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MSU hockey commemorates national title before another OT loss

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State players Connor Navrot (93), Dylan Johnson (16) and Johl Swedlo (74) help raise the 2018-19 ACHA Division I Championship banner before Friday's game against the University of Jamestown at Maysa Arena.

Excitement levels were through the roof as the Minot State men’s hockey team lifted its second ACHA Division I National Championship banner to the rafters of Maysa Arena.

The No. 1-ranked Beavers celebrated its 2018-19 national title, but that energy and emotion fell flat on the ice. No. 17-ranked Jamestown ruined the festivities with a 2-1 overtime victory in front of a crowd of 1,405 spectators at Maysa Arena.

What should have been a memorable night for everyone involved was tarnished by a lackluster performance.

“It’s just frustrating,” MSU head coach Wade Regier said. “I don’t know what has happened in the last two games. We can’t find our energy, and we can’t find our motivation. We had a number of guys who didn’t show up ready to play.”

Oddly after nine goals were scored in Jamestown Thursday night, with the Jimmies winning 5-4 in overtime, a scoreless stalemate broke out in the first period Friday evening.

MSU (2-0-2) failed to convert on a couple of power play chances, and Jamestown (2-1-0) didn’t register a shot on goal until 12 minutes had elapsed in the rivalry contest.

“We have so many key players that are hurt that it opens the door for guys to get more opportunities for extra ice time,” Regier said. “We have stretches were we can’t sustain shifts together.”

The feeling each other out phase continued into the second period.

This time, however, MSU gave up two power plays and escaped unscathed. Goaltender Holden Kurtz bailed the Beavers out with a pair of point-blank saves to keep the score tied at zero.

Coming off the end of another unsuccessful power play, Wayde Johannesson found the first goal for the Beavers.

Circling back to the blue line, Johannesson abruptly stopped, pulled the puck back into his wheelhouse and uncorked a wrist shot. Jamestown goaltender Tyson Brouwer was caught off guard by the shot that was taken from a distance. He didn’t react fast enough, as the puck zipped past his right shoulder and into the net.

More timely saves at the other end of the ice by Kurtz kept the Beavers ahead 1-0 going into the locker room for the second intermission. Shots on goal were even at 13 apiece.

“Both goaltenders played well,” Regier said. “I’m so proud of Kurtz. Last year was a tough year for him, and the year prior to that, he was one of the best goalies in the country. He is getting back into that form. He had to make some huge saves for us. For starters, we shouldn’t be putting him in those spots. But, he made saves.”

A tripping penalty with 12:18 remaining allowed Jamestown to poach the equalizer. Dylan Haney cleaned up a rebound just sitting in the crease with 10:41 remaining for a game-tying power play goal.

For the second night in a row, 60 minutes wasn’t enough to decide the final outcome. Overtime was needed.

Kurtz made one-on-one save, but moments later a turnover in the Beavers’ own zone created the game-winning goal. Jason Richter slotted in the overtime winner.

“In overtime, we tell the guys to keep things simple,” Regier said. “Don’t do too much. No. We tried to do something big, and we got burnt.”

MSU’s next scheduled game is on the road against the University of Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 26.

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

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