Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
0-3-0
Bemidji State University
1-1-0
Hockey Edged in Overtime By Bemidji State to Close Out Ice Breaker
October 14, 2023 | Hockey
BEMIDJI, MN - Army West Point hockey (0-3-0, 0-0-0 AHA) fell 3-2 in overtime to Bemidji State (1-1-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) to close out the Ice Breaker Tournament. Plebes Jake Hewitt and Brent Keefer each scored their first collegiate goal in the contest.
Junior Evan Szary made his first career start between the pipes while freshman defenseman Jon Bell made his collegiate debut in his home state of Minnesota.
Army got out on the front foot, holding the Beavers to just one shot on target through the opening 15 minutes. The Black Knights took the first penalty of the game with just under five to go in the period, but Szary was able to stop both looks during the stretch. The teams went into the first intermission scoreless with Army outshooting the Beavers 10-3.
Army came out with same intensity in the second period, scoring through an extraordinary solo effort from Jake Hewitt. Hewitt skated into the Beavers zone, getting past the first line of defense before making another man miss and firing a wrist shot past Gavin Enright and into the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.
Army's lead would not last long, with Adam Flammang notching an equalizing goal less than three minutes later to tie it up at one. Each team saw successful penalty kills throughout the period, with Bemidji eventually getting its fifth power-play of the contest with less than a minute to play. Army's PK remained strong, with Michael Sacco getting a takeaway and partial break which drew a Bemidji penalty with 15 seconds on the clock.
Beginning the third period with four-on-four hockey, the penalty that Sacco drew proved pivotal, as Army took advantage of its mini power-play to retake the lead. After Max Itagaki found Joey Baez at the left circle, Baez had a shot blocked but eventually passed it back towards the front of the net, where Brent Keefer was positioned to tap home his first career goal. It marked Army's third power-play score of the tournament.
Army weathered the storm for over ten minutes before the Beavers deposited their second goal of the contest through Eric Pohlkamp with 7:30 remaining. The Black Knights had an opportunity with a power-play soon after, but the teams remained knotted through the final horn to force an overtime period. Lleyton Roed went on to score the game-winner exactly a minute into the extra frame, giving Bemidji a 3-2 victory at home.
North Dakota was crowned champion of the Ice Breaker Tournament after defeating Wisconsin tonight by a score of 2-0.
The Black Knights will have an off weekend before kicking off league play with a road matchup at AIC on Friday, October 27th.
Game Notes
- Brent Keefer and Jake Hewitt each scored their first collegiate goals in the win.
- Joey Baez and Max Itagaki each logged power-play assists.
- Evan Szary made 20 saves in his first start for the Black Knights.
- Michael Sacco won a game-high 15 faceoffs while blocking three shots.
- Andrew Gilbert and Jon Bell also blocked three shots.
- Army's penalty kill was a perfect five-for-five.
- Army outshot its opponent for the first time this season.
