Junior defenseman Anders Olsson scored two goals to lead Bemidji State past the University of Manitoba Bison, 4-2, in an exhibition contest tonight at the John Glas Fieldhouse.
Olsson, who scored just two goals all of last season, scored even-strength at 1:07 of the second period to put BSU ahead for good, 2-1, and sealed the win with a power-play goal at the 12:43 mark of the third period.
“Exhibition or not, I don’t care,” BSU head coach Tom Serratore said. “A win is a win. It feels good and I am happy for the guys to get off to this kind of a start.”
Brent Hobday scored both goals for Manitoba on even-strength tallies at the 15:40 mark of the first and the 6:24 mark of the third. Hobday’s second lamp-lighter pulled the Bison within a goal at 3-2, but Olsson would end the rally with his second goal six minutes later.
Jeff McGill scored BSU¹s first goal, and Marty Goulet netted a one-on-one breakaway opportunity for the eventual game-winning goal.
The Beavers played all three of their goaltenders in tonight¹s exhibition, with each getting one period of work. Grady Hunt, a second-team All-CHA pick in 2002, earned the start and saved 12 shots while allowing one goal; Dannie Morgan worked a perfect second with 13 saves, and freshman Kelly Shields worked the third and earned the win, stopping eight of nine shots faced.
BSU’s newcomers made a big impact tonight. In addition to Shields picking up the win in goal, the Beavers had three points come from players making their debut — two assists from redshirt sophomore Peter Jonsson and an assist from freshman Jean-Guy Gervais.
“This was a good hockey team,” Serratore said of Manitoba. “We have to face them again in the North Dakota tournament (Dec. 27 in Grand Forks). Hopefully this will get us ready for the start of the regular season in two weeks.”
Bemidji State opens regular-season play for the 2002-03 season Oct. 18-19 against Sacred Heart.
