DATE: Nov. 20, 2004
Brendan Cook scores game-winner 11 seconds into extra period

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. (Dwyer Arena) [stats][game notes] - Junior Brendan Cook (Reston, Manitoba) propelled the Bemidji State men’s ice hockey program to a series sweep of the Niagara Purple Eagles, scoring 11 seconds into overtime and giving BSU a 2-1 victory.

Off the opening face-off, Cook broke up-ice and took a pass from Luke Erickson (Roseau, Minn.) and Peter Jonsson (Astorp, Sweden). He beat Niagara goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten five-hole, giving Bemidji State the 2-1 victory and a College Hockey America series sweep.

The goal 11 seconds into the overtime period was tied for the second-fastest goal to open a period in BSU’s Division I era, and the fastest goal in an overtime. Stefan Bjork scored 11 seconds into the third period on Jan. 21, 2000 against Findlay, and Jeff McGill scored just eight seconds into the first period, a CHA record for fastest goal to open a game, on Feb. 1, 2002 at Niagara.

BSU won an overtime game for the first time since March 15, 2003, when BSU toppled Ala.-Huntsville in the semifinals of the CHA Tournament. The Beavers improved to 6-9-21 in 36 overtime games since making the jump to Division I in 1999.

Niagara struck first, getting the ninth lamp-lighter of the season off the stick of Ryan Gale, from Jason Williamson and Trevor Mallon, just 4:13 into the first period.

But that goal was all Niagara could muster, and sophomore Layne Sedevie (Bismarck, N.D.) continued his mastery of the Purple Eagles. He held the defending CHA Tournament champions to a single goal, their fewest-ever in a game against Bemidji State at Dwyer Arena, and improved his career record against Niagara to 3-1-0.

Sedevie saved 29 of 30 shots faced, allowing only Gale’s first-period goal, to earn his third consecutive win. He improved his season record to 4-3-0 with the victory.

He is unbeaten in three career starts against Niagara, with his lone loss coming in relief, and all three victories have come on the road.

BSU captain Andrew Murray (Selkirk, Manitoba) drew Bemidji State even with a power-play marker midway through the second period. He took a pass from Jonsson to knot the score at a goal apiece at 14:18 of the second period.

The teams skated to a scoreless third period, which ended precariously with both teams on the power play in the waning minutes of regulation. But the teams took the 2-2 draw into the extra period, setting the stage for Cook’s overtime heroics.

For the second consecutive night, Bemidji State’s penalty-killers brought their ‘A’ game to the ice. After holding Niagara to 1-for-13 with the man advantage in last night’s victory, BSU held the Purple Eagles scoreless on nine power play chances to leave the Eagles 1-for-22 in the series. Over the last four games, BSU had held opponents to 1-for-37 (.027) with the man advantage and has improved its season penalty kill to .855 (53 of 62).

BSU has now won each of its last three road games against Niagara after going 0-8-1 in the first nine road games in the series. Sedevie has earned the decision in each of those three victories.

Van Nynatten took the loss for Niagara. He fell to 3-5-0 on the year.

The victory improves BSU to 8-11-4 all-time against Niagara, 8-10-4 in regular-season CHA play. However, BSU has dominated the series since 2002, posting a 5-3-2 record in the last 10 meetings between the programs. BSU’s road sweep is its first-ever at Niagara and gives the Beavers back-to-back wins over the Purple Eagles for just the second time in the history of the series.

The win also continued Bemidji State’s mastery of College Hockey America opposition in regular-season play, as the Beavers have posted a 22-3-2 record in their last 27 regular-season CHA games.

The win improved Bemidji State to 5-3-0 on the season, 2-0-0 in College Hockey America play. Niagara drops to 5-8-0 overall and falls to 0-2-0 in CHA play. BSU will take Sunday off, then open a two-game CHA series at Wayne State, Nov. 22-23.

--bsu--