Seven different Bemidji State University men’s hockey players contributed to the scoring as the Beavers opened Military Appreciation weekend with a 4-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory over University of Alaska-Anchorage Friday at Sanford Center.
After trailing by a goal early, the BSU power-play unit netted a pair of lamplighters to ignite a BSU rally. The Beavers scored four unanswered goals to gain the victory and two points in the league standings.
The Seawolves struck first getting an even-strength goal on a wrap around goal by Blake Tatchell at the 15:14 mark of the first priod. But it would take BSU’s leading scorer Markus Gerbrandt (F, So., Edmonton, Alberta) just 1:29 to get the goal back. Gerbrandt dug the puck out of the corner skated across the slot and flipped a backhand over the UAA goaltender’s, Rob Gunderson, shoulder for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Brad Robbins (F, So., Murrieta, Calif.) was credited with an assist on the play.
The Beavers took their first lead of the game at the 7:17 mark of the second period. UAA’s captain, Matt Bailey, was whistled for tripping, setting BSU up with its fourth power-play opportunity of the game at the 6:38 mark of the frame and BSU would convert 39 seconds later (7:17). After taking control of the puck in front of the Beavers goal, Ruslan Pedan (D, Fr., Moscow, Russia) skated it up the ice and fired a seeing-eye wrist shot from just inside the Beavers’ offensive zone. The shot found the back of the net. The unassisted goal was his third of the season.
After being out shot 11-7 in the first period, BSU posted a 12-7 advantage in the second and took a 2-1 lead into the final 20 minutes of play.
BSU completed the game with a two goals on the third to seal the victory.
Danny Mattson (F, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) netted his second goal of the season on a laser from the goal line extended at the 9:01 mark of the final frame. Matt Prapavessis (D, Jr., Oakville, Ontario) and Jeff Jubinville (F, Sr., Edmonton, Alberta) earned assists on the power-play marker. With a pair of man-advantage tallies on the night, BSU has now scored two power-play goals in each of its last three games and is 8-for-28 in conference play to lead the league.
Brendan Harms (F, Fr., Steinbach, Manitoba) put the final nail in the coffin netting an end-to-end, empty-net goal with 27 seconds left to play to give the Beavers the three-goal victory.
BSU finished the night with a 33-27 advantage in shots on goal, marking just the third time this season the Beavers have out shot their opponents. Not surprisingly, BSU is 3-0-0 in those games.
Andrew Walsh (G, Jr., Dawson Creek, British Columbia) finished the game stopping 26 of 27 Seawolves’ shots to improve to 4-6-1 on the season. He also backstopped a penalty-kill unit that was a perfect 4-for-4 on the evening.
The Beavers (4-6-1; 4-3-0 WCHA) and Seawolves (5-3-1; 2-3-0 WCHA) wrap up the WCHA series tomorrow. The opening faceoff is set for 7:07 p.m.
Tickets for the special military appreciation game are still available. Buy a ticket at the Bob Lowth Ford Pickup Window and show a military ID and receive a ticket of equal value free of charge.