The NCAA News - News and Features

March 24, 1997

Bemidji State holds off Alabama-Huntsville in II hockey

The team that celebrated its 50th year of hockey ended its dream season with all the gold.

Bemidji State put the clamps on a hard-charging Alabama-Huntsville team when it had to and came away with 3-2 and 4-2 victories in the Division II Men's Ice Hockey Championship two-game series March 14-15 at Bemidji State.

It was the fifth Division II championship for Bemidji State and the fourth in five years. The Beavers also won the Division III title in 1986.

The Beavers' defense and the goaltending of Adam Pavlatos (first game) and Neil Cooper (second game) were instrumental in the victories. The Chargers took 20 more shots on goal (75-55) than the Beavers in the series.

"This was a superb series," said Bemidji State head coach Bob Peters, who ranks second among all-time coaches with 689 career victories. "We've had three series (with Alabama-Huntsville), and I'm sure our teams will meet again sometime in the future."

The Beavers broke a tie for good in the second period of the second game when center Aaron Novak picked up his own rebound and jammed it past Cedrick Billequey at 5:31. Then Josh Klingfus took a pass from sophomore defenseman Shawn Pomplun and fired a shot from behind the net that glanced off Billequey's skate into the net to make it 3-1 Beavers.

The Chargers' Matt Parker knocked a power-play backhand shot past Cooper to cut the lead to 3-2 with 19:38 left in the third period. But Marc Lafleur restored the advantage when he scored from in front of the net to make it 4-2 Bemidji State at the 16:59 mark.

"It always feels good to go out with a win," said Ed Melville, Bemidji State's right wing. "This was even sweeter than the other two (championships). I'm a senior, and this is the last time I'll (wear) a Beaver uniform.

"Coach (Peters) was preaching to us in the dressing room that we had to stay out of the penalty box, we had to stay disciplined. The only thing that could have killed us was the power play."

The Beavers took only one penalty in the third period.

In the first game -- which the Beavers won, 3-2 -- Cooper watched as Pavlatos saved 27 of 29 Charger shots on goal. Goals by Melville, Jim Logan and Chartrand gave the Beavers a decided advantage heading into the second game.

"I got to see them play (in the first game) and I knew what to expect," Cooper said. "I think the guys were a little more relaxed tonight and I wasn't as nervous as Adam was.

"When the pressure is on, our guys always play well."

Bemidji State was outshot in the second game, 46-32, but Cooper made 44 saves. The Beavers finished their championship run at 25-7-2, while Alabama-Huntsville, which beat the Beavers last year in the championship, fell to 20-8.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Game 1

Ala.-Huntsville -- 0 -- 0 -- 2--2

Bemidji St. -- 1 -- 1 -- 1--3

First period: Bemidji St.--Ed Melville (Bruce Matatall, Dan Pelletier), 2:18. Penalties: Bemidji St.--Too many men on ice (served by Aaron Gunn), 3:24; Ala.-Huntsville--Joe Provenzano (hooking), 10:35; Ala.-Huntsville--Mike Hamlin (cross-checking), 19:42.

Second period: Bemidji St.--Jim Logan (Marc Lafleur, Calvin Chartrand), 16:51 (pp). Penalties: Ala.-Huntsville--Jay Woodcroft (cross-checking), 10:49; Bemidji St.--Aaron Novak (roughing), 10:49.

Third period: Ala.-Huntsville--John McCabe (Jamie Baby, Hamlin), 1:42; Bemidji St.--Chartrand (Lafleur, Greg Ambrose), 11:22 (pp); Ala.-Huntsville--Hamlin (McCabe, Mark Motowski), 16:26 (pp). Penalties: Ala.-Huntsville--Matt Parker (slashing), 10:44; Bemidji St.--Chartrand (interference), 12:28; Bemidji St.--Jerod Bina (interference), 15:43; Ala.-Huntsville--Parker (slashing, roughing, misconduct), 17:33; Bemidji St.--Troy Edwards (double roughing), 17:33; Bemidji St.--Josh Klingfus (slashing), 18:52.

Shots on goal: Ala.-Huntsville--9-6-14--29; Bemidji St.--5-9-9--23. Saves: Ala.-Huntsville--Cedrick Billequey 20; Bemidji St.--Adam Pavlatos 27. Total penalties: Ala.-Huntsville--7 for 22 min.; Bemidji St.--7 for 14 min. Attendance: 2,950.

Game 2

Ala.-Huntsville -- 1 -- 0 -- 1--2

Bemidji St. -- 1 -- 2 -- 1--4

First period: Ala.-Huntsville--K. C. Schneider (unassisted), 9:32; Bemidji St.--Marc Lafleur (Neil Cooper), 18:05. Penalties: Ala.-Huntsville--Joe Provenzano (hooking), 5:12; Bemidji St.--Calvin Chartrand (cross-checking), 7:22; Ala.-Huntsville--Jim Alauria (roughing), 16:01; Bemidji St.--Eric Andersen (roughing), 16:01; Bemidji St.--Greg Ambrose (high-sticking), 18:22.

Second period: Bemidji St.--Aaron Novak (Andersen, Aaron Gunn), 5:31; Bemidji St.--Josh Klingfus (Shawn Pomplun), 12:20. Penalties: Ala.-Huntsville--Paul Schloss (hooking), 2:57; Ala.-Huntsville--Schneider (cross-checking), 10:05; Ala.-Huntsville--Marc Lalonde (high-sticking), 13:48; Bemidji St.--Jim Logan (high-sticking), 13:48; Bemidji St.--Pomplun (roughing), 13:48; Ala.-Huntsville--Shane Stewart (cross-checking), 14:20; Bemidji St.--Ambrose (roughing), 14:20; Ala.-Huntsville--Jay Woodcroft (checking the goaltender), 18:21; Bemidji St.--Cooper (interference, served by Gunn), 20:00.

Third period: Ala.-Huntsville--Matt Parker (unassisted), :22 (pp); Bemidji St.--Lafleur (Logan, Chartrand), 16:59. Penalties: Bemidji St.--Josh Klingfus (slashing), 4:42.

Shots on goal: Ala.-Huntsville--17-15-14--46; Bemidji St.--10-12-10--32. Saves: Ala.-Huntsville--Cedrick Billequey 28; Bemidji St.--Cooper 44. Total penalties: Ala.-Huntsville--7 for 14 min.; Bemidji St.--8 for 16 min. Attendance: 3,150.