BEMIDJI, Minn. – Fifth-year forward
Carter Rapalje scored twice and sophomore
Max Hildebrand stopped 25 shots as the Bemidji State University men's hockey team opened Central Collegiate Hockey Association play with a commanding 6-1 victory over Ferris State University Friday night at Sanford Center.
The Beavers scored twice in each period and answered the Bulldogs' opening goal with six consecutive tallies. Five different players scored for Bemidji State, while Rapalje, Jirí Klíma and
Oliver Peer each produced two-point performances.
Ferris State struck first 3:58 into the game when Nathan Mackie scored his second goal of the season off assists from Owen Mehlenbacher and Austin Zemlak. The lead lasted only 48 seconds before
Tory Lund answered for the Beavers.
Joe Gramer earned the assist on Lund's first goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.
Rapalje gave the Beavers their first lead at 7:25 of the opening period. The fifth year and Ferris State transfer forced a turnover and scored unassisted for his first goal of the season, which stood as the game winner and sent Bemidji State into the first intermission with a 2-1 advantage.
The Beavers quickly added to their lead in the second period. After Klíma and Peer each struck the post during the opening minute, Klíma finished the sequence by scoring 44 seconds into the frame. Peer and
Hudson Thornton recorded the assists on Klíma's second goal of the season.
Peer extended the lead to 4-1 at 10:17, finishing a setup from
Max Namestnikov and Klíma for his first goal of the season. Klíma's assist completed his two-point night, while Peer also reached two points with a goal and an assist.
Bemidji State put the game away with two goals separated by just 22 seconds early in the third period.
Aiden Ziprick scored unassisted at 4:35 for the first goal of his collegiate career, pushing the advantage to 5-1.
Rapalje followed at 4:57 with his second goal of the game, converting a feed from
Will Dawson to complete the scoring. Rapalje finished with a game-high five shots and a plus-3 rating, earning the game's first star.
Hildebrand turned aside all 18 shots he faced over the final two periods and finished with 25 saves to earn his second victory of the season. Bemidji State blocked 16 shots in front of him, led by four from Gramer and three from Klíma.
The Beavers outshot the Bulldogs 32-26 and held Ferris State scoreless on both of its power-play opportunities. Bemidji State finished 0-for-5 with the man advantage, with all six of its goals coming at even strength.
With the victory, Bemidji State improved to 2-4-0 overall and 1-0-0 in CCHA play. Ferris State fell to 1-5-1 overall and 1-2-0 in conference action. The two teams meet again Saturday evening for their series finale at Sanford Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m.
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
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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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