DATE: March 4, 2005
Two goals from Rob Sirianni helps BSU inch closer to College Hockey America title

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (Cadet Ice Arena) [stats] - Bemidji State closed to within two points of clinching its second consecutive College Hockey America regular-season championship, using two goals from sophomore Rob Sirianni (Edmonton, Alberta) to skate past the U.S. Air Force Academy, 4-1.

Sirianni put BSU on the board at 10:05 of the first, scoring even-strength with an assist from sophomore Shane Holman (Hibbing, Minn.).

Sirianni then staked the Beavers to a 2-0 lead with his 12th goal of the season on the power play at 4:08 of the second. Brooks Turnquist drew a slashing penalty for Air Force at 3:10 of the second, and Sirianni needed just 58 seconds to score his seventh power-play marker of the season with assists from Andrew Murray (Selkirk, Manitoba) and Luke Erickson (Roseau, Minn.).

The pair of markers gave Sirianni his third multi-goal game of the season, but his first since Dec. 3, 2004 at Lake Superior State. Three of Sirianni’s five career multi-goal games have come on the road.

Air Force quickly cut the deficit back to a single goal, getting the ninth lamp-lighter of the season from Andrew Ramsey at 6:27 of the second.

The 2-1 BSU lead would hold up until the game’s final minute, where the Beavers iced the game with a pair of goals.

The Falcons lifted goaltender Peter Foster at 18:13 of the third for an extra attacker in an attempt to even the score. BSU senior Brendan Cook (Reston, Manitoba) scored his 18th goal of the season against the open Air Force net 51 seconds with an assist from Erickson to put BSU back on top by two, 3-1.

Foster returned to the ice, but 25 seconds later Jean-Guy Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba) unleashed a bomb from the top of the circles which beat Foster and gave BSU the game’s final 4-1 margin. Andrew Martens (Friendswood, Texas) assisted on the insurance marker.

Sophomore Matt Climie (Leduc, Alberta) was again strong in net for the Beavers. He saved 24 of 25 shots faced, allowing just one goal in a 60:00 complete game. The victory improved Climie to 9-4-1 on the season and extended to 12 his streak of consecutive appearances allowing three goals or less.

Climie out-duelled Foster, who saved 22 shots in the losing effort and saw his season mark fall to 11-13-3.

Erickson finished with two assists, giving him consecutive games with two helpers. Murray’s assist was the 69th of his career and gives him 46-69=115 points, moving him into sole possession of 30th place on BSU’s career all-division scoring list. Cook’s empty-net goal helped him inch closer to the 100-point plateau for his career; he now has 53-44=97 career points.

Tonight’s game was remarkably short on penalties, as the teams combined to draw just five whistles in the game. BSU was called for just three minor penalties, and the Falcons drew just two. BSU’s three penalties are its second-lowest total of the season, trailing only a two-penalty night at Robert Morris on Feb. 12. The two penalties by Air Force tie the season low by a BSU opponent, matching Niagara on Dec. 11.

The victory improves BSU to 18-5-2 all-time against Air Force and picks up its 16th win over the Falcons since the teams began competing as members of Division I. BSU’s 16 Division I wins over Air Force are its most against any single opponent in its Division I era. The win also helped BSU extend its winning streak over Air Force to 11 consecutive victories, and its unbeaten streak in the series to 14 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 19, 2002. BSU’s last loss to the Falcons came on Jan. 13, 2001, a 5-4 overtime loss in Bemidji. BSU has not lost a game at Air Force since Dec. 3, 2000.

The win was BSU’s 20th of the season, and coupled with a 20-13-3 campaign in 2003-04 gives BSU consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1996-97 and 1997-98. It is just the second 20-win campaign for BSU since the program moved to Division I in 1999. The Beavers join the 2001-02 and 2002-03 Wayne State Warriors as the only programs in College Hockey America history to win 20 or more games in back-to-back seasons.

BSU has scored exactly four goals in all three of its meetings with the Falcons so far this season, and has limited the Falcons to two, three and one goal, respectively, in those games.

The victory improved Bemidji State to 20-12-1 on the season, 15-4-0 in College Hockey America play. Air Force falls to 13-17-1 and 5-13-1 in CHA play. The teams wrap up the series, and their respective 2004-05 regular seasons, tomorrow evening with a 7:05 p.m. Mountain time faceoff.

--bsu--