Bemidji State defeats Michigan Tech 3-1 with power play and strong goaltending for sweep, photo gallery

Shea Walters, top left, reacts after scoring BSU's first goal against Michigan Tech goalie Kevin Genoe during the second period of Saturday night's game at the Sanford Center. Pioneer Photo/Eric Stromgren

The Bemidji State men’s hockey team had all it could handle from Michigan Tech for the first half of Saturday night’s game at the Sanford Center.

BSU freshman goalie Andrew Walsh made the saves to keep the score close early and the Beavers took advantage of two power plays in the second period to defeat the Huskies 3-1 before 3,449 fans.

Shea Walters and Ben Kinne scored the power-play goals in the second period, and Drew Fisher added an insurance goal in the middle of the third period.

“At the end of the first period when we got into the locker room we started harping on the guys because we weren’t moving our feet at all,” Kinne said. “That was the theme of the second period and you can see what happens when we move our feet. We draw penalties and our power play is clicking right now. When we get chances like that, we’ll put pucks in the net and that’s one way we can win a game.”

Walsh, who relieved Dan Bakala in the first period of Friday’s 6-5 win over Tech, had 31 saves Saturday in his first career start.

“I kind of got all the nerves out last night, so I was able to prepare all day for it and I felt really good,” Walsh said.

The native of Dawson Creek, British Columbia was a difference maker in the series and gave up three goals over five periods in the weekend sweep. Walsh played junior hockey last season for Dawson Creek in the North American Hockey League and faced just over 1,000 shots in 32 games of split goaltending duty.

BSU head coach Tom Serratore was pleased with Walsh’s play against Michigan Tech but did not commit to a starting goaltender moving forward.

“We have some decisions to make as a coaching staff and I think a lot of these things we’ll worry about on Monday,” Serratore said. “The bottom line is you want someone to have a hot hand and he has a hot hand right now. It’s just competition right now and a challenge to everybody, a challenge to all three goaltenders.”

Bemidji State (3-3-0, 2-2 WCHA) goes back on the road next weekend to face Minnesota-Duluth on Friday and Saturday at Amsoil Arena. Game times are 7:07 p.m. both nights.

Michigan Tech (4-2-0, 2-2-0 WCHA) was all over Bemidji State in the first period and outshot the Beavers 12-5 on 21 shot attempts. Alex McLeod scored for Tech when he pushed a rebound through a pileup at the top of the crease. The goal 7:56 counted after officials review.

“I wasn’t the happiest camper early in the game,” Serratore said. “The ice was very tilted in the first period and we were fortunate to get out of there only down 1-0. But that’s hockey. We regrouped and that’s why it’s a 60-minute game.”

The Huskies ran into penalty problems in the second period by taking five penalties, four in the last half of the period and the Beavers turned two of those power plays in to goals.

Walters scored at 9:41 when his short-angle shot went under the pads of Tech goalie Kevin Genoe to tie the game.

Kinne scored when he took a cross-ice pass from Brance Orban at the Tech blue line, skated in ahead of the defenseman and made a move to slip the puck under Genoe’s pads for the 2-1 lead with 1:06 left.

Fisher ripped a shot into the upper corner of the net with 8:34 remaining in the third period to put the Beavers up 3-1.

Walsh made some key saves the rest of the way, including a kick save on David Johnstone with four minutes remaining and a glove save Carl Nielson’s slap shot with 1:30 left.

“It’s a big step up for us when you’re called upon to play in this lineup – we’re a pretty veteran lineup,” Kinne said of Walsh. “To have him step up the way he did was huge for us. It shows that we have two or three goaltenders we can play at any time. That’s a big advantage for us.”

Last year Bemidji State had to wait until mid Nov. 13 to win the first game at the Sanford Center. Not this season.

“Points are always tough to get in the WCHA, we want to be a tough team to play at home and you want to take care of business at home,” Serratore said. “Last season we neglected to that early on the year and now we’re off to a good start. We feel pretty good.”

Scoring Summary

MTU 1 0 0 – 1
BSU 0 2 1 – 3
First period – 1, MTU MacLeod 2 (D. Johnstone, Stebner), 7:56.
Second period – 2, BSU Walters 3 (Kinne), 9:41, (pp). 3, BSU Kinne 3 (Orban, Illo), 18:54, (pp).
Third period – 4, BSU Fisher 2 (MacQueen, Prapavessis), 12:26.
Shots on goal- MTU, 12-9-11-32. BSU, 5-7-4-16.
Goalies- MTU, Genoe (16-13). BSU, Walsh (32-31).
Power Plays – MTU, 0-for-4. BSU, 2-for-7.
A- 3,449.

Photo Gallery

All photos by Eric Stromgren.

Andrew Walsh leads the Beavers on the ice Saturday night.

Ben Kinne checks Nick Cecere during a scrum in the corner

Brance Orban battles Carl Nielsen for space in front of Kevin Genoe

Jordan George

Matt Prapavessis throws a check

Drew Fisher checks Carl Nielsen

From left: Steven Seigo, David Boehm and Riley Sweeney

Brad Hunt battles for the puck with David Johnstone

Andrew Walsh makes a save on Blake Pietila

Ben Kinne closes in to score BSU's second goal.

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