BEMIDJI, Minn. – For the second time in three years, the Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team advanced to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Mason Cup Championship game ager defeating Lake Superior State University 4-1 Saturday night in the Semifinal at Sanford Center.
 
The Beavers advanced to the CCHA Championship game next Friday (March 22) also at Sanford Center and will face Michigan Technological University to hoist the Mason Cup. Puck drop is slated for 7:07 p.m. CT.
 
Bemidji State extended its NCAA Division I longest unbeaten streak to 11 games, the longest in its DI history. It also extended its winning streak to nine games for another DI program record and are tied with No. 1 Boston College for the longest active winning streak.
 
The Beavers earned win number 20 on the season and improve to 20-15-2 on the season reaching the 20-win milestone for the first time since the COVID-19 shortened 2019-20 season. BSU also earned its 15^th victory at home, the most in its DI era.
 
Freshman Eric Pohlkamp scored within the first two minutes to give the Beavers the early lead after scoring his fourth goal in three games with a snap-shot from the left point after junior Jere Vaisanen won an offensive zone draw.
 

BEAVER GOAL!!!

Goal scored by Eric Pohlkamp, assisted by Jere Vaisanen!

Beavers lead the Lakers 1-0!#GoBeavers #BeaverTerritory pic.twitter.com/MBUWLEW2K7

— Bemidji State Men's Hockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) March 17, 2024

 
The goal was his 11^th of the season tying John Haider (2003-04) for the second most goals scored by a Beaver defenseman in a single season.
 
Bemidji State carried the one-goal lead into the second period where freshman Jake McLean extended the Beavers' lead to two with his sixth goal of the season and second goal in as many games 7:32 into the frame.
 

BEAVER GOAL!!!

Goal scored by Jake McLean, assisted by Donte Lawson and Mitch Wolfe! Beavers lead the Lakers 2-0!#GoBeavers #BeaverTerritory pic.twitter.com/QTiGR6do0e

— Bemidji State Men's Hockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) March 17, 2024

 
Just 58 seconds later, junior Eric Martin sprung sophomore Kirklan Irey in behind the Lakers' defense and he scored a pretty tight-quarters goal to put the Beavers up by three.
 

BEAVER GOAL!!!

Goal scored by Kirklan Irey, assisted by Tony Follmer and Eric Martin! Beavers lead the Lakers 3-0!#GoBeavers #BeaverTerritory pic.twitter.com/hMuAxEy3wy

— Bemidji State Men's Hockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) March 17, 2024

 
The Lakers would respond before the periods end and 4:07 later, Branden Piku scored his seventh of the season to pull LSSU back within two.
 
The teams would hit the second intermission with the Beavers still holding on to the two-goal lead and they were able to stymie the Lakers attack in the third period holding LSSU to six shots on goal and junior Mattias Sholl there to make the save for each one.
 
Vaisanen would seal the victory for the Beavers with an empty-net goal with 10 seconds to play for the 4-1 victory and ninth in-a-row.
 

BEAVER GOAL!!!

Game winning goal by Jere Vaisanen, assisted by Carter Jones and Adam Flammang!#GoBeavers #BeaverTerritory pic.twitter.com/Jpc9Ox6wRU

— Bemidji State Men's Hockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) March 17, 2024

 
Sholl turned aside 13-of-14 shots he saw including six in the final period to aid the Beavers in victory and improve to 14-7-2 on the season.
 
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).
 
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).
 
--bsu—