Beavers Outhustle UND, Win 5-1

The University of North Dakota hockey team appeared ready to kick off the 2014-15 season. First up for UND, the Bemidji State Beavers in a home-and-home series.

Historically, UND hockey teams have started slow and peaked at the end of the season. There was a sense that this year could be different. 

Hold that thought for a minute.

Friday night was UND's home opener, and nothing went right for UND. You could say that the home team came out a bit flat. UND turned over the puck and the Beavers pounced on the home team's miscues. Maybe UND underestimated the Beavers a bit. Now, before we get excited, this is only one game. 

Also, you have to give credit where credit is due. The Beavers came out and pushed the pace, and played like the team that went to the Frozen Four last season. You could say that the Beavers beat UND at their own game. 

The Beavers were rewarded for their efforts and scored four goals in a 08:41 span to put the game out of reach, squashing any hope of an opening night win at the Ralph. UND would drop the home opener for the first time since the 2001 season when UND lost 7-5 to the Minnesota Gophers.

“We didn’t show up to play,” UND Captain Stephane Pattyn said. “Those guys showed up to play, that’s for sure. They came out hungry and aggressive. Our team just didn’t show up.”

Moving forward, UND must put this loss behind them. This is only one game in a 36 game season. 

“You don’t throw this out,” Hakstol said. “This was a hard lesson learned for our hockey team. Now you have to turn around and go on the road into a real tough building, against a team that is playing real well. That is going to have momentum going into their home opener.”

All-NCHC goalie goalie Zane McIntyre was chased from the game at 17:50 mark of the second period after giving up the fourth BSU goal. I don't know if you can fault the goalie, as he was left out to dry by his teammates all night long. Freshman goalie Cam Johnson relieve McIntyre gave up a goal on his first shot that he faced. 

All-time, BSU has a (3-26-3, .140) record against UND.

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