Cory Ward (F, So., Las Vegas, Nev.) scored two goals and goaltender Jesse Wilkins (Fr., Calgary, Alberta) made 36 saves to lead the Bemidji State University men’s hockey team to a 2-2 tie at Michigan Technological University Friday.
Ward’s second goal of the game negated a two-goal scoring barrage during a 37 second span early in the third period to help the Beavers gain an always-tough Western Collegiate Hockey Association point on the road.
In a frame dictated by special teams play, the Beavers were outshot 14-5 in the opening period. BSU was whistled for four penalties and spent 7:25 a man short, but the Beavers’ penalty-kill unit was up to the challenge, holding MTU scoreless and escaping the opening 20 minutes of play with the score tied 0-0.
BSU broke a scoreless tie at the 11:34 mark of the second period.
Midway through the second period, Ward put the Beavers in front establishing a career-high in the process. On BSU’s third power-play opportunity of the evening, Phil Marinaccio (F., Fr., Nobleton, Ontario) found Ward for a one-timer. The goal was the sophomore’s 10th of the season topping his rookie season total of nine, just 16 games into his sophomore campaign. The lamplighter also marked his third consecutive game with a goal.
Bemidji State clung to a 1-0 edge to open the third period despite being out shot 24-14 in the first 40 minutes of play, but that would change quickly. Just 2:18 into the third, Michigan Tech got a goal off the stick of Daniel Holmberg and 37 seconds later C.J. Eick found the back of the net to give the Huskies’ their first lead of the night, 2-1.
Ward registered his second career two-goal night on a tremendous individual effort 6:12 into the third. MTU had an ill-timed broken stick and instead of firing a slap shot on goal, Ward collected the loose puck. The Las Vegas, Nev. native skated past the Huskies’ backline and beat the Michigan Tech goaltender, Pheonix Copley, with a wrist shot to the top shelf.
The goal would stand as the equalizer as the teams finished regulation play tied 2-2.
Playing in their fourth overtime game in the last five meetings with the Huskies, the Beavers settled for the draw. The tightly-contested all-time series remains ties at 5-5-3.
In his collegiate debut, Wilkins stopped 36 of 38 MTU shots and backstopped a penalty-kill unit that finished the night holding the Huskies scoreless on all six of their power-play chances. He is 0-0-1 on the season.
The Beavers (5-8-4; 5-4-2 WCHA) and Huskies (6-8-2; 4-2-3 WCHA) will wrap up their WCHA series tomorrow. The puck drops on the series finale at 6:07 p.m. (CT) at MacInnes Student Ice Arena.