BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team edged Augustana University 1-0 in overtime Friday night at the Sanford Center to open their Central Collegiate Hockey Association series. Bemidji State junior Oliver Peer scored 2:12 into the extra frame to send the Beavers home victories while junior Raythan Robbin turned aside all 27 shots he faced to collect his first collegiate shutout.
 
Bemidji State garnered two points in the CCHA standings with the overtime victory improving to 3-4-0 (1-0-0 CCHA) and snapped a four-game losing streak.
 
Peer found the net for the fourth time this season, matching senior Reilly Funk for the team lead, and was his first game-winning goal of his collegiate career. Senior Adam Flammang assisted on the play in his first game back from injury for his team-leading sixth assist of the season while sophomore Hudson Thornton earned the second assist.
 
Bemidji State put up some impressive numbers statistically selling out defensively to block 22 shots as a team led by Thornton with four and Vincent Labelle with three. The Beavers also dominated on the face-off dot totaling an impressive 63.9-percent face-off winning percentage (39-of-61) and were led by Funk who won 18-of-20 draws.
 
The first frame began with Bemidji State taking early control, winning the initial faceoff. Both teams exchanged opportunities, but neither could capitalize on their chances. The Vikings' Josh Kotai faced multiple shots from Bemidji State, making crucial saves to keep the score level. As the period wound down, the Vikings' Nace Langus incurred a tripping penalty, giving Bemidji State a power play opportunity that extended into the intermission, yet neither team managed to break the deadlock, ending the period scoreless.
 
The second frame saw a flurry of activity but no goals as both Bemidji State and the Vikings struggled to crack the opposing netminder. Bemidji State's offense was active early, including a shot by Kasper Magnussen at 19:43 that went wide. Despite multiple power play chances, Bemidji State was unable to capitalize, with Kotai making several key saves for the Vikings. The period also saw a number of blocked shots, notably by Bemidji State's Hudson Thornton and the Vikings' Ben Troumbly. The period concluded with Bemidji State on a power play due to a hooking penalty on Cole Burtch, but they failed to score before the buzzer, leaving the score unchanged.
 
Bemidji State and the Vikings played a defensively tight third frame that concluded without any scoring. Both teams had opportunities, but strong defensive efforts and goaltending kept the puck out of the net. Later, a cross-checking penalty against the Vikings' Tyler Hennen at 11:46 gave Bemidji State a power play opportunity, yet they were unable to capitalize. The period ended with consistent saves from both goalies, as the Vikings' Kotai and Bemidji State's Robbins each turned away multiple attempts.
 
The overtime period began with Bemidji State controlling the faceoff, setting the stage for a tense finish. Bemidji State's Flammang and Thornton had their early shots blocked by the Vikings' Hayden Hennen. The Vikings' Colton Friesen and Owen Baumgartner also attempted to break the stalemate, but Robbins made crucial saves for the home team. Peer secured the victory for Bemidji State with a goal at 2:12, assisted by Flammang and Thornton, ending the game in sudden-death overtime with a 1-0 win.
 
Bemidji State's penalty kill finished the game going 3-for-3 but its power-play struggled going 0-for-5 in the game. Robbins improved to 2-1-0 on the season while Kotai falls to 3-2-0.
 
The Beavers look to capture the series sweep over the Vikings for the first time in the two teams' histories tomorrow night when the puck is dropped for game two at 6:07 p.m. from Sanford Center.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram or like them on Facebook.
 
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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