Bemidji State Upends Army Hockey

Courtesy of Army Athletic Communications

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State overcame an early 1-0 deficit with two goals and beat Army, 2-1, Friday night in the college hockey season-opener for both teams.

Army took an early 1-0 lead but the Beavers scored once in the first to tie and pushed through the game-winner late in the third period in front of 1,382 fans at the John Glas Fieldhouse.

Owen Meyer scored the lone goal, off a Jeff Fearing assist, but the Black Knights were unable to get another goal and fell to 0-1. Bemidji State improved to 1-0.

Army goalie Josh Kassel was tested often and turned away 22shots. He finished with 22 saves, including 11 in the final period.

Bemidji State goalie Matt Climie settled down after the first score and concluded the night with 21 saves.

The Black Knights got off to a great start when Meyer converted the first Army shot of the season into the first goal, just 32 seconds into the game. Following a Kassel save, Meyer took a pass from Fearing and beat Climie to silence the crowd.

Bemidji State tied the game 11 minutes later on a goal by Jake Bluhm. Matt Francis was credited with the assist with 6:47 left to play in the first period.

Army had 10 shots in the first period but Climie made nine saves and the score remained tied after the first period.

Kassel, who made five saves in the first 20 minutes, kept the game tied with a stellar second period when the shots were even with six apiece. He was credited with six saves during the period, including a diving stop with less than six minutes to go.

Army had a goal waved off midway through the final period for having a man in the crease.

Bemidji State took its first lead with less than four minutes to play when Travis Winter scored off a double assist from Brandon Marino and Matt Reed to make it 2-1 with 3:12 remaining in the game.

The Black Knights had scoring chances late but could not convert.

Army will conclude its two-game trek to Minnesota with the final game of the series Saturday at 8 p.m. EST. This marks the first time Army has played in Minnesota since beginning the 1999-2000 season against the same opponent. The Black Knights will host RPI Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Tate Rink in their home-opener.

Games Notes: Army captain Chase Podsiad played in his 100th career game Friday night. He is sixth Black Knight player on the roster who has played in at least 100 games, joining Bryce Hollweg (104), Jeff Fearing (103), Chris Colvin (103), Luke Flicek (102) and Robb Ross (102) ... Army head coach Brian Riley spoke at the Beaver Pride Luncheon, Friday, along with several Bemidji State athletes and coaches ... Riley started four of the seven players from Minnesota. Zach McKelvie, Robb Ross, Luke Flicek and Jeff Fearing are all Minnesota natives. Josh Kassel and Chris Blair rounded out the starting lineup ...Kassel recorded the first Army save of the season 25 seconds into the game ... Three Army freshman appeared in their first games - Cody Omilusik, Pat Copeland and Joey Ammon ... The Beavers have won 12 NCAA Tournaments. BSU has six NAIA, two Division III and four Division II banners hanging from the rafters at the John Glas Fieldhouse. They have played twice in the Division I Tournament, in 2005 and 2006, in nine years of Division I competition

Bemidji State 2, Army 1
Army  1-0-0 1
Bemidji St. 1-0-1 2

First Period:
A - Meyer (Fearing) 00:32
B - Jake Bluhm (Francis), 11:47

Second Period:
None.

Third Period:
B - Winter (Marino, Reed), 16:48

Shots: Army 22 (10-6-6), Bemidji State 24 (6-6-12)
Saves: Army 22 (Kassel, 58:56, 5-6-11); Bemidji State 21 (Climie, 60:00, 9-6-6)
Power Plays: Army 0-4; Bemidji State 0-2
Penalties: Army 2-4; Bemidji State 4-8.
Attendance: 1,382