Hockey: Bemijdi State defeats Air Force 3-1 in season opener

  • Published
  • By Dave Toller
  • Athletic Communications
BEMIDJI, Minn. --  Bemidji State scored a goal in each period to beat Air Force, 3-1, in a non-conference college hockey game Oct. 9, at the John Glas Fieldhouse here. 

The game was the season opener for both teams.

Bemidji State, 1-0, dominated the first period and out-shot Air Force 12-6. The Beavers got on the board at the 7:21 mark when Chris McKelvie scored the first goal of the season. Jamie MacQueen made a pass from the left boards and McKelvie was wide open between the hash marks as he beat Andrew Volkening high. Volkening made 11 saves in the first period, including several at close range. BSU also won eight of the 10 faceoffs in the opening period.

The Beavers continued to control play in the second period, out-shooting Air Force, 10-4. Ian Lowe gave the Beavers a 2-0 lead in the second period when he scored from Jordan George and Matt Read. George walked the puck off the boards on the right side and found Lowe skating down the slot uncontested. Air Force killed three BSU power plays in the period.

Air Force came out in the third period and had the first five shots on goal but could not beat Beaver goalie, Dan Bakala. With 4:52 left in the third, Ryan Cramer gave BSU a 3-0 lead with a goal from the slot. Air Force avoided the shutout as freshman defenseman Eric Artman scored his first career goal from Jacques Lamoureux and Mike Walsh with 1:49 remaining.

Bemidji State outshot Air Force 28-21 in the game. Volkening made 25 saves for Air Force while Bakala, playing his first ever collegiate game, made 20 for the Beavers. AFA was 0-for-3 on the power play while BSU was 0-for-4.

"The better team won tonight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We got beat by a team that outworked us. We can accept getting beat, but not getting outworked. They were more aggressive and they were hungrier. They weren't as sharp in the third period, and we needed to get the next goal. Instead, they manufactured the next goal and that was the back breaker."

Air Force and Bemidji State conclude the two-game non-conference series Oct. 10, at 7:05 p.m. Central Standard Time in Bemidji, Minn.