1. And down goes Bemidji!
It took 14 games — exactly halfway into the conference season — but someone finally beat Bemidji State. Michigan Tech, behind 17 saves from Angus Redmond and a late game-winning goal by Mike Neville, topped the Beavers 2-1 on Saturday night in Houghton. The win helped the Huskies earn the split after BSU’s Michael Bitzer made 26 saves in the Beavers’ 3-1 win on Friday. It was a significant win for Tech, helping them stay eight points behind BSU in the league standings. (A Bemidji win would have put the Beavers up 14 points instead of eight). So while BSU’s lead is significant, Tech still remains in striking distance with half of their games left to play.
2. Seawolves finally get a league win
Last-place Alaska Anchorage hasn’t had a whole lot of success this season, but a series against ninth-place Northern Michigan gave them a perfect opportunity. Behind a season-high five goals, the Seawolves beat the Wildcats 5-3 in Anchorage. Jonah Renouf, Jarrett Brown, Matt Anholt, Chase Van Allen and Connor Wright all scored for UAA, as the Seawolves earned their first conference victory — and first since a 1-0 win over Canisius in October. The Wildcats won 4-1 on Saturday but the win cut NMU’s lead to just one point (seven to six) in the standings. UAA, too, has played 10 games — fewest of anyone in the WCHA.
3. Goals galore in Mankato
Minnesota State and Alaska combined for 20 goals in two games over the weekend — 10 each on Friday (7-3 MSU win) and Saturday (a 5-5 tie that ended with a Nanooks shootout victory). Marc Michaelis had a hat trick for MSU Friday — part of a seven point weekend — while Alaska’s Chad Staley scored twice Saturday to help the Nanooks earn the tie.
