BLAINE, Minn. – In front of a sold-out crowd of 850-plus at Bethel University Arena, the second-seeded Bethel men's hockey team fell to the fifth-seeded St. Olaf Oles in the MIAC Championship game, 4-1. It was the Royals first appearance in the championship game since 2007, while St. Olaf was making their second in three years.
Bethel finishes the year 18-6-1 overall tying the single-season record for wins and the .704 winning percentage is the best in program history.
How It Happened:
• The Oles dominated the first period, possessing the puck and outshooting the Royals, 13-7. Their intensity earned them a one-goal lead at 6:23 in the period and held it throughout the remainder of time.
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Tyler Braccini got the offense going five minutes into the second period when he walked the puck in for a shot. The rebound banked off of the glass and landed in front of the net, and
Joe Westlund took a hit before fighting to nudge the puck into the net from the ground.
• St. Olaf answered back to take the lead once again at 17:13 into the second period, putting them up, 2-1.
• The third period yielded a slight offensive advantage for the Royals, but the Oles were able to capitalize on an opportunity four minutes in bringing the score to 3-1.
• Bethel opted to pull goaltender
Austin Ryman at 16:56, and the Oles bagged an empty-netter at 18:51 to secure a 4-1 championship win.
