BEMIDJI, Minn. – Junior winger Marcus Basara's two goal effort wasn't enough for the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, as they were defeated 6-3 by Bemidji State University on Saturday night at the Sanford Center. In Saturday's Western Collegiate Hockey Association loss, the Nanooks split the weekend with BSU and drop to 4-6-0 overall (2-4-0 WCHA), while the Beavers move to 2-5-2 overall (1-4-1 WCHA).
"As we have done a few other times this season, we fell behind early," Head Coach Dallas Ferguson explained. "We fought back hard to get the game tied after two periods. I'm happy with the team's resiliency and next shift mentality. I felt really good about our game tonight, especially our guys pushing the pace and our puck management. We had plenty of chances thorughout the game, but unfortunately couldn't finish the way we wanted to."
The Nanooks received 24 saves from junior goaltender Davis Jones (St. Albert, Alberta/Nipawin) in his eighth start this season. Bemidji's junior goaltender Reid Mimmack (Brainerd, Minn.) collected 20 stops at the other end of the ice. Alaska outshot Bemidji 10-9 in the third period, but the Beavers outshot the Nanooks in 30-23 overall.
Bemidji's freshman forward Jay Dickman (Shoreview, Minn.) opened the scoring at 2:17 of the first period, capitalizing on a Nanook neutral zone turnover and making a quick move on Jones before scoring five-hole unassisted. The Beavers made it 2-0 nine minutes later on a backhand shot by Beaver junior forward Brendan Harms (Steinbach, Manitoba) for his second goal of the year.
Alaska drew to within 2-1 at 2:51 of the second period, when sophomore forward Tayler Munson (Fairbanks, Alaska/Fairbanks) redirected a Zach Fyre (Spokane, Wash./Lincoln) slapshot from the point on the power play, with secondary assist given to freshman defensemen Jack Weiss, (Bloomington, Minn./Rio Grande), making it his fourth point of the season.
The Nanooks tied it up with less than a minute in the second period, when Basara (Port Moody, British Columbia/West Kelowna) drove the BSU net, skating past the Bemidji defensemen before making a backhand top-shelf goal, marking his third goal of the season. Assists were given to sophomore defenseman Nick Hinz (Oakdale, Minn./Fairbanks) for his first point of the season and sophomore forward Peter Krieger (Blomington, Minn./Waterloo), who finished tonight's game with 10 points on the year.
"Our power play got things started with a great heads-up play from Zach Frye to Tayler Munson," Ferguson described of the team's first two goals. "Marcus Basara showed great effort driving the net hard and finishing with a highlight backhand. Both were two big plays to get us even after two."
Bemidji went back on top 3-2, starting at the 2:46 mark of the third period, where junior forward Nate Arentz (Lakeville, Minn.) was alone backdoor and able to put it behind Jones on a missed shot on goal from teammate Markus Gerbrandt (Edmonton, Alberta).
The Nanooks found themselves killing four penalties in the third period, which allowed the Beavers to capitalize on three different man advantages. Gerbrandt got his second point of the night at the 4:18 mark, after firing the puck on net using Frye as a screen in front of Jones. Bemidji's second power play goal came from Leo Fitzgerald (Port Alberni, British Columbia) off of a one-timer at the top of the circle.
"We were disappointed in the third period. We took four penalties and gave up four goals. No one in our locker room is happy with the way we finished tonight's game. We have to be more disciplined in order to win hockey games," Ferguson expressed.
Basara tallied his second goal of the night, driving the net wide once again and putting the puck on net. BSU's Mimmack thought he gloved it, but Basara moved the Nanooks to within two (5-3) at the 15:06 mark in the third. Krieger and Weiss were given the assists, both their second of the night.
The home team struck once more with their third power play goal of the game, when sophomore forward Kyle Bauman (Apopka, Fla./Wichita Falls) picked up the puck in a scrum in front of Jones to make it 6-3 at 16:18 point in the third period. Assists were credited to Cory Ward (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Dillion Eichstadt (Bemidji, Minn.).
"Thankfully, we recieved points this weekend and that is extremely important for us right now. The WCHA has some tough competition and grinding out points every weekend is crucial," Ferguson concluded.
With the weekend split, Alaska earned two WCHA points on the weekend, currently putting them in eighth place. The Nanooks continue their two-week road trip; heading to Big Rapids, Mich. taking on Ferris State Friday, Nov. 20th and Saturday Nov. 21st. Puck drop is slated for both nights at 3:07 p.m. AKST.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, like Alaska Nanooks Hockey on Facebook or follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter.
