DATE: October 13, 2006
Seventh-ranked Black Bears score seven special-teams goals, including six power-play markers

ORONO, Maine (Alfond Arena) - Friday the 13th was apparently the wrong night for Bemidji State to be opening its 2006-07 men’s hockey campaign. The Beavers battled through lost luggage - which included hockey gear for several of its players - on the trip out to Orono, Maine, then had to battle the nation’s seventh-ranked Maine Black Bears once they finally found their way to the ice. Maine took advantage of 13 power-play opportunties, scoring six power-play goals, en route to a 7-1 victory over BSU in the season opener for the Beavers.

Maine’s 13 power-play chances were the second-most by an opponent in BSU’s Division I era, and BSU allowed six power-play goals for the first time as a Division I program. Maine added a short-handed goal, becoming the first BSU opponent in its Division I era to score seven goals on special teams.

The Black Bears took advantage of six power-play chances in the first period, scoring two of their six power-play goals and adding a short-handed marker to put the game out of reach early on. Matt Pope (Langley, British Columbia) drew a holding penalty at 2:40 of the first, and Maine’s Keenan Hopson picked up his first goal of the season at 3:27.

Ryan Miller (Park Rapids, Minn.) was called for holding the stick at 14:30, and Maine’s Billy Ryan scored the eventual game-winner 10 seconds later. Keith Johnson scored unassisted on a short-handed opportunity at 19:13, after Teddy Purcell was called for obstruction at 18:23.

Matt Duffy pushed the Maine lead to 4-0 following a Chris Peluso slashing period midway through the second period, scoring his first goal of the season at 12:27.

Bemidji State broke up the shutout in the second period on the first goal of the season by Luke Erickson (Roseau, Minn.). With an assist from Pope, Erickson helped the Beavers take advantage of a Purcell hooking penalty to pull within 4-1 at 12:39. The Beavers would get no closer.

Maine out-shot BSU 36-13 through two periods, putting up 20 second-period shots, en route to a 43-23 shots advantage for the game.

The game remained 4-1 until the final five minutes of the third period. Brandon Marino (Riverside, Calif.) and David Deterding (Alexandria, Minn.) drew a pair of penalties 43 seconds apart to leave the Beavers two men down at 15:34, and Michel Leveille score his first goal of the season at 16:14 to put the Black Bears on top 5-1.

Tyler Scofield (Prince George, British Columbia) was caught hooking just 31 seconds after the Leveille goal to again leave BSU two men down, and again Maine took advantage. Wes Clark scored his first goal of the season at 17:22 to put Maine up 6-1, and Brent Shepheard added his first goal of the season even-strength at 18:38 to cap the Maine rout.

Despite allowing a career-high seven goals, Layne Sedevie (Bismarck, N.D.) turned in a solid performance in goal for the Beavers. He was peppered with 43 shots, including 20 in the second period alone, and finished with 36 saves. He fell to 0-1-0 with the loss.

Ben Bishop started and picked up the win for Maine. He saved 21 of 22 shots faced in 51:04 of work before yielding to Dave Wilson for the game’s final 8:56; he improved to 1-0 for the win. Wilson saved the only shot he faced in the relief appearance.

The six-goal loss was BSU’s worst in a season opener since a 9-3 loss to No. 9 Minnesota on Oct. 14, 2000, which also marked BSU’s last season opener against a nationally-ranked opponent. BSU falls to 38-11-2 all-time in season openers, 4-3-1 in its Division I era, and loses its season opener for just the fourth time since the 1979-80 season.

Bemidji State (0-1-0) and Maine (2-0-0) wrap up their two-game weekend series tomorrow night. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern time at the Alfond Ice Arena in Orono, Maine.

--beavers--