The men’s hockey team got a duo of Ws over the weekend in a tough-fought series against the Bemidji State Beavers in Bemidji, Minnesota.
After a very up-and-down series with Alaska Anchorage last weekend, the Falcons wanted to re-establish their dominance before the WCHA tournament.
The Falcons won 3-1 in Game 1 while Game 2 was 2-2 going into double overtime before the Falcons picked up the extra point, winning 3-2.
“I think it was a concerted effort on our part to find a way tonight,” coach Chris Bergeron said after Game 2. “We thought we had more compete level and more skating in us. … I thought we did a good job of adjusting that and getting back to our level of competing. Obviously, there’s plays good and bad on both sides, but to come away with 5 points on a weekend like this where we’re fighting for home ice, fighting for second place … I’m proud of the group; I thought we did a nice job this weekend.”
Game 1 got off to a quick start as sophomore forward Max Johnson found an opening in the Beaver net only 26 seconds in. Assists went to junior defenseman Alec Rauhauser and sophomore forward, and team leader in points, Brandon Kruse.
Goal two saw freshman defenseman Will Cullen stay hot putting a power-play goal on the board early in the second. Helpers on the marker went to senior defenseman Chris Pohlkamp plus freshman forward Taylor Schneider.
Senior captain Stephen Baylis fed an empty-netter to ice the victory for the Falcons in Game 1. Assists went to forwards, senior John Schilling and sophomore Connor Ford.
“I thought we defended really well,” Bergeron said. “I thought we did just enough around their net. I thought through two periods we were really good; they only had two shots in the second. When the third came, we knew they were going to push. We killed penalties well tonight; when it was five-on-three for 1:20, we had a good kill there.”
Game 2 saw the Falcons start slow but grind the game to overtime before eventually taking the victory and extra point.
Schilling started the scoring in this one as he converted a breakaway going five-hole on the Bemidji netminder. Junior forward Lukas Craggs had the assist.
Using his laser shot, Johnson got the second for the Falcons on a crossing play with Kruse. Rauhauser also picked up the assist.
The game would end regulation with the score tied before Johnson scored again in double OT to give the Falcons the overtime victory.
With the results this weekend, the Falcons clinch first-round home ice in the WCHA playoffs.
“We’ve had home ice since the new WCHA has been formed. Playing in front of our fans is a big thing. There’s lots to play for next weekend, and we put ourselves in a good spot here,” Bergeron said.
The Falcons will wrap up the regular season against the Alabama Huntsville Chargers the weekend of March 1 before the WCHA first round the weekend of March 8.
