Feb. 1, 2003
Jeff McGill's power-play goal in the third period helps BSU regain second place in CHA

BEMIDJI, Minn. - [box score] While not coming in as strong a performance as the Bemidji State men's hockey team might have liked, the Beavers regained a share of second place in College Hockey America and contention for a key first-round bye in the post-season tournament in a 2-2 draw with the Findlay Oilers tonight at the John Glas Fieldhouse.

The tie improved BSU to 6-3-3 and 15 points in CHA play, moving the Beavers into a tie with Niagara when the Purple Eagles were defeated 5-2 by Wayne State this evening in Detroit.

BSU got on the board first, getting the fifth goal of the season from freshman Ryan Huddy at 10:55 of the first period. Huddy took the helper from Kurt Knott and Wade Chiodo; it was Knott's first assist of the season.

The Beavers held the 1-0 lead until early in the second period, when Jason Maxwell scored even-strength for the Oilers from Rigel Shaw and Nick Udovicic even things up at a goal apiece. The Oilers then grabbed their first lead of the series at 12:00 when David Vogt scored with just 23 seconds remaining in a five-minute major penalty on BSU's John Haider. Vogt took a pass from Dave Erickson and Maxwell, staking the Oilers to a 2-1 edge.

BSU's first-period goal helped the team stretch its Division I-era record streak of consecutive periods with a goal scored to 10, which came to an end when Findlay held the Beavers scoreless on 12 shots.

The Oilers held the 2-1 lead until midway through the third period, when Jeff McGill punished Findlay for a cross-checking penalty on Nate Markus. Marty Goulet held the puck behind the net and slipped sideways to fire a pass to Andrew Murray at the top of the crease. Murray fired on net and was stopped by Findlay goaltender Jamie VandeSpyker, but VandeSpyker could not control the rebound. McGill grabbed the loose puck and found the back of the net for the first game-tying goal of his career.

The goal gave McGill a goal in three consecutive games, and Goulet's assist helped run his scoring streak to seven games (4-6=10 points during streak).

" We didn't have a lot of traffic in front of the net, especially on the power play," BSU head coach Tom Serratore said. "We have to win those battles down low. We have eight games left, so we still have control of our own destiny."

VandeSpyker earned first-star honors for his performance in net, saving 42 of 44 BSU shots faced including all seven shots in overtime. His 42 saves are third-most by an opposing goaltender against BSU this year. The draw moved VandeSpyker's record to 4-9-2 for the visitors. Grady Hunt saved 23 of 25 shots for BSU and moved to 8-5-4.

Bemidji State has now played in 12 overtime games, tied with several others for sixth-most in a single season in NCAA history. The single-season record is 13 overtime games, held by five different teams and last accomplished by the 2001-02 Maine Black Bears. BSU's 12 overtime games this year are tied with Minnesota State-Mankato for most in the nation.

The draw was BSU's seventh of the season, extending the team's own school record and continuing pursuit of another NCAA single-season record. BSU's seven ties leave it in a large group of programs tied for 11th-most in a single season and in pursuit of the single season record of nine ties held by three different programs - including this year's Minnesota State-Mankato team.

The tie leaves BSU unbeaten in its last six games against Findlay (3-0-3), its longest unbeaten streak in the series. BSU improves to 8-5-3 all-time against Findlay, with all games coming in regular-season CHA play. With tonight's win, Bemidji State runs its winning streak to four and improves to 9-8-6 on the season. Findlay falls to 8-17-1 and has now lost each of its last 11 games. The Oilers have been out-scored 47-18 during the winless streak.

The Beavers pick up one point in College Hockey America play, improving to 6-3-3 in the league and moving to 15 points. Findlay falls to 1-9-2 against the circuit and improves to four points. Next action for Bemidji State comes Feb. 7-8 when the team travels to Michigan for a key CHA series with Wayne State. Opening face-off for Game 1 is set for 7:05 p.m. local time.

SCORING SUMMARY
1/10:55/ B - Ryan Huddy (5) (Kurt Knott/1, Wade Chiodo/9) / 1-0
2/2:40/ F - Jason Maxwell (10) (Rigel Shaw/12, Nick Udovicic/15) / 1-1
2/12:00/ F - David Vogt (6, PP) (Dave Erickson/6, Jason Maxwell/14) / 1-2
3/11:10/ B - Jeff McGill (8, GT, PP) (Andrew Murray/12, Marty Goulet/11) / 2-2

UF: Jamie VandeSpyker (65:00 / 16-12-7-7=42 saves / 2 GA / T, 4-9-2)
BSU: Grady Hunt (65:00 / 8-2-12-1=23 saves / 2 GA / T, 8-5-4)
Penalties/Power Plays: UF: 6-12/1-4; BSU: 4-19/1-6
three stars: 1/Jamie VandeSpyker, UF; 2/Marty Goulet, BSU; 3/Jeff McGill, BSU