DATE: Nov. 12, 2004
Beavers tie Division I-era records for goals in a game, goals in a period

BEMIDJI, Minn. (John Glas Fieldhouse) [stats] - The Bemidji State men’s ice hockey program emphatically snapped a three-game losing streak, matching Division I-era program records for goals in a game and goals in a period in a dominant 9-2 victory over the Bentley Falcons.

BSU’s nine goals scored tied a record set on three previous occasions, and a five-goal third period matched a Division I-era record set on two previous occasions.

The Beavers dominated all phases of the game, out-shooting the Falcons 41-12 and converting on three of seven power-play chances while holding the Falcons scoreless on eight chances with the man advantage. Bentley’s 12 shots on goal tied for second-fewest in a game by an opponent in BSU’s Division I era. The Beavers also limited Wayne State to 12 shots on Jan. 23, 2004.

Rob Sirianni (So., Edmonton, Alberta) and Luke Erickson (So., Roseau, Minn.) led the onslaught with two goals apiece. Sirianni scored BSU’s second and sixth goals, on the power-play at 11:47 of the first and even-stregth 45 seconds into the third, respectively, for his third career two-goal game, while Erickson scored BSU’s third and fifth goals, both even strength, at 14:49 of the first and 0:29 of the third. It is Erickson’s second career multi-goal game. Erickson finished with three points, while Sirianni finished with two.

Ryan Huddy (Jr., Stony Plain, Alberta) and John Haider (Sr., Forest Lake, Minn.) combined for seven assists to fuel the BSU offense. Huddy had a career-high four assists, becoming the first BSU player to record four in a game since Riley Riddell at Air Force on Feb. 27, 2004. Haider added a career-high three assists, the most by a BSU defenseman since Oct. 26, 2002 when Anders Olsson recorded three against Union College.

BSU got the rout off to an early start. Brendan Cook (Sr., Reston, Manitoba) scored his third marker of the year, even-strength, just 2:48 into the contest with assists from Peter Jonsson (Sr., Astorp, Sweden) and Erickson. The marker snapped a streak of consecutive minutes without a goal at 127:21 dating back to Game 2 of the Ferris State series on Oct. 23.

Sirianni’s first goal put BSU ahead 2-0 at 11:47 of the first, and BSU capped its first three-goal first period at home since Jan. 31, 2004 on Erickson’s first marker at 14:49.

Bentley got on the board at 17:17 of the second period on Kyle Larman’s first goal of the season to pull within 3-1, but it was as close as the Falcons would get. BSU jumped back on top by three goals when Ryan Miller (So., Fergus Falls, Minn.) scored the eventual game-winner on a power-play chance at 19:23 of the second. It was Miller’s first goal of the season with helpers from Haider and Huddy.

Erickson lit off a rally to open the third period, scoring his second goal of the night just 29 seconds into the frame. Erickson’s goal is the fifth-fastest goal to open a period in BSU’s Division I era, and the second-fastest goal to start a third period trailing only a Stefan Bjork lamp-lighter 11 seconds into the third against Findlay on Jan. 21, 2000.

Sirianni followed Erickson’s goal with his second of the game just 16 seconds later to put BSU ahead 6-1. The 16 seconds between goals is the fourth-fastest in BSU’s Division I era, and fastest since scoring a record 12 seconds apart against Niagara on March 6, 2004.

Jean-Guy Gervais (Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) scored on a power play at 5:41 of the third, and BSU wrapped up its scoring on the first career short-handed goal by Lou Garritan (Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) at 14:51 and an even-strength tally by Matt Pope (Langley, B.C.) at 18:24.

Matt Tyree scored Bentley’s second goal of the night on backup goaltender Orlando Alamano (Fresno, Calif.), who made his collegiate debut in reserve and played the game’s final 14:19.

Layne Sedevie (So., Bismarck, N.D.) snapped his personal three-game losing skid with an eight-save effort to garner his second win of the season. He played 45:29 to earn the win, and was lifted early to allow Alamano some game action.

Geordan Murphy went the distance and took the loss for the Falcons. He saved 32 shots and fell to 1-2-0 on the year.

BSU improved to 2-3-0 with the victory, while Bentley dropped to 2-5-2 on the year. The teams wrap up their two-game non-conference slate tomorrow evening with a 7:05 p.m. opening faceoff at John Glas Fieldhouse on the BSU campus.

--bsu--