DATE: October 14, 2006
Wes Clark, Teddy Purcell score two goals each to lead Black Bears to series sweep

ORONO, Maine (Alfond Arena) - Bemidji State senior forward Luke Erickson (Roseau, Minn.) scored two goals, but two unanswered third-period goals helped the Maine Black Bears put away a close game and seal a two-game non-conference series sweep of the Beavers, 6-3.

Wes Clark helped the Black Bears get on the board first, scoring his second goal of the season at 4:33 of the first period. He was helped by Billy Ryan and Bret Tyler on Maine’s first even-strength goal of the series.

The Beavers needed just over five minutes to draw even. Maine’s Travis Ramsey was caught for obstruction-interference at 7:52, and Ryan Miller (Park Rapids, Minn.) picked up his first goal of the season with three seconds remaining in the ensuing power play. He was assisted by Rob Sirianni (Edmonton, Alberta) and Tyler Scofield (Prince George, British Columbia), who picked up their first points of the season.

Maine’s Rob Bellamy drew an obstruction-interference penalty at 18:20 of the first period, but the 1-1 draw held through the end of the period. Erickson needed just 14 seconds of the second period to give BSU its first lead of the series. He was assisted by Matt Pope (Langley, British Columbia) and Shane Holman (Hibbing, Minn.); it was Pope’s second helper of the series.

The Black Bears put up two quick goals to recapture the lead, however. Matt Duffy scored his second marker of the series four seconds into a power play opportunity caused by a hooking penalty by Erickson to tie the score at 2:26, and Clark scored his second lamp-lighter even-strength at 4:49.

At 11:06 of the second, Teddy Purcell helped Maine push its lead to 4-2, scoring the second Black Bear power-play goal of the night after a high stick-contact to the head call against BSU’s Nathan Schwartzbauer (Wasilla, Alaska).

Erickson picked up his second power-play goal of the night at 13:50 of the second, taking advantage of a hooking call against Duffy at 13:50 to pull BSU within a goal at 4-3.

But the Beavers were held scoreless on seven shots in the third, and Maine added a pair of insurance goals to ice the victory. Zach Sill scored even strength at 7:58, and Purcell added his second goal of the night - and the third Maine power-play goal - at 16:45 of the third to cap the 6-3 victory.

For the second consecutive night, Maine used strong special teams play. After scoring six power-play goals in last night’s victory, the Black Bears got three tonight and scored quickly on the first two. In the second period, Duffy’s power-play marker came just four seconds into the Erickson penalty, and Purcell’s lamp-lighter came with Schwartzbauer in the penalty box for just seven seconds. Maine scored nine power-play goals in the series, and with a short-handed goal in Game 1 scored 10 of their 13 goals for the weekend on special teams.

Maine’s three power-play goals came on 11 chances, giving them 24 power-play opportunities for the series.

Junior Matt Climie (Leduc, Alberta) went the distance for Bemidji State in goal. He saved 31 of 37 shots faced and allowed all six Maine goals. He fell to 0-1-0 with the loss.

Ben Bishop improved to 3-0-0 for the Black Bears. He saved 20 of 23 shots faced in the 60-minute complete game.

Erickson’s two-goal game capped a strong series for the CHA Pre-Season Player of the Year. He scored three of BSU’s four goals in the series, all on the power play, and continued his ascent up several BSU career lists. His goal in Game 1 made him just the fourth Division I-era player at BSU to reach 40 for his career, and he now trails Andrew Murray’s BSU Division I-era career scoring lead (115) by seven points. Erickson scored his 16th, 17th and 18th career power-play goals in the series, leapfrogging Murray into third place on BSU’s career Division I-era list and closing within four power-play goals of Marty Goulet’s BSU Division I-era record (22).

Bemidji State dropped to 0-2-0 against Maine after its first-ever series against the Black Bears, and 1-3-0 all-time against opponents from Hockey East.

Seventh-ranked Maine remained unbeaten with the victory, improving to 3-0-0. Bemidji State (0-2-0) takes a break from regular-season action next weekend, as it makes its first appearance at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse this season against Regina in a two-game exhibition series. Opening faceoffs from the Glas are slated for 7:35 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. Central time, respectively, on Oct. 20-21.

NOTES: Ryan Miller’s goal was the 25th of his career, moving him into sole possession of 10th place on BSU’s career Division I-era list; it was his 10th power-play goal, moving him into a tie with Bryce Methven for 8th on BSU’s Division I-era career list.

--beavers--