MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The (RV) Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team fell 5-2 to No. 2/3 University of Minnesota Sunday night in an exhibition match-up at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, Minn.
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Junior
Jere Vaisanen and fifth-year senior
Carter Jones each scored for the Beavers.
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Minnesota's Oliver Moore started the scoring with a goal at 9:09 of the second period and then Rhett Pitlick extended the lead to 2-0 five minutes later. Vaisanen then pulled the Beavers within one with a short-handed goal just 5:50 into the third period to breathe life into BSU.
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However, halfway through the third period, Bryce Brodzinksi made it 3-1 Minnesota and then 1:54 after Pitlick scored his second for the three-goal lead. Jones then scored with 1:21 remaining following a five-minute major penalty kill by the Beavers but Moore netted his second of the game with an empty-net goal with 28.6 remaining to seal the game.
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Six Beavers recorded a point with
Tony Follmer,
Noah Quinn,
Jackson Jutting and
Lleyton Roed each earning assists.
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Head coach
Tom Serratore played all three goaltenders during the game with junior
Mattias Sholl earning the starter's net and played the first period turning aside all four shots by the Gophers. Senior
Gavin Enright then followed in the second period and stopped 19-of-21 shots while freshman
Raythan Robbins closed out the game in the third and stopped 13-of-15 shots.
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Bemidji State only had one power play opportunity in the game and came up empty while its penalty kill killed off all four Gopher power plays including a five-minute major halfway through the third period.
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The Beavers now return to Bemidji and prepare to host University of Wisconsin and Army-West Point for the Ice Breaker Tournament to officially kick-off the 2023-24 season at Sanford Center. The Beavers begin the season-opening weekend hosting the Badgers at 7:07 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, followed by Army Saturday at 6:07 p.m.
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For more information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter or Instagram (@BSUBeaversMHKY), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).
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Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University 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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