Nov. 1, 2008

[box score]

BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) -- Once in a while a lucky bounce is all it takes to win in college hockey and tonight the Bemidji State University men's ice hockey team was the beneficiary of a break as the it completed the exhibition series sweep over the University of Manitoba with a 4-2 victory at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse.

The Beavers got their bounce at the 6:40 mark of the third period with the score knotted at 2-2. BSU was a man short due to forward Chris McKelvie (Jr., F, New Brighton, Minn.) being in the box for goaltender interference. Matt Read (So., C, Ilderton, Ontario) picked off a Bisons pass at the top of the UM attacking zone and dumped off the board before heading off the ice on a line change. The puck caromed off the boards, was misplayed by the UM goaltender, rattled between his legs and trickled into the back of the net.

The eventual game-winner was one of four special teams tallies on the night. In addition to Read's short-handed goal, BSU was 3-for-9 on the power play.

After surrendering in the game's first goal midway through the first period, the Beavers would battle back to lock the score 1-1 before the first intermission. Read potted the Beavers' first goal of the night, just 35-seocnds into a 5-on-3 advantage.

The goal was Read's third of the weekend. When coupled with his two assists in the series opener, the Beaver capped the weekend with five points to lead all BSU players.

A scoreless second period sent the teams' into the final 20 minutes with the score tied at 1-1.

Tyler Scofield (Sr., F, Prince George, British Columbia) gave the Beavers a 2-1 advantage 2:15 into the third period when he skated the puck to the top of the point and fired a shot over the left shoulder of Steve Christie, off the post and into the net for BSU second power-play marker of the evening. Blue liners Chris Peluso (Jr., D, Wadena, Minn.) and Graham McManamin (Jr., D, Anchorage, Alaska) were credited with assists on the special teams marker.

Stewart Thiessen evened the score just 1:32 later taking advantage of a 5-on-3 advantage for the Bisons' only power-play goal of the night.

After the Read bounce put the Beavers up 3-2, freshman Ben Kinne (F, St. Paul, Minn.) put a rebound past Christie to give the Beavers a two-goal cushion, 4-2, with 3:57 left. McManamin and Scofield helped on the play.

On the night the Beavers' penalty-kill held unit held UM to a goal on nine opportunities.

Bemidji State out shot the Bisons for the second consecutive outing, 29-20.

The win extended the Beavers' exhibition win streak to five games and marks the third consecutive time the Beavers have defeated the Bisons.

Bemidji State (1-5-0; 0-0-0 CHA) opens College Hockey America play next weekend (Nov. 7-8) when it travels to Huntsville, Ala. for a two-game series versus the University of Alabama Huntsville. Each game of the series is set for a 7:05 p.m. start at the Von Braun Center.

--bsu--