BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team took it to the visiting University of Wisconsin-Stout Friday night, scoring four unanswered goals in a 6-2 victory. UW-Stout scored the game's first goal just four minutes in but from there the Royals dominated. Bethel held a 3-1 lead after the first period and maintained a 4-2 lead after two periods before adding on a pair of empty net goals in the final minute.

Johan Kling got the scoring started for Bethel with the lone power play goal of the night at 15:15 in the first. Kling's score was the first of his college career for the Sweden native. Dallas Marvin then quickly gave the Royals the lead with a score just 19 seconds later with Jackson Purvis and Kurtis Redding assisting. Bethel continued to pour it on late in the first period as Andrew Bjorklund sniped one in off a Lincoln Eiter assist at 18:37.

The second period would be scoreless until each team scored a goal in the 17th minute. Justin Bonanno scored first for Bethel at 17:06 with assists to Michael Bond and George Splichal. UW-Stout was able to respond 34 seconds later with a score to draw within 4-2 which the score would stay at until the Royals added two empty net goals at the end of the third period. Bonanno scored the first empty netter and his second goal of the game and then Jay Paul scored his first collegiate goal for the 6-2 final.

Bethel was able to score one power play goal during their six opportunities while generating 12 shots during their 11 minutes on the advantage. UW-Stout was 0-for-4 on their power plays, getting just five shots. For the game Bethel outshot UW-Stout 33-26, including 16-4 in the third period. Joe Sheppard was solid in the net for Bethel, making 24 saves in all, 10 in each of the first two periods.

The win is the first of the season for Bethel as they improve to 1-2 while it was the first loss for a Wisconsin-Stout team that entered the game 2-0 and receiving votes in the latest USCHO.com Top 15 poll. Bethel returns to their home ice Saturday night as they host the defending National Champions and still No. 1 ranked University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Last season the Royals lost a heartbreaker to the Pointers in Stevens Point, 4-3 in overtime with the winning goal scored with just 42 seconds remaining. The puck will drop Saturday night in Bethel University Arena at 7 p.m.