DATE: Feb. 11, 2005
Ryan Huddy’s game winner gives Beavers school record-tying fourth overtime win of the season

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (RMU Island Sports Center) [stats] - Bemidji State junior wing Ryan Huddy (Stony Plain, Alberta) scored his eighth goal of the season 3:14 into overtime, lifting the Beavers to a 2-1 victory over the Robert Morris Colonials in College Hockey America play.

The victory improved the Beavers to 4-2-1 in overtime this season, with the four wins tying a school single-season record set in 2002-03. That year, BSU set an NCAA record by playing in 15 overtime games.

The teams skated to a scoreless first period, with BSU out-shooting the hosts 16-6. The Beavers needed half of the second period to eventually solve the Robert Morris defense. Freshman Matt Pope (Langley, British Columbia) picked up his sixth goal of the season, tops amongst BSU rookies, at 11:38 of the second to put the Beavers on top, 1-0. It marked the second time this season Pope had scored the game’s first goal.

BSU had a goal waved off in the second period which could have helped it put the game away in regulation. Senior wing Brendan Cook (Reston, Manitoba) scored a goal at 4:56 of regulation that was disallowed when Cook was whistled for tripping. The goal would have put BSU ahead, 1-0.

Robert Morris went 0-for-5 on the power play, continuing a dominant streak by the Bemidji State penalty killers. BSU not allowed a power-play goal in its last four games played, has killed off 26 consecutive opponent chances with the man advantage and has run its streak of minutes without allowing a power-play goal to 253:36. The last power-play goal allowed by BSU came at 9:38 of the third period on Jan. 28, 2005 at then-no. 12 North Dakota.

Matt Climie (Leduc, Alberta) continued his recent dominanace, extending his unbeaten streak to eight consecutive decisions with a stellar night in goal. Climie saved 21 of 22 shots faced in 63:02 of work, allowing just a third-period goal to Doug Conley. During Climie’s eight-decision unbeaten streak in which he has gone 7-0-1 in seven starts, he has posted a 1.45 goals-against average and has saved at a remarkable .927 clip. He has allowed just eight even-strength goals in more than 495 minutes of time between the pipes during the run.

Climie improved his record to 8-2-1, setting a new BSU Division I-era record for goaltending victories by a freshman. Bob Tallarico went 7-11-0 for Bemidji State during its inaugural Division I campaign in 1999-2000.

The loss overshadowed a tremendous effort in goal from Robert Morris freshman Jamie Flury. He finished with 40 saves, including all 16 shots faced in the first period, 11 saves in the second and 12 in the third to help the Colonials force overtime against Bemidji State for the second consecutive meeting between the programs. But Huddy solved Flury on the first BSU shot of overtime, keeping the Colonial netminder winless on the season at 0-4-0.

BSU picked up the victory despite seeing its first line of Cook, senior Andrew Murray (Selkirk, Manitoba) and sophomore Luke Erickson (Roseau, Minn.) held without a point. It marked just the fourth time this season BSU’s first line has been held without a point, and just the second time the line of Cook, Murray and Erickson has been shut out. BSU had been 0-2-1 this season when its first line failed to score. In fact, BSU’s last victory when its first line failed to score came in a 3-2 victory over Wayne State on Dec. 5, 2003 - a span of 50 games.

BSU improved to 3-0-0 all-time against Robert Morris with the win, and has won each of the last two meetings between the programs in overtime. -

The victory improves Bemidji State to 17-9-1 overall and 12-3-0 in College Hockey America play. The win will allow BSU to remain alone atop the CHA standings, retaining at least a three-point lead over second-place Alabama-Huntsville. Robert Morris falls to 7-16-4 and 3-10-2 in CHA play. The teams wrap up their two-game series, with BSU going for a four-game regular-season series sweep, tomorrow evening. Opening face off is slated for 7:35 p.m. Eastern time in Moon Township, Pa.

--bsu--