ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Bethel University men's hockey earned a key 3–2 MIAC road win Thursday night at Saint John's, using a fast start and a stellar outing from senior goaltender Austin Ryman to secure the victory at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Ryman was outstanding from start to finish, turning away 44 shots to anchor the Royals defensively.

Bethel struck first just 3:56 into the opening period when senior forward Jack Brown buried a power-play goal—his third of the season—off assists from fellow seniors Tyler Braccini and Shane Lavelle. The Royals doubled their lead late in the period as sophomore forward Joe Kelly scored his second goal of the year at 15:36, created by strong setup work from junior forward Jeremiah Konkel and sophomore forward Max Hamstad.

Saint John's cut the lead early in the second, but Bethel responded with what proved to be the game-winner in the final minute of the period. Junior forward Joe Westlund punched home a rebound for his third goal of the season, assisted by freshman Peyton Blair. The Johnnies added a power-play goal early in the third, but the Royals held strong with disciplined defensive play and timely clears. sophomore Chase Beacom and freshman George Peterson, along with senior Spencer Kring, helped limit second-chance opportunities as Bethel closed out the win.

The victory continues Bethel's recent momentum in the series, following a sweep of the Johnnies in December 2024 that included Braccini's dramatic overtime winner at home. The Royals also defeated SJU in December 2023 after erasing a two-goal deficit, marking their strongest stretch in the rivalry since the late 2000s. 

Bethel now turns its attention to Saturday, when the Royals return home to host Saint John's for the second game of the series. The puck drops at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Bethel University Arena, where the Royals will look to build on Thursday's momentum in another important MIAC showdown.