Sophomore Markus Gerbrandt (F, Edmonton, Alberta) posted the Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team’s first hat trick since Nov. 7, 2009 to lead the Beavers to a 6-1 victory over the University of Alabama-Huntsville to open the Western Collegaite Hockey Associaiton seaosn Friday at Von Braun Center.
Gerbrandt’s first multi-point game of the season stands as the first multi-goal game of his career. BSU’s last hat trick came off the stick of Brad Hunt, Nov. 7, 2009 versus Alabama-Hutsville.
The Chargers took an early 1-0 lead, making good on its first power-play opportunity of the evening.
Philip Maranaccio was whistled for tripping at the 15:41 mark and UAH would go up 1-0 just eight seocnds later when Alex Allan posted a goal with help from Doug Reid.
The Beavers would respond netting a pair of goals 38 seonds apart, less than two minutes later.
Markus Gerbandt (F, So., Edmonton, Alberta) posted his second tally of the season at the 17:07 mark and Brendan Harms registerd the first goal of his colelgaite career 2:15 left in the frame. Sam Rendle (D, Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), Matt Prapavessis (D, Jr., Oakville, Ontario) and Danny Mattson (F, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) were credited with assists in the period.
Leading 2-1 to oppen the second period, BSU stretched its lead ot 3-1 at the 12:45 mark. UAH turned the puck over between the circles and Cory Ward (F, So., Las Vegas, Nev.) netted his team-leading third goal of 2013-14. Mattson and Harms were each credited with thier second point of the night as they set Ward up on the play.
After bending just eight seconds into the Chargers’ first power-play, the BSU penalty-kill unit finished the night killing four of five man advantage opportunities.
The Beavers, now 1-3-1 on the seaosn and 1-0-0 in WCHA play, wraps up its league-opening series versus Alabama-Huntsville tomorrow at 7:07 p.m. from Von Braun Center.