BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team fell to Michigan Technological University, 4-3, Saturday night despite a late third-period surge in their Central Collegiate Hockey Association series finale at Sanford Center. The Beavers scored twice in the second period, with a power-play goal in the third, but the Huskies' strong start with two goals in the first period and another two in the second fueled their victory. It is the first time this season that the Beavers were swept in conference play.
 
Tom Serratore reflected on Bemidji State's loss, citing the team's struggle to capitalize on opportunities in the earlier periods. "Yeah, but it was just too late. We had a good effort in the third period, but it was just too late," Serratore stated. Despite a strong push in the final period, a series of penalties in the second proved detrimental. "We shot ourselves in the foot in the first period and in the second period," he remarked, highlighting the four penalties incurred during the second period. Serratore emphasized the need for consistent offensive zone play across all periods, not just in the third, to draw penalties and maintain momentum. "The bottom line is let's play in the offensive zone so we can draw some penalties, we did in the third. You got to do that in the first and the second as well," he observed. Looking ahead, Serratore acknowledged the increased pressure on the team, noting, "Now you got serious pressure on you. You know we did that to ourselves."
 
Reilly Funk scored a power-play goal and won 18 of 24 faceoffs, achieving a 75-percent success rate at the dot. Oliver Peer added a goal and seven shots on goal while winning 57-percent of his faceoffs. Kasper Magnussen contributed two assists and took two shots on net. Tory Lund also found the back of the net for the second time this season.
 
The first period began with Bemidji State winning the opening faceoff, but the Huskies soon gained momentum. Tyler Miller scored the first goal of the game for the Huskies at 18:14, assisted by Tom Leppa and Matthew Van Blaricom. Later, Brayden Boehm extended the Huskies' lead to 2–0 at 6:16, with assists from Reid Daavettila and Michael Cicek. Bemidji State had several attempts, including a power play opportunity after a hooking penalty on Leppa, but they could not convert before the period ended.
 
In the second period, Bemidji State's Tory Lund scored at 16:38, assisted by Jake McLean and Luke Roelofs, bringing the Beavers within one for the first time. However, the Huskies quickly regained the lead at 12:25 with a goal from Brayden Boehm, assisted by Reid Daavettila and Michael Cicek. Bemidji State responded with a goal from Oliver Peer at 9:21, assisted by Kasper Magnussen and Mitch Wolfe, to bring the Beavers within one a second time but Michigan Tech then capitalized on a power play opportunity, with Luca Fasciano scoring at 2:55, assisted by Max Koskipirtti and Isaac Gordon, ending the period with a 4–2 lead.
 
Reilly Funk's power-play goal at 12:15 brought the Beavers back within one for a third time, assisted by Hudson Thornton and Kasper Magnussen. Bemidji State dominated faceoffs, with Funk winning multiple crucial draws, and they generated consistent pressure throughout the period. Despite numerous attempts, including a late flurry with the extra skater and two-man advantage, Owen Bartoszkiewicz's key saves preserved the Huskies' 4-3 lead.
 
Each team produced 29 shots in the game with BSU's Max Hildebrand making 25 saves but falls to 4-6-1 on the season. The Beavers totaled six power plays in the game scoring once while their penalty kill held the Huskies to just one power-play goal on seven chances. BSU's seven penalties in the game tied a season high.
 
Bemidji State now holds an overall record of 9-10-3 and a conference record of 7-4-3 before hitting the road for the first time in 2026 with a CCHA series at University of St. Thomas next weekend. Bemidji State will make its debut at the new Lee and Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul.
 
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—