DATE: December 29, 2006
Shane Holman scores two goals, Matt Climie records 40 saves as Beavers run unbeaten streak to 10

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Colorado Springs World Arena) - The Bemidji State men’s ice hockey team ran its Division I-era record unbeaten streak to ten consecutive games and recorded its first Division I-era victory over a Top 10 opponent, using two goals from senior Shane Holman (Hibbing, Minn.) and a 40-save effort from junior goaltender Matt Climie (Leduc, Alberta) to post a 3-2 win at No. 8-ranked Colorado College. BSU posted its first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent since Nov. 14, 2004, and the eighth-ranked Tigers are the highest-ranked opponent BSU has defeated since joining Division I in 1999.

The Beavers needed every one of Climie’s 40 saves, as they were limited to 14 shots on goal to tie a season low. The Beavers mustered just three shots in the first period, seven shots in the second and four shots in the third period. Still, Bemidji State managed to put a goal on the scoreboard in each period, with Holman’s markers coming in the first and third periods and Rob Sirianni (Edmonton, Alberta) continuing his recent offensive fireworks with a second-period marker.

The first of Holman’s pair of goals came at the 15:55 mark of the first period, with a single assist from Garrett Roth (Cary, Ill.). Holman’s third goal of the campaign helped the Beavers take a 1-0 advantage into the first intermission despite being out-shot 15-3 in the frame.

The Tigers pulled even less than 30 seconds after the opening faceoff in the second period. Brandon Polich won the period-opening faceoff from BSU’s Travis Winter (St. Cloud, Minn.), and the Tigers were able to push immediately into the offensive zone and pepper Climie with the puck. Climie turned aside consecutive attempts from James Brannigan and Polich, but a third rebound went to Chad Rau, who finally pushed the puck over the goal line to balance the scoreboard at a goal apiece.

From there, however, BSU would put up a pair of unanswered goals to take control of the scoreboard.

Sirianni extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games with his fifth goal of the season, taking assists from Ryan Miller (Fergus Falls, Minn.) and Blaine Jarvis (Gladstone, Manitoba) to score even strength at the 13:19 mark of the second period and put BSU back on top, 2-1. The Jarvis assist helped him run his scoring streak to a team-leading six games, and gives him at least one assist in each of BSU’s last three outings.

The 2-1 lead held into the third period, again despite the Tigers holding a dramatic advantage in shots on goal. Colorado College out-shot BSU 12-7 in the second period and had a 27-10 advantage in shots on net through the game’s first 40 minutes.

The Beavers propelled their lead to 3-1 on their first shot on goal of the third period. With help from defensemen John Vadnais (Alexandria, Minn.) and Nathan Schwartzbauer (Wasilla, Alaska), Holman put up his second lamp-lighter of the night and his fourth of the season at the 2:11 mark of the third to put the visitors on top by two goals.

The Tigers shaved BSU’s lead to 3-2 on a Brian Connelly power-play goal at the 13:45 mark of the third. BSU’s Chris Peluso (Wadena, Minn.) was whistled for holding at the 13:23 mark, and the hosts needed just 22 seconds to capitalize. Jimmy Kilpatrick and Cody Lampl assisted on the marker, Connelly’s first career power-play goal.

Colorado College out-shot Bemidji State 42-14 in the contest, marking the second consecutive game the Beavers have yielded 40 shots and come away with the victory. Climie was stellar in goal, saving at least 11 shots in all three periods of play and allowing just one goal at even strength. He turned away 15 of 15 shots faced in the first period, 11 of 12 in the second and 14 of 15 in the third, gathering 40 saves for the second consecutive game and the fourth time in his career. He played a 60-minute complete game and with the win improved to 8-2-3 on the season and extended his personal unbeaten streak to 10 consecutive starts. Climie’s last loss came Nov. 10 to Robert Morris; he has gone 7-0-2 in 10 starts since.

Senior goaltender Chris Kawano took the loss in his first start of the season for the Tigers. He recorded 11 saves, two in the first, six in the second and three in the third, and allowed all three BSU goals while seeing his record fall to 0-1-0.

The victory continued BSU’s recent successes against Western Collegiate Hockey Association opponents, improving the Beavers to a perfect 5-0-0 against the WCHA this year. BSU has won each of its last five meetings with WCHA opponents and is now 9-3-0 over its last 12 dating back to the start of the 2005-06 campaign.

BSU also evened its all-time series against Colorado College at one victory apiece with the win.

Bemidji State extended its Division I-era record unbeaten streak to 10 consecutive games (8-0-2) dating back to a 3-0 shutout of Robert Morris on Nov. 11. BSU also set a Division I-era record by posting its seventh consecutive victory, a streak which dates back to a 1-0 shutout of Wayne State (Mich.) on Dec. 1. The 10-game unbeaten streak is the longest at BSU since a 12-game winning streak during the 1992-93 campaign, while the seven-game winning streak is also BSU’s longest since the 1992-93 dozen-gamer.

BSU (10-4-3) and Colorado College (11-7-1) wrap up their two-game non-conference series tomorrow night in Colorado Springs. Opening faceoff from the Colorado Springs World Arena is slated for 7:07 p.m. Mountain time.

--beavers--