BEMIDJI, Minn. – Freshman
Jirí Klíma scored the deciding shootout goal and
Max Hildebrand denied all four Ferris State University attempts as the Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team earned the extra Central Collegiate Hockey Association point following a 4-4 tie Saturday night at Sanford Center. The Beavers collected two of three league points Saturday and five-of-six during their conference-opening series against the Bulldogs.
Bemidji State twice erased third-period deficits, including a late equalizer from
Maxon Vig with 2:05 remaining in regulation. Four different Beavers scored, while
Max Namestnikov,
Oliver Peer and
Brayden Dube each recorded two points.
Ethan Miedema opened the scoring just 3:01 into the game. Dube and
Luke Roelofs earned the assists as Miedema scored his third goal of the season and sent the Beavers into the first intermission leading 1-0.
Bemidji State had an opportunity to extend its lead midway through the first period when
Tory Lund was awarded a penalty shot, but Alan Lendak made the save to keep the Bulldogs within one. The Beavers outshot Ferris State 11-8 during the opening period.
Ferris State answered with three goals during the second period. Adyn Merrick tied the game with a power-play goal at 7:09 before Ryan Kusler gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead at 12:48.
Peer pulled Bemidji State even with a power-play goal at 17:21. Namestnikov and Dube recorded the assists on Peer's second goal of the season, but Ferris State regained the lead just 38 seconds later when Nathan Leek scored to make it 3-2 entering the second intermission.
The Beavers needed less than two minutes of the third period to respond. Namestnikov converted a feed from Peer at 1:58, scoring his second goal of the season to tie the game at 3-3. The goal completed two-point nights for Namestnikov and Peer.
Ferris State moved back in front at 10:56 when Justin Stupka scored his second goal of the season, giving the Bulldogs a 4-3 advantage.
With time winding down, Vig delivered the equalizer at 17:55.
Rylan Gould and
Luca D'Amato assisted on Vig's first goal of the season as Bemidji State forced overtime for the second time this season.
The Beavers received a power play 1:18 into the five-minute overtime and generated two shots on goal during the advantage.
Carter Rapalje also struck the pipe earlier in the extra period, but neither team could produce the deciding goal as the game officially ended in a 4-4 tie.
Hildebrand then took control in the shootout. The senior stopped attempts from Leek, Akseli Pulkkanen, Merrick and Owen Mehlenbacher. After the first six combined attempts were unsuccessful, Klíma scored against Lendak in the fourth round to secure the extra CCHA point for the Beavers.
Hildebrand finished with 29 saves, including all three shots he faced during overtime plus four four attempts in the shootout. Lendak stopped 26 shots for Ferris State. The Bulldogs held a 33-30 edge in shots on goal, while Bemidji State finished 1-for-2 on the power play.
The Beavers moved to 2-4-1 overall and 1-0-1 in CCHA play. Ferris State moved to 1-5-2 overall and 1-2-1 in league action.
The Beavers now prepare for one of the season's toughest road trips and next travel to Bowling Green, Ohio to face Bowling Green State University Nov. 6-7 at Slater Family Ice Arena.
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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