SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the third time this season, the Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team earned a shootout victory over a Central Collegiate Hockey Association opponent Sunday afternoon in its series finale at Augustana University. The Beavers garnered two league points with a 4-4 tie with the Vikings and later won the shootout 2-0 to end play during the 2025 calendar year.
 
In a back-and forth affair, the Beavers battled back from a two-goal deficit after Oliver Peer scored an extra-attacker goal with 2:03 to play to send the game into overtime. After a scoreless three-on-three period, shootout goals Peer and Connor McClennon and two saves by freshman goaltender Max Hildebrand secured two league points for the Beavers to end the first half of the 2025-26 season.
 
Four different Beavers scored in the game including Peer with the game-tying goal and Maxon Vig, Jake McLean and Kasper Magnussen added a power-play tally. Hudson Thornton and Adam Flammang paced the Beavers with each collecting two assists.
 
The first period began with Bemidji State gaining control off the initial faceoff. Despite numerous attempts, Bemidji State was unable to convert, as Augustana's goaltender Josh Kotai made several key saves, particularly against efforts from Vig and Max Namestnikov. The Vikings capitalized on this defensive stability at 11:40 when Joey DelGreco scored the opening goal, assisted by Brett Meerman and Owen Baumgartner. Bemidji State faced a setback with a penalty, granting the Vikings a power play, but the Beavers successfully killed the penalty. The period concluded with Bemidji State on a power play due to a high-sticking penalty, but they could not find the equalizer before the buzzer, leaving the score at 1-0 in favor of the Vikings.
 
Bemidji State leveled the score early in the second period when McLean found the net at 12:46 with an assist from Mitch Wolfe. The Vikings responded with two goals in quick succession, with Jacob Jastrzebski scoring at 17:19 and Samo Meritähti adding another at 18:00, giving the home team a 3–1 lead. Vig pulled one back for Bemidji State at 18:57 with an unassisted goal, narrowing the margin before the period's end. The period concluded with the Vikings holding a slight 3–2 advantage.
 
Bemidji State equalized early in the third period with a power-play goal from Magnussen at 16:40, assisted by Thornton and Adam Flammang. The Vikings responded at 11:01 with an even-strength goal by Landon Fandel, assisted by Cole Burtch and Jastrzebski, reclaiming a 4–3 lead. Bemidji State, with an extra attacker on the ice, tied the game again at 2:03, as Oliver Peer scored with assists from Flammang and Thornton. Despite late pressure from both teams, the game ended in a 4–4 tie.
 
The overtime period between Bemidji State and the Vikings concluded without a goal despite multiple efforts from both teams. Bemidji State's Peer led the charge early with a missed shot at 4:08, while Isa Parekh blocked a shot by the Vikings' Maxwell Chakrabarti at 3:30. Bemidji State's Max Hildebrand turned away several attempts, including two crucial saves against Owen Bohn and Hennen. The period ended scoreless, with Kotai making key saves for the Vikings, including another on Peer with just seven seconds remaining.
 
In a tense shootout, Bemidji State emerged victorious over the Vikings after a 4-4 tie in regulation. Peer opened the shootout with a successful attempt against Kotai, setting the tone for Bemidji State. Hildebrand stood firm in goal, denying Bohn's attempt for the Vikings. After Flammang's miss, Tyler Hennen also failed to convert for the Vikings. Connor McClennon sealed the win for Bemidji State by scoring the decisive goal, with Hildebrand stopping a final attempt from the Vikings to conclude the shootout.
 
Bemidji State ends the first half of the 2025-26 regular season with a 9-8-3 record and 7-2-3 in league play. The Beavers sit second in the CCHA standings with 25 points in 12 league games but won't return to CCHA play until Jan. 9-10.
 
BSU's next game will be Jan. 2 when the Beavers host University of Minnesota for a single-game exhibition.
 
For the most up to date information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com or follow the Beavers on X, 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).
 
--bsu—