DATE: Jan. 24, 2004
Beavers post just second 4-0-0 season sweep of a College Hockey America foe

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - [box score] Bemidji State’s men’s ice hockey program completed just its second four-game regular-season sweep of a College Hockey America foe, downing Wayne State (Mich.), 6-1, this afternoon at CompuWare Arena. As it did in last night’s 6-2 win, the Beavers scored two goals in all three periods, with six different players scoring goals in the rout.

Coupled with 3-2 and 5-2 wins in Bemidji on Dec. 5-6, Bemidji State completed a four-game regular-series sweep of Wayne State with tonight’s win. It is just BSU’s second four-game regular-season sweep of a CHA foe; the Beavers won all four meetings with Air Force last year.

Freshman Rob Sirianni scored his third goal of the season, unassisted, at 8:03 of the first period to get things rolling for the Beavers. Wayne State evened things up just 1:39 later on an unassisted goal by Jason Baclig, his ninth of the season, to even the score at 1-1.

From there, however, the Beavers would pull away. Freshman Ryan Miller scored his second goal of the season with helpers from Brendan Cook and Luke Erickson at 12:07 of the first to put BSU back on top, 2-1, with what proved to be the game-winning goal.

Riley Riddell ran his scoring streak to six games with a power-play goal with helpers from Ryan Huddy, who also ran his scoring streak to six games, and Anders Olsson. Cook also scored a power-play goal in the second period, his team-leading 14th goal of the season.

John Haider and Lou Garritan scored third-period goals to cap the rout and complete the season sweep for the Beavers.

Wayne State managed 24 shots on goal in today’s loss after generating just 37 total shots in its first three games against Bemidji State this season, but a strong effort by BSU freshman goaltender Layne Sedevie made those shots for naught. Sedevie allowed just the single first-period goal and saved 23 shots in 58:46 of work to pick up the third win of his collegiate career. Sedevie has won Game 2 of three of BSU’s last four weekend CHA series and is the only freshman goaltender in BSU’s Division I era to win three consecutive road starts. Sedevie evened his season record at 3-3-2 with the win.

Matt Kelly took the loss for Wayne State; he saved 39 shots in a 60-minute complete game and fell to 4-10-1 on the year.

BSU managed 45 shots on net, its most since a 50-shot effort at Ala.-Huntsville on Dec. 11. The Beavers took 13 shots in the first period, 17 in the second and 15 in the third.

Bemidji State’s special teams continued to dominate. BSU scored two power play goals for the second consecutive night and for the eighth time this season. In total, BSU went 2-for-5 on the power play, improving its season efficiency in all games to .207 (24-for-116) and a simply dominant .281 (16-for-57) against College Hockey America foes. Wayne State went 0-for-3 with the man advantage, dropping the Warriors to just 6-for-91 (.066) all-time against Bemidji State on the power-play. Since the start of the 2001-02 season, the Warriors have gone just 4-for-55 (.073) against BSU with the man advantage.

The Beavers improved to 11-5-3 all-time against the Warriors with tonight’s win and pick up their fourth road win in the Wayne State series. BSU’s four road wins against Wayne State are second-most against any CHA foe; BSU has won five games at Findlay.

With tonight’s win, Bemidji State improves to 12-7-2 on the season, 9-2-0 in College Hockey America. The win helped BSU pad its lead for sole possession of first place in CHA with 20 points; Niagara is second with 16 points and an 8-2-0 record. Wayne State falls to 6-16-2, 2-10-0 in CHA, and loses for the eighth time in its last nine starts. BSU is back in action Jan. 30-31 with a two-game CHA series at Findlay.

NOTES: BSU has scored two or more goals in each of its last six periodds played... In four games this year, BSU out-shot Wayne State by a combined 183-61 (+122 shots)... BSU improved to 6-0-0 this season the weekend after a bye week... BSU is undefeated (5-0-1) all-time against Wayne State the weekend after having a bye... After averaging 2.45 goals per game in its first 11 starts, BSU has averaged 4.63 goals per game in its last 11... BSU is 9-2-0 in its last 11 games and has been held under five goals just four times... BSU is 24-for-94 (.255) on the power-play since an 0-for-22 start... Brendan Cook had a goal and an assist, giving him 3-3=6 points in the weekend series and 6-3=9 points in four games against Wayne State this year... Luke Erickson had two assists and scored 1-5=6 points in the weekend series... Ryan Huddy extends his scoring streak to six games with an assist... Riley Riddell had 1-1=2 points to extend his scoring streak to six games; he has scored a point in 16 of BSU’s last 18 games... BSU got 2-2=4 points from true freshman today.

--bsu--