillinger scored his team leading 14th goal of the season just 4:04 later. With the goal, Sillinger became just the third Beaver during the DI era to record 40 points in a single season.
The Tommies would get on the scoresheet first in the third period with a goal from Grant Loven at 8:42 but for the third time, BSU responded to tie the game this time with goaltender Mattias Sholl pulled for the extra skater and just 2:21 remaining, Ierullo scored his second of the game to send the game into the three-on-three overtime.
The Beavers wasted little time during the extra period and just 26 seconds in, junior Elias Rosén scored on a partial breakaway to cap-off the 4-3 victory and close out the 2021-22 regular season with a win. Both Sillinger brothers assisted on the play and Owen tied BSU great Matt Read for the most points in a single season (DI) at BSU.
Sholl earned his 10th win in net for the Beavers and improved to 10-11-0 on the season after he stopped 20-of-23 shots by the Tommies. His counterpart, Peter Thome, stopped 41-of-45 shots and was named the game's third star for his efforts.
Bemidji State finishes the 2021-22 regular season with a 16-18-0 record and 14-12-0 record in conference play.
The Beavers begin the first round of the CCHA Playoffs next weekend by hosting Bowling Green at Sanford Center March 4-6 for a best-of-three series.
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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