Bemidji State University

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team battled No. 8/9 University of Minnesota Duluth through a scoreless opening period, but two second-period goals lifted the Bulldogs to a 3-0 victory Saturday night at Sanford Center in their non-conference series finale.
 
The Beavers and Bulldogs traded chances throughout the opening 20 minutes, with each team placing 10 shots on goal. Max Hildebrand stopped all 10 shots he faced in the period, while Carl Axelsson matched him at the opposite end.
 
Bemidji State received the game's first power-play opportunity at 11:35 of the opening period. The Beavers generated two shots on goal during the advantage, but Axelsson kept the game scoreless.
 
Hildebrand and the BSU penalty killers then helped the Beavers erase the remainder of a Maxon Vig hooking penalty that carried into the second period. Minnesota Duluth broke the deadlock on its next power play when Ty Hanson scored at 9:32 of the middle frame. Callum Arnott and Jayson Shaugabay earned assists on the game's opening goal.
 
The Beavers answered with pressure following the goal. Jaksen Panzer put consecutive shots on net before Hudson Thornton followed with another opportunity, but Axelsson turned aside all three attempts to preserve the Bulldogs' lead.
 
Hanson doubled the advantage at 17:15 of the second period, scoring his second goal of the game at even strength. Shaugabay collected his second assist of the night, while Aaron Pionk added the secondary helper to send the Bulldogs into the second intermission leading 2-0.
 
Bemidji State continued to search for its first goal during the third period, and Ethan Miedema came within inches of cutting the deficit in half when his shot struck the pipe with 4:53 remaining. The Beavers pulled Hildebrand for an extra attacker with 4:01 left and called timeout with 2:47 remaining.
 
BSU generated several attempts with the extra attacker, including three blocked shots during the final minutes. However, Zam Plante sealed the victory with an unassisted empty-net goal at 18:07, producing the 3-0 final.
 
Hildebrand finished with 27 saves and allowed two goals over 57:44 in net. Axelsson stopped all 22 Bemidji State shots to earn the shutout. Panzer led the Beavers with five shots on goal, while Miedema followed with four and Rylan Gould added three.
 
The teams each won 27 faceoffs and blocked 11 shots. Bemidji State finished 0-for-2 on the power play, while Minnesota Duluth converted one of its two opportunities.
 
The loss moved the Beavers to 1-4-0, while the Bulldogs improved to 5-1-2.
 
The Beavers look to rebound next weekend when they host Ferris State University at Sanford Center October 30-31 to being Central Collegiate Hockey Association play.
 
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—