NMU Hockey Wildcats Earn 2-2 Tie At Bemidji St.

This story was written by NMU Sports Information

BEMIDJI, Minn.---Northern Michigan University Hockey scored two short-handed goals in regulation but it was not enough as they finished the game with a 2-2 tie at Bemidji State University. The Beavers then managed to score late during the 3 on 3 second overtime to get the additional point in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings.

The teams were even on the scoreboard through the first period as both teams notched a goal. The Wildcats scored first late into the period on a shorthanded goal. Less than a a minute later, the Beavers tied things up at 1-1. The Wildcats won 11 face offs in the first period while BSU notched 8.

The Wildcats struck first when senior Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, Calif.) knocked in a short-handed goal 14:33 into the first period. It was his 15th goal of the season while senior Adam Rockwood(Coquitlam, B.C.) picked up his 16th assist and senior James Vermeulen (Stony Plain, Alta.) got his fourth.

The second period saw the teams stay tied as neither team was able to get an advantage and the period ended with the score at 1-1.
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The Wildcats scored and took a 2-1 lead in the third quarter, but Bemidji State answered on a power play and tied the score at 2-2.

6:51 into the third period, freshman Griffin Loughran (West Seneca, N.Y.) gave NMU a lead by scoring his fifth goal of the season while NMU was short-handed. Sophomore Joseph Nardi (Edmonton, Alta.) picked up his eighth assist on the season on the goal.

During the 5 on 5 session, NMU outshot the Beavers 4-0 as they controlled the puck for the full five minutes, however, it wasn't enough as the teams were still tied to give both teams the tie and a point in the WCHA standings to force a 3 on 3 OT period.

During the 3 on 3 session, the Beavers managed to score with 1:08 left in the period to capture the extra point.

Senior goaltender Atte Tolvanen (Vihti, Finland) finished with 32 saves and now has 3,268 saves in his career to stay in fourth place in the NMU record book. He is less than 100 saves shy of reaching third place.

Tolvanen will continue to make his climb up the record book for the remainder of the season as he looks to break the career number of shutouts (13), career goaltender games played (133), career goal against average (2.24), and save percentage marks (.924).

The Wildcats, now 15-13-2 overall and 14-7-2-0 in the WCHA will return to take on BSU, who is 14-12-5 on the season, 12-8-3-1 in league play, Saturday night with a start time at 8:07 p.m. Eastern.