BEMIDJI, MN – The Lakehead Thunderwolves ran into a buzz-saw at Bemidji State and were felled 5-1 by the Beavers at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota on Saturday night.
The Beavers found the back of the net just 51 seconds after the opening face-off and didn’t look back. Owen Sillinger was on the doorstep to tip in a pass past Wolves’ goalie Nic Renyard.
Owning a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, the Beavers added three more goals in the second period. Hampus Sjödahl scored at the 6:03 mark, and then it was Charlie Combs’ turn at 7:19. Brendan Harris netted a short-handed goal at 14:53 to put Bemidji State up 4-0 heading into the final frame.
Lakehead had the benefit of six minutes of power play time in the third period and although they were unable to convert, the Wolves spent long stretches of time in the Beavers’ zone and broke the shutout at the 7:18 mark on a goal from Sam Schutt, with Cooper Leitch assisting.
Sillinger capped the scoring at the 11:34 mark with his second goal of the night when he beat Lakehead goalie Devin Green, who replaced Renyard in the Wolves’ net at the start of the period.
Total shots on goal in the game were 39-22 for Bemidji State.
The Thunderwolves will return home to open the OUA regular season next weekend, taking on the Western Mustangs on Friday night and the Windsor Lancers on Saturday.
