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2/20/2010 - MEN'S ICE HOCKEY Read nets 100th point; Beavers score third straight regular-season title

BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) -- A pair of third period goals and water-tight penalty-kill play allowed the Bemidji State University  men’s ice hockey team to escape the John S. Glas Fieldhouse with a 3-2 victory Friday over Niagara University.  The win, which improved the No. 7 Beavers’ record to 20-7-2 overall and 12-3-0 in College Hockey America play was enough to clinch the school’s third consecutive regular-season league championship and unprecedented 22nd conference crown in program history.

Tied 1-1 after two periods of inconsistent play, the Beavers came out in the opening minutes of the third frame to take control of the game.  Jamie MacQueen (So., F, St. Thomas, Ontario) broke the tie 4:31 into the stanza, stepping in front of a NU pass before skating it into the zone and beating the Purple Eagle goaltender for his seventh goal of the season.  Matt Read (Jr., F, Ilderton, Ontario) put the Beavers up 3-1 just 1:33 later when freshman playmaker Jordan George (F, Madison, Wis.) found the junior streaking down the left side of the slot with a nifty pass.  Read then rung a shot off the inside of the left post and into the back of the net for his first point in four games.  The goal also stood as the 100th point of his career, making him the seventh BSU player to accumulate 100 career points since the team made the jump to the major college hockey level prior to the 1999-2000 season.  He is now locked in a tie with Marty Goulet (1999-03) for sixth place on BSU’s Division I-era scoring list.

After settling in to the two-goal advantage, BSU got stuck in a rut and allowed Niagara back in the game.  At the 12:11 mark, Paul Zanette scored an even-strength marker to pull the Purple Eagles within a goal, 3-2.  Twenty-nine seconds later, Read was called for a major penalty opening the door for a Niagara comeback by setting up with a five-minute man advantage.

The Beavers would respond with true grit, banding together to hold the visitors scoreless for the entire five minutes, allowing the penalty-kill unit to finish the evening a perfect 4-for-4 on the night.  

Ian Lowe (Jr., F, Bradwardine, Manitoba) scored the Beavers’ only power-play goal of the game midway through threw the first period.  BSU finished 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

Dan Bakala (So., G, Calgary, Alberta) was back in the net for the Beavers and single-handedly kept the team in the game during a few defensive let downs in the second period.  Bakala finished the night with 25 saves, including 11 in the second alone, for his 16th victory of the season.

Niagara’s Adam Arvamenko was tagged with the loss after surrendering all three BSU goals.  He falls to 2-5-3 in 2009-10.

BSU is now within a win of leveling the all-time series, as the team trails Niagara 20-21-8 since the series began in 1999-00. The Beavers own a 12-6-5 mark when hosting the Purple Eagles at “The Glas” and have won four straight over NU in the Bemidji, Minn.

The  Beavers (20-7-2; 12-3-0 CHA) and Niagara (7-17-4; 2-8-2 CHA) square off again tomorrow to cap the season series and play the last collegiate game in the hallowed John S. Glas Fieldhouse.  The teams take the ice at 7:05 p.m. for an evening celebrating 43 years of calling “The Glas” home.  

Prior to the opening face off, Bemidji State University will honor the family of John S. Glas, a man who dedicated 36 years of his professional life to the University as well as recognizing players from the program’s 13 national championships and three NCAA Division I NCAA Tournament teams.  Following the game, the team will pass a torch through 54 years of hockey history and honor the first and last goals scored in the building before legendary BSU coach R.H. “Bob” Peters will address those in attendance as the team leaves the ice one last time.

--bsu--