JAN. 10, 2004

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - [stats] It was expected to be a season of first for Bemidji State’s men’s ice hockey team, as the Beavers entered the 2003-04 season as the odds-on favorite to win their first College Hockey America championship. Already this young season, BSU has posted its first-ever road sweep at Findlay, snapped an eight-game losing streak at CHA rival Ala.-Huntsville, and tonight posted its first-ever road victory over the Niagara Purple Eagles. BSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead just 1:34 into the second period, then held on as Niagara scored single goals in the second and third periods for an historic 3-2 victory tonight at Dwyer Arena.

Riley Riddell scored his eighth goal of the season and ran his scoring streak to four games on a shot he didn’t even take just 58 seconds into the contest. He fired a puck on Niagara starting goaltender Allen Barton, which was saved, but Barton could not control the rebound and the carom was kicked in by a Purple Eagle defender. Riddell was credited with an unassisted goal as the last BSU player to play the puck.

Brendan Cook staked BSU to a 2-0 lead at the 17:11 mark of the first period, scoring his 11th goal of the season on the power play after a tripping call against Niagara’s Pat Oliveto. Bryce Methven and Myles Kuharski assisted on the goal, which gave BSU just its 11th two-goal first-period road lead in its Division I era.

The Beavers needed just 1:34 of the second period to ice the game. Wade Chiodo scored his ninth goal of the season with assists from Ryan Huddy and Anders Olsson to give BSU a 3-0 lead. Bemidji State is now a perfect 26-0-0 in its Division I era when holding a three-goal lead at any point of a game.

But Niagara would not go quietly. Purple Eagle head coach Dave Burkholder called time out with 9:53 to play in the second period and lifted Barton from the net in favor of Rob Bonk, and the move helped spark Niagara’s rally attempt.

It would take Niagara 13 minutes to answer Chiodo’s goal, as Justin Cross scored with a helper from Joe Tallari at 14:34 of the second to draw NU within two goals.

While Bonk was shutting down the BSU offense, saving all 25 shots he would face in his relief appearance, Barret Ehgoetz pulled Niagara within a single goal with his CHA-leading 16th goal of the season at 8:22 of the third period. Chris Welch and Brian Mills assisted, but it was all Niagara would muster.

Niagara was unable to keep the puck out of its own zone late in the game and was able to play with Bonk on the bench in favor of an extra attacker for just 16 seconds in the game’s final minute. The Eagles were unable to force the tying goal across, and Bemidji State held on for its first-ever road victory at Niagara.

Freshman goaltender Layne Sedevie picked up the win in goal for the Beavers, making him 2-0-0 in his last two road starts. He faced just 19 shots as the Beaver defense turned in another fine effort in front of him, recording 17 saves to improve to 2-3-2 on the season. In his last two starts, Sedevie won at Alabama-Huntsville to help snap an eight-game road losing streak in that series, and tonight helped the Beavers to their first-ever road win at Niagara.

Bemidji State went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Niagara was shut out on five opportunities with the man advantage.

The Beavers improved to 5-9-4 all-time against Niagara with tonight’s win, and are 2-1-2 in the last five meetings in the series. It is BSU’s second-best five-game streak in the series behind only a 3-1-1 run from Feb. 9, 2001 to Feb. 14, 2002. It is BSU’s first road win in the series, and the program’s first-ever win at Dwyer Arena against any foe. BSU had been 0-8-1 against Niagara and 0-1-0 against other foes in the building. BSU’s three goals scored tonight tied three other performances for the most goals scored by a Beaver team against Niagara on the road.

Tonight’s win was BSU’s 40th all-time victory in College Hockey America play. BSU is 40-35-12 in CHA play since the league was founded in 1999.

With tonight’s win, Bemidji State improves to 11-7-2 on the season, 8-2-0 in College Hockey America. Niagara drops to 11-9-2 and suffers its first CHA loss of the season; the Purple Eagles are 7-1-0 in league play. The win helped BSU regain sole possession of first place in CHA with 16 points, while Niagara remains two points back with 14. Bemidji State is off next weekend, but returns to action Jan. 23-24 with a two-game College Hockey America series at Wayne State (Mich.).

NOTES: Ryan Huddy now has an assist in each of his last four games played... Bryce Methven’s assist moved him into a tie for 37th place on BSU’s career scoring list for defensemen with Wayne Opsahl (1987-90)... Riley Riddell four-game scoring streak; has scored a point in 14 of BSU’s last 16 games... Layne Sedevie’s two goals allowed tie for his fewest-ever in a start (Oct. 25, 2003 vs Minn. State).

--bsu--