BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Bemidji State started 2018 with seven of its first eight scheduled games on the road.
That kind of travel can be challenging to a 6-foot-6 forward like Jay Dickman, who often finds himself cramped into small seats on both the team bus and plane. So he has to take extra measures to loosen up his leg muscles when he gets to the next arena.
It obviously worked Saturday at Ferris State, as the redshirt junior scored two goals, including the game-winner at 19:25 of the second period, to help the Beavers top the Bulldogs 4-1 in WCHA action at Ewigleben Ice Arena.
The Beavers (12-7-6, 9-4-4 WCHA) also beat the Bulldogs (10-16-1, 7-11-1) 2-0 the night before to sweep the weekend series.
“For me, the travel really sucks because I’m so big,” said Dickman, who has 13 goals this season. “There’s a lot of things I don’t fit on, like planes and busses. For the other guys, they’re fine, especially when we get a sleeper (bus). That’s what we get for these long bus rides, and they can sleep pretty well. For me, it’s a little uncomfortable but we can make it work.”
“But I like to go on long walks. I go on walks with the guys and kind of get the legs going, having a good time and joking around.”
Dickman notched the game-winner on a tipped shot from Adam Brady in front of the net. He scored his second goal at 13:07 of the third. Both scores came on the power-play.
“Brady shot a perfect puck right at my height, and I just got it perfect,” Dickman said. “That’s just my spot, usually. I just stay in front of the net and hope the guys get pucks into it, and I work on it a lot – just tipping pucks.”
After a slow start, which saw FSU’s Lucas Finner sneak a goal past BSU goalie Michael Bitzer (19 saves) at 6:22 of the first, the Beavers adjusted and used their speed to knot the score 1-1 with a Hampus Sjodahl goal at 11:36.
Charlie Combs capped off the scoring with an empty-netter at 18:38. Brady finished with three assists.
FSU goalie Justin Kapelmaster stopped 26 shots.
“It’s been a challenging January for us, and this was a big win for the guys,” BSU coach Tom Serratore said. “(The schedule) is what it is, but I’m proud of the guys, and I thought they responded well. (Traveling so much in January) has put a premium on what you have to do on the road right now.”
The Beavers are 4-0-1 on the road so far in 2018.
Dickman said the team has tried to make the most of their team-bonding time by watching movies playing cards and, for those taking in the same classes, doing study sessions.
“I honestly think it’s fun,” he said. “The guys get to be together a lot. It helps us team bond a lot better.
“Obviously, school’s a lot tougher, but a lot of us are in the same classes, and we get to work together. It’s just being together on the road, that’s a lot of fun, especially when you come out with two wins. It’s a good time.”
The Beavers hope to win both their fifth and sixth road wins of the new year when they visit Alabama-Huntsville for a WCHA game Friday and Saturday.
“I think our success (going forward will depend on) just pushing pucks, getting by the D and using our speed,” Dickman said. “We’re a fast team, and that’s what we do best, especially on the road.
“You got to get your legs moving after a long travel.”
WCHA ROUNDUP
No. 9 Minnesota State 5, at No. 3 St. Cloud State 2
Minnesota State didn’t look like the team that was shutout 4-0 by St. Cloud State in October’s season opener.
Jake Jaremko’s even-strengthed goal at 6:14 of the second ensured the Mavericks the upset road win. Zeb Knutson notched both his ninth and 10th goals of the season, including one on the power play in the first. C.J. Suess scored his 14th goal, while Connor Mackey also scored.
MSU goalie Connor LaCouvee made 28 saves, even standing tall while the Huskies sent 13 pucks his way in the third.
Jeff Smith David Hrenak combined to stop 21 shots for the Huskies, who received goals from Jon Lizotte and Robby Jackson.
MSU (18-7, 16-5 WCHA) hosts Minnesota-Duluth on Tuesday, while SCSU (14-5-3, 8-3-1) visits Duluth for a two-game series Friday and Saturday.
Bowling Green 3, Alaska Anchorage 2
A nifty pass from Casey Linkenheld found Brandon Kruse, who pushed in the game-winning goal for the Falcons at 13:03 of the third period and ensured his team the weekend sweep over the Seawolves.
BGSU trailed 2-0, but it responded with a goal from Chris Pohlkamp in the first and a power-play goal from Max Johnson in the third. Kruse assisted on both scores.
Anchorage’s Tad Kozun and Alec Butcher each scored.
The Falcons (14-8-6, 11-4-5) visit Lake Superior State for a pair of WCHA games Friday and Saturday, and Anchorage (2-18-4, 2-13-3) hosts Northern Michigan the same nights.
Northern Michigan 3, Lake Superior State 2
Philip Beaulieu scored twice, including the game-winner at 8:19 of the third period, and helped the Wildcats edge their Upper Peninsula rival, defending the Cappo Cup championship for another year.
Troy Loggins also scored for NMU (15-10-3, 13-5-2), while goalie Atte Tolvanen made 17 saves.
Max Humitz and Brayden Gelsinger scored in the first and second periods, respectively, for the Lakers, who dropped to 6-18-4 overall and 4-13-3 in the conference.
Michigan Tech 4, Alaska Fairbanks 3
MTU’s Joel L’Esperance scored at 18:54 of the third period to snap a 3-3 tie.
Tyler Cline and Tayler Munson scored in the first period to give Fairbanks an early 2-0 lead, but the Huskies battled back by scoring the next three goals. Alaska’s Zach Frye knotted the score at 5:26 of the third.
MTU (12-9-5, 8-6-5) heads to Ferris for a pair of WCHA games on Friday and Saturday, and Fairbanks (9-14-2, 7-12-1) is off for the next week. They return Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2-3, when they host Ferris.
