Oct. 24, 2004
Ryan Huddy scores two in the first period for Beavers

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. (Ralph Engelstad Arena) - [stats] - Bemidji State’s Ryan Huddy (Edmonton, Alberta) scored two first-period goals, but the Beavers allowed a four-goal outburst in an 7:27 span of the second period and dropped a 5-3 exhibition decision to the Manitoba Bisons of the Canada West Hockey League.

Huddy scored his first marker of the contest just 2:04 into the first period, then after a Kevin Saurette power-play goal for the Bisons evened the score at 12:01 picked up his second lamp-lighter at 16:35 on an even-strength tally.

BSU took the 2-1 lead into the first intermission, but imploded in the second period as Manitoba rallied from behind and put the game out of reach. The Bisons erupted for four second-period goals in a span of less than seven-and-a-half minutes on two goals each from David McDonald and Grant Jacobsen.

McDonald lit the rally off with an even-strength goal at 3:19, and Jacobson put the Bisons ahead for good, 3-2, with an even-strength marker at 7:48. McDonald scored his second goal, the eventual game-winner, exactly a minute later, and Jacobsen capped the outburst with an even-strength goal at 10:46.

BSU attempted to claw back into the game in the third period, but managed only a short-handed tally by Blaine Jarvis at 16:27 and fell 5-3.

The teams combined for 16 penalties, nine for 18 minutes by Manitoba and seven for 25 minutes, including a five-minute major and game misconduct to Myles Kuharski (Neepawa, Manitoba) for checking from beind in the second period. Manitoba went 1-for-6 with the man advantage while Bemidji State went 0-for-8.

Krister Toews went the distance in the nets for the Bison, saving 26 of 29 shots to earn his third win of the season. Matt Climie (Leduc, Alberta) started in net for the Beavers and allowed five goals on 20 shots. He was lifted for Orlando Alamano (Fresno, Calif.) after Manitoba picked up its fourth goal of the second period. Alamano saved all five shots he faced in 27:44 of relief work. BSU played 1:30 in the game’s final two minutes with an empty net.

The loss drops Bemidji State to 3-3-1 in international exhibition play in its Division I era and snaps a three-game winning streak dating back to the 2002 season. BSU falls to 2-2-0 against Manitoba in Division I exhibition play, losing for the first time since Oct. 14, 2000.

Bemidji State is off next weekend and returns to action Nov. 5-6 with a two-game non-conference series at Minnesota State from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Opening face-off for both contests from the Midwest Wireless Civic Center in Mankato, Minn. will be 7:05 p.m. Central time.

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