DATE: October 21, 2006
40-save night for Cougar goalie Adam Ward leads Regina to exhibition series split

BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) - The Regina Cougars rode a standout performance from goaltender Adam Ward, who saved 40 of 42 shots faced to backstop the Cougars to a 5-2 victory over the Bemidji State Beavers tonight in an exhibition men’s ice hockey contest.

Ward turned in a stellar night in goal for the Cougars. He held BSU scoreless through two periods, saving all 25 shots he faced, and turned aside 15 of 17 shots faced during the third period. BSU’s third-period goal to break up the shutout ended its scoreless streak against Ward at 98:32, dating back to the first period of last night’s 2-0 BSU victory, and the second goal came with BSU playing in front of an empty net in favor of an extra attacker.

Regina needed just under 10 minutes of the first period to score the game’s first goal. Travis Winter (St. Cloud, Minn.) was called for obstruction-holding to give Regina a power-play opportunity at 9:05 of the first, and the Cougars needed just 29 seconds to take advantage. Scott Degelman found defenseman Ryan Cruse at the top of the crease, and Cruse fired on BSU goaltender Layne Sedevie (Bismarck, N.D.). Sedevie managed to save the shot but could not control the rebound, which went to his left and directly to Dustin Bru, who was camped out just inside the right circle. Bru let loose a one-timer and fired behind Sedevie to put the Cougars on top, 1-0, at 9:34.

Matt Allen (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) picked up a high sticking call at 9:55, again leaving the Beavers a man down. Again, Regina would take advantage. The Cougars pushed their lead to two goals just over a minute later, with Degelman picking up his second point of the period. With help from Jason Weitzel and Caine Pearpoint, Degelman scored from just outside the crease to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead at 10:56.

Shots were even in the first period at 14 for each team, with Regina scoring twice on three power-play opportunities.

Regina scored two goals in the first 10:06 of the second period to chase Sedevie. Pearpoint gathered the first of the two Cougar markers in the frame, scoring even-strength with help from Weitzel and Brennan Chapman at 3:41. Ryan Martin would later give Regina a 4-0 lead when he scored unassisted at 9:54 of the period.

Sedevie was lifted for Matt Climie (Leduc, Alberta) following the Martin goal, and Climie saved the only two shots he faced in the period’s final 9:54.

Bemidji State finally broke up the shutout at 6:55 of the third period. Justin Wilchynski was called for high sticking at 5:40 of the third, and Winter picked up his first lamp-lighter of the series 1:15 into the ensuing power play. Matt Pope (Langley, British Columbia) let loose a shot from the top of the right circle, and Ward saved the shot but could not control the rebound. Allen picked up the loose puck underneath the right circle and fired, but Ward again saved the shot. The rebound went toward the top of the crease, where Winter was waiting. He muscled the puck past Ward to break up the shutout and pull BSU within 4-1.

The Beavers pulled Climie for an extra attacker with 1:47 to play, and the gambit paid off. BSU forced home an extra attacker goal with 40 seconds to play when Rob Sirianni (Edmonton, Alberta) scored his third goal of the series. He took assists from Brandon Marino (Riverside, Calif.) and Tyler Scofield (Prince George, British Columbia) to pull BSU within two goals at 4-2.

But Bru scored on BSU’s still-empty net off the ensuing faceoff from center ice, capping the 5-2 victory for the Cougars.

Sedevie took the loss for Bemidji State, saving 15 of 19 shots faced in 30:06 of work before being lifted for Climie. Climie played 28:13 in relief, saving all six shots he faced and earning no decision.

Regina committed 12 penalties for 24 minutes with BSU going 1-for-6 on the power play, while BSU was called for nine penalties for 18 minutes with the Cougars scoring twice on three extra-man opportunities. BSU out-shot Regina 42-26, including a 17-5 advantage in the third period.

Regina (6-6-0) picked up its first victory in three chances against Bemidji State, improving to 1-2. Bemidji State moves to 3-3-1 in its Division I era in international exhibition contests and 3-4-1 in exhibition games overall. The Beavers have two more exhibition contests remaining on their 2006-07 docket; a two-game series against the U.S. Under 18 National Team on March 2-3, 2007.

Bemidji State (0-2-0 / 0-0-0 College Hockey America) returns to regular-season action on Friday, Oct. 27 when it opens CHA play with a two-game series at Niagara. Opening faceoffs from Niagara’s Dwyer Arena are set for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28.

--beavers--