BLAINE, Minn. – A familiar foe dealt a staggering loss to the second-seeded Bethel men's hockey team as the third-seeded St. Olaf Oles snatched away the Royals' championship dreams taking the semifinal matchup, 3-1.
The Oles, who were playing in their ninth consecutive MIAC Playoff road match dating back to 2022 and have gone 8-1 in that stretch, used a three-goal third period to end the Royals season.
The loss ends the Royals' season with a 13-10-3 overall record.
How It Happened
• The Royals struck early in the first period on a power-play opportunity. Defenseman
Connor Brazil carried the puck behind the net before connecting with MIAC-leading goal scorer
Tyler Braccini, who hammered the puck into the back of the Oles' net for a 1-0 lead at 8:38. Braccini finished the season with 19 goals and 30 points.
• Bethel continued to dominate play through the second period, outshooting the Oles 13-5, but couldn't find an additional goal. The teams headed into the final period of the game with the Royals clinging to a narrow 1-0 lead.
• The third period was a showcase of the Oles postseason magic. Their first goal came at 4:59 after BU goaltender
Austin Ryman deflected St. Olaf forward Jonathon Young's shot and fellow Ole Nicholas Sewecke crashed the backside of the net, tipping the puck in.
• The Royals continued to fight to regain their lead, but Ole forward Ben Luscko recovered the puck in the Royals' defensive end and quickly fired off a shot to put the Oles up, 2-1, with less than eight minutes to play.
• The Oles added their third and final goal just a minute later after the Royals turned the puck over in their offensive zone and Ole forward Jonathon Panisa took it the length of the ice for a one-on-one with Ryman. Panisa slotted the puck below Ryman's glove, delivering the final blow and effectively ending the Royals' season.
