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Rivalry hits the ice

Beavers hockey pummels Marauders in first-ever affair

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State forward Jordan Robertson (68) crashes the net in an ACHA men's hockey game against the University of Mary played Friday evening at Maysa Arena.

Bragging rights belong to the Beavers.

In the inaugural meeting on the ice between rivals Minot State and the University of Mary, the more established program drew first blood.

The No. 14-ranked Beavers (12-4-2) upended the upstart Marauders (24-2-1), 8-1, Friday evening at Maysa Arena to win their sixth straight game.

“Oh my goodness, that was unbelievable,” MSU head coach Wade Regier said. “With the crowd being so big, that first period the guys got nervous. They did things they don’t normally do and got tight when they should have been able to just play loose. The conversation in the first intermission was just go out and have some fun.”

The Beavers did exactly that.

Alex Eisen/MDN The Beavers celebrate after a goal scored by Shain Scheschuk in the second period.

Despite a tense opening period, MSU only needed 22 seconds to score the first goal of the new rivalry series.

Dylan Gejdos netted his fifth goal of the season, as U-Mary goaltender Aaron Nelson lost sight of the puck with traffic in front of the net.

The Beavers maintained the 1-0 lead through the first period with their goaltender, Minot native Breydan Effertz, coming up with a handful of timely penalty kill saves.

Continuing to crash the net and capitalize on rebounds, MSU put the contest away in the second period with a five-goal outburst.

The goal barrage started with a pair of goals separated by 15 seconds. Shain Scheschuk shrugged off his defender and went top shelf from close range, and Gejdos went five-hole for his second goal of the game.

A minute and 20 seconds later, captain Blake Fournier got in on the scoring action.

“It could have been them hanging around long enough to make it a 1-1 game or anybody’s game in the third period,” Regier said. “So, we really had to come out in the second period. Boy, it was just one after the other.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Davis Sheldon made it 5-0 with 5:50 left in the second period. Then, Gejdos put in his hat trick goal by lurking in front of the net.

Maysa Arena was rocking with the Beavers up 6-0 through two periods.

“That was probably one of the biggest crowds ever in this rink,” Regier said. “I couldn’t believe how loud it was in that second period. It was hard to talk to our own guys. It was fun to be a part of.”

Three more goals were found in the third period.

MSU’s Dylan Johnson had a bar down finish with 6:38 remaining, then Connor Navrot cleaned up goal No. 8.

U-Mary prevented the shutout with three minutes left on a goal from Zach Garrett.

MSU outshot U-Mary, 44-14.

The Marauders came into the contest only giving up 34 goals in 26 games. The Beavers happily put a dent in those numbers.

“A lot of people understand the rivalry with how many people that were in this rink tonight,” Regier said. “This is cool. It’s going to be a special rivalry. It’s their first year, and we know they are going to be a heck of a lot better in the years to come.”

It’s the fifth time this season that MSU has scored five or more goals in a game — winning all five contests.

The Beavers make the quick turnaround trip to Mandan for a rematch against U-Mary at 7 p.m. this evening at the Schwan Cadillac Arena.

“Hopefully, we didn’t waste all our goals,” Regier said. “We need them for tomorrow night.”

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.

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