MENOMONIE, Wis. – For the second time in three seasons, the Bethel University men's hockey team has opened its season with a one-goal road victory at Wisconsin -Stout. The Royals took down the Blue Devils 3-2 in overtime as Luke Posner lit the lamp with under a minute to go completing a hat trick for the night.
 
Bethel went into the first intermission trailing 1-0 while being outshot 12-6 in the opening period. Bethel held strong killing a penalty five minutes in before killing another that overlapped the end of the first and 1:13 of the second.
 
It didn't take long for the Royals to pick up their first power play goal of the year as Posner socred his first of the evening 28 seconds into the man advantage. Freshmen Braeden Bartoo and Jack Bayless each picked up their first collegiate assist.
 
Also picking up their first collegiate assists were Caydon Meyer and Ben Doherty helping Posner score his second of the night at the 16:48 mark in the second.
 
Stout erased Bethel's one goal lead less than two minutes later. Tied going into the third, BU's special teams forced Stout to come out empty on all three power plays. Bethel held the Blue Devils to 0-for-5 on the night during the man advantage.
 
Both teams had scoring changes late but were to no avail. With new rules being implemented this season, the tames skated 3-on-3 during a five-minute overtime sudden death period.  
 
A stop at one end of the ice allowed Posner to skate coast to coast before completing the hat trick with 31 seconds remaining.
 
Netminder Ridge Gerads picked up the win between the pipes with 32 saves.
 
Bethel now opens the home portion of its 2021-22 schedule next weekend hosting Finlandia Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m.