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Minot State men’s hockey tops Iowa State for a second national title

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State’s Eric Bollefer raises the ACHA Division I championship trophy in front of his teammates on Tuesday after the Beavers’ 3-1 win over Iowa State at the Comerica Center in Frisco, TX.

FRISCO, Texas — Gloves and sticks littered the sky. Debris tossed aside on a slab of ice normally reserved for the Dallas Stars.

Hugs and shouts of joy filled the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. A national champion had been crowned.

The Minot State men’s club hockey team is back on top. Six years after experiencing pure jubilation for the first time in program history, the No. 6-seeded Beavers returned to the summit to bask in that sweet glory once again as the 2019 ACHA Division I national champions.

With a 3-1 victory Tuesday evening over No. 5-seeded Iowa State, Minot State finished off a memorable postseason run that featured four wins in four days.

“This is unbelievable, man,” MSU head coach Wade Regier said. “This is just a culmination of everything coming together. I’m just so proud of the boys. They really earned this. It’s been a tough three years getting to the Final Four and getting oh so close. They earned it this time.”

Alex Eisen/MDN MSU’s Kyle Lipinski (left) and Drew Carter (right) close in on Iowa State’s Jackson Graalum on Tuesday during the ACHA Division I national championship game at the Comerica Center Frisco, TX.

Senior Trevor Sabo put the Cyclones on the board first after a 13-minute stalemate. Gathering the puck in front of the goal, Sabo caught MSU goaltender Joshua Bykowski leaning the wrong way and capitalized. Bykowski hadn’t allowed a goal in roughly 75 minutes of game action.

“We told the guys just to move on,” Regier said. “Take a deep breath and get ready to go.”

MSU captain Blake Fournier tapped in the equalizer with 1:14 left in the first period. Adam Wowryk started a 2-on-1 rush and slid a perfect pass over to Fournier for an easy finish. The score remained 1-1 heading into the first intermission.

Sabo and Fournier each scored their team’s first goal in the semifinals as well.

“(Fournier) rarely comes up and makes offensive plays,” Regier said. “And he was just dynamite for us. He’s the ultimate leader.”

Alex Eisen/MDN Blake Fournier (left) wins a faceoff against Iowa State’s Dylan Goggin (right) on Tuesday during the ACHA Division I national championship game at the Comerica Center Frisco, TX.

Jumping on Iowa State to start the second period, Johl Swedlo drove the puck to the net and created a scrum in front. In the midst of chaos, the puck found the back of the net.

Swedlo was briefly credited with the goal following an official’s review, but it was eventually given to Shain Scheschuk. Regardless, MSU had seized the lead, 2-1, 45 seconds into the middle frame.

“(Johl) Swedlo made an unbelievable move and I just kept going to the net and managed to poke it in,” Scheschuk said. “I’m at a loss for words right now. This is unbelievable.”

Swedlo added: “I got it on net and Shain crashed. It went in. The tides turned from last night when we had one disallowed, but they counted that one. I can’t be happier.”

A post clanked by Iowa State had Minot State taking a sigh of relief, still holding a 2-1 advantage going into the third period.

Alex Eisen/MDN Johl Swedlo celebrates behind the net after Minot State’s second goal on Tuesday during the ACHA Division I national championship game at the Comerica Center Frisco, TX.

The Beavers were heading into the eye of the storm. The Cyclones threw everything they had at MSU in the final 20 minutes. Nothing stuck, as Bykowski turned everything aside.

“We would have loved to get another goal earlier to give us some cushion,” Regier said. “But, that’s how it breaks. Iowa State is one heck of a team, and they pushed us to the brink.”

Minot State’s penalty kill finished off the job, going 13-for-13 in the tournament.

When it was all said and done, the Beavers got to celebrate twice.

Eric Bollefer scored an empty-net goal with 1.3 seconds left and Minot State stormed the ice, throwing everything into the air. The officials weren’t having any of that and halted the celebration to play the final 1.3 seconds.

The Minot State men’s hockey club celebrates on the ice after its 3-1 win over Iowa State on Tuesday in the ACHA Division I national championship game at the Comerica Center in Frisco, TX.

A quick puck drop and a faceoff finished it off.

Then, the Beavers went crazy again.

“This has been a remarkable ride,” Regier said. “This year was supposed to be our rebuilding year… But, the guys just knew what they needed to do.”

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

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State’s Kent Walchuk kisses the ACHA Division I championship trophy on Tuesday after the Beavers’ 3-1 win over Iowa State at the Comerica Center in Frisco, TX.

Alex Eisen/MDN Blake Fournier (left) embraces Minot State head coach Wade Regier on Tuesday after the Beavers’ 3-1 win over Iowa State in the ACHA Division I national championship game at the Comerica Center in Frisco, TX.

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