BSU Men’s Hockey Team Advanced to The Final Five

BSU made their goal

By Jillian Gandsey and Raielle Peterson

BEMIDJI, Minn. – “Our goal this year was to get to the Excel Center,” said head coach, Tom Serratore, of BSU’s men’s hockey team on Tuesday, March 15^th.  They did exactly that.

BSU along with the University of North Dakota, University of Denver, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Colorado College, University of Alaska-Anchorage in the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) participated in the Final Five hockey tournament, which began on Thursday March 17^th.  The Beavers started the action off at 3:37 p.m. against the UMD Bulldogs.

BSU men's hockey coach, Tom
Serratore, lead the Beavers to a
Final Five birth in their first season
in the WCHA.

Despite being ranked 10^th out of the 12 WCHA teams, Bemidji State pulled off a series win against 3^rd ranked Nebraska-Omaha last weekend.  Although being heavily outshot, BSU swept the Maverick’s on the shoulders of junior goaltender Dan Bakala. Without those wins BSU wouldn’t have advanced into the Final Five.  “Once you win a series like that you’re one step closer to where you want to be,” said Serratore on the Tuesday before facing Minnesota-Duluth.

In the final season rankings by the WCHA the Bulldogs were ranked 4^th, while the Beavers finished 10^th.  These two teams previously met for a two games series in late October during regular season play and the result was a loss and a tie for the Beavers.  Both games went into overtime. 

An essential player for the Beavers is senior forward Matt Read.  In the Nebraska-Omaha series he contributed two goals and an assist for Bemidji State, leading them towards their victory.  He was also a factor in the game against Minnesota-Duluth, scoring one goal.  “He’s been the best player on the team since he came here as a freshmen, which is very uncommon,” claimed Serratore.  “He’s tough as nails.”

“They really have two good lines and that’s been the key for them,” said Serratore about Minnesota-Duluth prior to the game.  As the underdogs, the Beavers were seemingly able to keep up with the Bulldogs, pulling off a thrilling 3-2 overtime win. 

UMD’s Jack Connolly scored the first goal of the game just 6:05 into the action of the first period.  The Beavers came back with a goal just seven minutes later, scored by junior Brad Hunt.  At the end of the first period the Bulldogs added a shorthanded goal, making the score 2-1. 

The second period was scoreless.  Shortly into the third is when Read tied up the game, scoring his 22^nd goal of the season.  That would be the last goal of regulation and the Beavers and the Bulldogs went into their third overtime game of the year.  Just 6:12 into overtime and junior Shea Walters scored his first goal of the season and making the final score of the game 3-2.

The win set Bemidji State up to play the University of Denver on Friday, March 18^th at 2:07 p.m.  The Beavers weren’t so fortunate this time and their tournament play was put to an end.

Bemidji State put up a good fight in the first period, ending it with a 2-1 lead.  Jordan George and Radoslav Illo were the goal scorers.  However, that was the end of scoring by Bemidji State and Denver ran with lead for the rest of the game.  The Final score was 6-2. 

That was the end of Bemidji State’s season and they finished with an overall record of 15-18-5 and in their conference 8-15-5.