In BGSU hockey’s (2-2-1, 2-0-1) four meetings with the Bemidji State Beavers (4-4-1, 2-0-1) last season, three required overtime and/or a shootout to decide a winner. The Falcons and Beavers carried the trend into the new season, as the Falcons fell in a shootout on Halloween night.
The main story for the Falcons heading into the game was the return of junior defenseman and alternate captain Gustav Stjernberg, who had only had one previous appearance for the Falcons this season due to nagging injuries.
“Goose (Gustav Stjernberg) hasn’t played in over a month, almost, and he was good,” said head coach Dennis Williams. “You win with guys like him. He’s a warrior out there and he cares and he’s passionate and he’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
Senior forward Quinn Emerson opened the scoring for the Falcons by finishing a beautiful passing play and scoring on BG’s first shot on goal of the game. Junior defenseman Breck McKinley and freshman forward Dominik Rymon were credited with the assists on the play, while junior forward Ben Doran’s pass also helped set up the play.
“Beautiful goal, CCHA Top 10 maybe this week,” said Williams.
Bemidji would respond not long after due to a stumble from sophomore defenseman Ivan Korodiuk, which also slowed down freshmen forward Brandon Whynott’s pursuit of the play, turning a two-on-one opportunity for Bemidji into a two-on-zero opportunity. Freshman defenseman Max Vig would tap the puck in the net after receiving a cross-crease pass from Kasper Magnussen for Vig’s first career collegiate goal. Sophomore defenseman Isa Parekh was also awarded an assist on the goal.
Along with each team scoring a goal apiece, the Beavers and Falcons also used the first period to establish the chippy nature that would be present throughout the game.
Nearly every whistle during the first period of play resulted in shoving matches.
The first period was also filled with massive hits, which would be a staple for the rest of the game.
Notably, Bowling Green’s sophomore forward Max Martin and Bemidji State’s Mitch Wolfe both laid multiple bone-crushing checks over the course of the game.
Bemidji State dominated the second period of play by outshooting the Falcons 12-4 and outscoring BG 3-1 in the second frame.
Senior forward and the Beavers’ alternate captain, Adam Flammang, would score from the blue paint, with assists being awarded to junior forward Oliver Peer and Kasper Magnussen on the play.
Not long after, Freshman forward Max Namestnikov would also score via a shot from the blue paint to give the Beavers a two-goal lead. Junior forward Vincent Labelle and Mitch Wolfe assisted on the goal.
Bowling Green’s lone goal of the period game via freshman forward Jérémie Minville’s first career collegiate goal after a shot from senior forward Brett Pfoh bounced in off the Drummondville, Quebec native. Fellow freshman Noah Morneau was credited with the other assist on Minville’s tally.
Bemidji would reinstate its two-goal lead after Labelle slipped a puck past sophomore netminder Tyler Palmer. Senior forward and Bemidji’s captain Kirklan Irey and Namestnikov were credited with assists.
“We lost the game in the second period. Took our foot off the gas for 10 minutes there and it cost us the game,” said Stjernberg.
BG would respond in the third period and outshoot the Beavers 17-7 in the frame.
Despite outshooting BSU and creating multiple good scoring chances, Bowling Green would have to wait 15 minutes for their first goal of the period as senior forward Jackson Niedermayer would fire in a one-timer from the point to bring Bowling Green to within one goal of tying the game with 4:55 remaining on the clock. Emerson and Morneau were credited with the assists on the play.
Bowling Green would pull Palmer for the extra attacker with a minute and a half remaining in regulation in a last-ditch effort to find a tying goal.
Just 17 seconds later, Stjernberg would score off a one-timer to tie the game at four apiece. Rymon and senior forward and Falcons’ alternate captain Jaden Grant were awarded the assists on the play.
The two teams would remain tied at the end of overtime despite Bemidji outshooting BG 4-0.
In the shootout, Flammang would score for the Beavers while BSU’s junior netminder Raythan Robbins prevented all three of BG’s shooters from scoring, giving Bemidji the shootout win and the extra point.
