Reporting And Writing Class Fall 2010: Story # 4 - Beaver Hockey Unveils New Home

Bemidji, Minn.

Beaver Hockey Unveils New Home

BREC Opens in Grand Style

By Eric Story

Published: October 19, 2010

On a beautiful fall afternoon with the temperature in the low sixties, and the sun shimmering off lake Bemidji, spending the day indoors isn’t what most people would do knowing that a Minnesota winter could appear around the next corner. Then again, this day is what Beaver hockey fans and citizens of Bemidji have been dreaming about. There couldn’t be a better day to sit inside for the grand opening of the Bemidji Regional Events Center.

As the zamboni made its final pass, you could feel the excitement building and see it on the player’s faces as they took the ice. At 2:07 p.m. Friday, October 15th the puck was dropped, officially christening the BREC as the BSU women’s hockey team faced off against nationally ranked #1 Mercyhurst.

The Beavers came out playing confident and fast, controlling the play early on in the first period. That play wouldn’t last, as Mercyhurst showed why they’re ranked number one.

Mercyhurst captain and Olympic Gold-Medal winner, Meghan Agosta scored the first official goal in the new building 8:44 into the first period. Agosta then added a second goal to make it 0-2 after one period. Although the first game in their new home wasn’t the outcome they had hoped for, losing 4-0, it didn’t change what this day meant to the community and program.

“We got better as the game went on,” said head coach Steve Sertich. “In the second period we battled better and scrapped with them, we just have to get more traffic in front of the net.”

Just the match up of playing against nationally ranked #2 North Dakota is enough to get excited about, but this night was so much more for the BSU men’s hockey program. It was the beginning of a new era for the storied program. Not only was it their first game in the BREC, it was the Beavers first game as a new member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

As the fans filed in, many getting their first look inside the BREC, you could feel the energy and anticipation growing. A sold out crowd of 4,373, the largest to witness a hockey game in Bemidji, oozed energy and built up excitement the moment they set foot in the arena.

To commemorate the night, representing Governor Tim Pawlenty, with the first of two ceremonial puck drops were Steve Sviggum, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry; Mary Olson, State Senator; and David Tomassoni, State Senator. The second ceremonial puck drop belonged to Robert H. (Bob) Peters, whom the heart of the BREC (The Robert H. Peters Rink) is named after.

With more than 300 alumni in attendance it didn’t take the Beavers long to send the BREC into a wild frenzy. Forward Jamie MacQueen would score the first Beaver goal at the BREC, just 1:52 into the first period thanks to a turnover forced by teammate Ryan Cramer at center ice.

The lead would last until the final minute of the first period when UND would tie the game, quieting the crowd. The second period was all Sioux, deflating a crowd that wanted nothing more than to explode in celebration. UND would go on to win 5-2, spoiling the Beaver season opener.

Day two of hockey at the BREC offered everything the first day had, another beautiful fall afternoon in northern Minnesota with hockey fans waiting to get inside. This time the BSU women’s hockey team would take care of business, earning their first ever victory over a number one ranked opponent 5-3.

“It was great to be able to knock-off a No. 1 team in the country, but you have to start with McElhinney in net,” said head coach Steve Sertich. “She was unbelievable and really was the difference.”

The Beaver defense, lead by goaltender Alana McElhinney, would muddle Mercyhurst’s offense enroute to victory. McElhinney turned away 56 of the 59 shots she faced.

“You never hope to have fifty plus shots on goal in a game, but you just take them as they come and go from there,” said McElhinney. “[Mercyhurst] really came at us tonight, but our team played great and it was nice to get that first win.”

The excitement of the win trickled over to the fans attending the night-cap, hoping to avoid a sweep at the hands of North Dakota.

Just like the previous night the arena was electric, waiting to explode. You could almost hear a pin drop as the Sioux struck first on the power-play.

After a string of penalties with plenty of boo-birds to be heard, the Beavers found themselves on a 4 on 3 man advantage. The BREC felt like gasoline, just waiting for someone to light a match. With the power-play severing as the striking surface forward Jordan George struck the match, igniting the BREC.

“[Last night] we had no jump, no energy and we didn’t take care of the puck very well. I think our guys recognized that. Serratore added, “We had a lot of energy tonight, we fore checked well and we moved the puck around on the power-play so our special teams were a factor.”

The capacity crowd would once again leave without victory, as UND completed the sweep with a 5-2 win.

“Nobody likes to lose so if you go in the locker room right now, the guys are disappointed,” said Bemidji State Head Coach Tom Serratore. “They are competitive guys and wanted to win a hockey game. They feel they can win a hockey game. I don’t think they look at moral victories, but as a coach I want to make sure we are getting better.”

Word count: 940