Nov. 22, 2002
Beavers tie Division I-era record with five-game unbeaten streak
POTSDAM, N.Y. - [stats][game notes] Since junior goaltender Grady Hunt returned to the lineup Nov. 8 at Findlay, Bemidji State’s men’s ice hockey team has needed just two goals a game. BSU gets its two goals, and Hunt - sideways, backwards or upside down - has done the rest. Tonight was no different as the Beavers picked up a pair of first-period power-play goals, then rode a 33-save effort from Hunt to a 2-1 non-conference road victory over the Clarkson Golden Knights.

BSU wasted little time getting on the board, as sophomore defenseman Anders Olsson took advantage of a Rob McFeeters obstruction-hooking call and a team penalty for too many on the ice to score his first goal of the season, five on three, with a helper from Peter Jonsson just 1:22 into the contest. It was just the third career goal for Olsson and first since Jan. 12, 2002 at Findlay. Two of Olsson’s three goals have come on the power-play.

Just over 10 minutes later, BSU would again score on the power play - this time following an interference call on Dave Reid - as senior wing Marty Goulet took a pass from Riley Riddell and Jeff McGill and netted his second power-play goal in as many games at the 11:49 mark of the period. Goulet, who scored just one goal in BSU’s first seven games, now has three goals in his last four starts and has a power-play goal in back-to-back games for the first time since Nov. 18-24, 2000 against Findlay and Wayne State. It was Goulet’s first game-winning goal of the season and fourth of his career. Three of Goulet’s career game-winners have now come on the power-play.

BSU would hold the 2-0 lead until the 13:44 mark of the second period, when Clarkson’s Jeff Genovy beat Hunt on a power-play opportunity with assists from McFeeters and Randy Jones. It was the only goal Hunt would allow; Clarkson pulled goaltender Mike Walsh for an extra attacker for the game’s final 1:03, but was unable to find the equalizer.

Hunt’s performance has become almost par for the course. He saved 33 shots, the third 30-save effort in his last four starts, and earned first-star honors for the game for the fourth time in his five starts since returning to the lineup. Hunt picked up the victory and improved to 4-0-2 on the season, the best start of his career.

Clarkson’s defensive unit held BSU in check, limiting the Beavers to a season-low 19 shots on goal. But the Beavers scored on the first two power-play shots they took to get the goals needed to support Hunt. Walsh had 17 saves for the Knights.

The win improves BSU to 4-2-5 on the season and runs BSU’s unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1). The five-game unbeaten streak ties the BSU record since the program moved to Division I for the 1999-2000 season; BSU won five consecutive games from Jan. 14-Feb. 4, 2000 and went 4-0-1 from Jan. 26-Feb. 9, 2002. With the loss, Clarkson falls to 2-5-1. The teams wrap up their two-game series tomorrow evening at the Cheel Arena in Potsdam; opening faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.

1/1:22/B - Anders Olsson (1; PP) (Peter Jonsson/4) // 1-0
1/11:49/B - Marty Goulet (4; PP; GW) (Riley Riddell/3, Jeff McGill/3) // 2-0 / GW
2/13:44/C - Jeff Genovy (1) (Rob McFeeters/4, Randy Jones/4) // 2-1

BSU: Grady Hunt (60:00/13-12-8=33 saves/1 GA/W, 4-0-2)
CU: Mike Walsh (58:57/8-5-4=17 saves/2 GA/L); empty net (1:03/0 GA)
Three stars: 1: BSU Grady Hunt; 2: UC Jeff Genovy; 3: BSU Anders Olsson
penalties/power plays: BSU: 6-12/2-6; UC: 6-12/1-6.