Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel men's hockey team finished the regular season this evening claiming their first MIAC Championship in team history after a 6-3 win over St. Olaf. The Royals opened up to a 4-0 lead and never looked back despite the Oles holding a slight edge in shots, 28-26.

Bethel set the pace early, as Brent Kettelkamp scored only :53 seconds into the first period. From there Brad Peterson, Benoit Duhamel, and John Kovacs added three straight goals in the second period to push the Royals lead to four. St. Olaf, would pull the game within one as they answered with three straight goals of their own moving the game to 4-3. Bethel proved to be too much however, as the Royals added two more security goals in the third period to take the win.

Bethel once again had a balanced scoring attack as nine different players earned a point. Brad Peterson led the way scoring two goals while Brent Kettelkamp added one goal and one assist. Jeff Balvin, Benoit Duhamel, and John Kovacs all added a goal while Jon Kramer and Ryan Adams also played well earning two assists each. Steve Eastman and Nick Miller rounded the scoring out as each added one assist. Bethel goaltender Aaron Damjanovich recorded 25 saves in the win.

St. Olaf had five different players earn points as Dylan Mueller, Justin Green and Sam Windsor scored the three goals and Jeff Budish and Roger Trousdale each added an assist. The Oles goalie, Jeff Wilde made 20 stops in the loss.

Bethel improves to 15-9-1 overall, with an 12-3-1 MIAC record, while St. Olaf is now 10-13-2 overall with a 9-5-2 MIAC record. With the win, Bethel clinches home ice throughout the playoffs and will await the winner of Tuesdays First Round play-in game between St. Olaf and Gustavus. The Royals will host the Semifinal match-up on Thursday, March 1 with a start time of 7 p.m.