Ben Kinne reacts after scoring Bemidji State's first goal of the game during the first period of Friday night's home opener against Michigan Tech. Pioneer Photo/Eric Stromgren
The Bemidji State men’s hockey team was in danger of letting Friday night’s home opener slip away in the first period.
But a bold move to change goaltenders midway through the period sparked the Beavers to a 6-5 win over previously undefeated Michigan Tech in front of 3,406 fans at the Sanford Center.
“It’s one of those games you love as a fan and even as a player, but as a coach it drives you crazy,” Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore said.
Michigan Tech answered Ben Kinne’s early goal with three goals on its first four shots against Dan Bakala. Serratore brought in freshman third string goalie Andrew Walsh, who made two big stops for his first and last save of the game.
“It was just kind of a hunch,” Serratore said. “He had a good week of practice. He’s quick, athletic and a big kid. I just went with it and I thought he played very well. Bottom line there was four shots and three goals. I had to make a choice and I made one.”
Bemidji State (2-3-0, 1-2-0 WCHA) ended a three-game losing streak and wrap up the weekend series with Michigan Tech (4-1-0, 2-1-0 WCHA) Saturday at the Sanford Center at 7:07 p.m.
Walsh, who had 17 saves in the win, made a kick save on Tech captain Brett Olson to keep the Huskies from going ahead three goals and BSU responded by scoring three goals in three minutes to take a 4-3 lead into the first intermission.
Jordan George scored 56 seconds apart during four-on-four play for his first two goals of the season and Brance Orban scored on the power play with 1:16 left in the period.
“We just kept rolling and chipping away and eventually got back the lead,” George said. “You’ve always got to love those games. There was a lot of whistles, a lot of penalties and a lot of open ice out there four on four.”
Orban scored midway through the second period by circling in front of the net and waiting until the last second to beat Michigan Tech goalie Josh Robinson, who finished with 28 saves. Brad Hunt put the Beavers up 6-3 with 8:17 to play.
Tech put the pressure on during the final minutes. Alex MacLeod scored on a rebound at the goal line with 11:17 remaining and Steven Seigo cut the Beavers lead to 6-5 on a slap shot goal with 33 seconds left.
Walsh’s biggest save came with two seconds left when he deflected Ryan Furne’s shot through heavy traffic with his glove to preserve the win.
“At the end the puck was bouncing around, the ice was choppy, the puck was going everywhere and we managed to keep it out,” said Walsh, a native of Dawson Creek, British Columbia who played for Dawson Creek in the North American Hockey League last season. “It was fun – it (playing) caught me off guard so I didn’t have time to be nervous. I just went in there and we tried to battle back.”
Here’s another recap from Jordan Doffing at the Minnesota Hockey News.
Scoring summary
MTU 3 1 2 – 5
BSU 4 1 1 – 6
First period – 1, BSU Kinne 2 (George, Prapavessis), 2:51. 2, MTU Nielsen 1 (Olson), 6:17. 3, MTU D. Johnstone 1 (J. Johnstone), 11:33. 4, MTU Pietila 3 (Olson), 12:49. 5, George 1 (Rendle, Cain), 16:52. 6, BSU George 2 (Hunt, Prapavessis), 17:48. 7, BSU, Orban 1 (MacQueen, Walters), 18:44, (pp).
Second period – 8, Orban 2 (unassisted), 10:32.
Third period – 9, BSU Hunt 1 (McLeod, Areshenko), 8:17. 10, MTU MacLeod 1 (Seigo, D. Johnstone), 11:27. 11, MTU Seigo 2 (Baker, Olson), 19:27.
Shots on goal – MTU, 6-10-7-23. BSU, 16-9-9-34.
Goalies – MTU, Robinson (34-28). BSU, Bakala (4-1, 12:49), Walsh (19-17, 47:11).
Power Plays – MTU, 0-for-4. BSU, 1-for-6.
A- 3,406.
Photo Gallery
All photos by Eric Stromgren.
Jeff Jubinville skates onto the ice during pregame introductions.
Carl Neilsen and Mitch Cain go after the puck.
Josh Robinson lunges to make a save in front of Jordan George and Riley Sweeney.
Brance Orban
Ben Kinne
Brad Hunt and Tech's Brett Olson
Jordan George reacts after scoring his second goal.
Andrew Walsh makes a glove save.
From left: Dennis Rix, Matt Carlson and Andrew Walsh.
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