News

By: Blake Friars- Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations

Salt Lake City, UT-  It was the final road trip of the season for the Minot State University Beavers, it just happened to be the longest. The Beavers began their two days of traveling Wednesday and arrived in Salt Lake City late Thursday evening, completing the 14-hour trip from Minot. The Beavers (27-4-3) were in town to battle the Utah Skatin’ Utes (9-16-3) for a pair of games. These two teams played each other once this season in Minot, it was the Beavers coming away victorious 5-1.

In the first period, the Beavers got off to a good start. They got an early powerplay, despite some good puck movement they were unable to solve the Utes goaltender. Then it was sophomore forward Davis Sheldon ripping is 23rd of the year upstairs bar down to make it 1-0.  Senior goaltender Holden Kurtz got the start in net and stopped all six shots he faced. The Beavers outshot the Utes 13-6 in the opening frame.

In the middle frame, the Beavers poured the shots on the Utes goaltender. The penalty kill was tested early when sophomore defenceman Paul O’Connor was sent to the box for checking from behind. The Beavers were able to kill it off. Then the offense finally doubled the lead. After a Utes turnover the captain Blake Fournier found a wide-open Kent Walchuk back door for an easy tap in to make it 2-0. The goal was Walchuk’s 9th of the campaign. Shortly after the Beavers doubled the lead the Utes got a powerplay when sophomore defenceman Grayson Neufeld went off for holding and the Utes capitalized on a shot from the top of the circle that beat Kurtz glove side to cut the lead in half. Then the Beavers answered right back. It was the Fournier line again this time it was Walchuk setting up Fournier for his 10th of the year. Then with time almost expired senior defenceman Dylan Johnson ripped home his 6thof the year to make it 4-1 Beavers. After 40 minutes the Beavers had the shot advantage 27-10.

In the final frame, the Utes got an early chance to cut the deficit in half again when Cochrane went off for hooking, but the Beavers successfully killed it off. The Beavers continued to ramp up the pressure and extended the lead to 5-1 when Cochrane scored his 10th of the season. Then on a late powerplay, the Beavers extended the lead to 5 when senior forward Johl Swedlo shot a point shot through traffic that found its way to the back of the net for his 19th of the season. Kurtz stopped 12/13 in the win

“This was a big win for us,” said Head Coach Wade Regier. “This is by far the best Utah team they have put together and they sure pushed us. We need to bring this same energy tomorrow night.”

With the win the Beavers improve to 28-4-3 on the season, these two teams will battle again tomorrow night. Puck drop is 7:30 MST 8:30 CST. The broadcast will be available on the Utah Skatin’ Utes YouTube Channel.