MINOT, N.D. – A close game turned into a fantastic finish for the No. 1-ranked Minot State hockey team.
Knotted up 2-2 after two periods, the Beavers broke the game open with a dominating third-period effort, skating to a 7-2 win over visiting and fifth-ranked Central Oklahoma at the Maysa Arena on Saturday.
The Beavers (15-1-0 overall) now get nearly a month off to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s before returning to the ice on Jan. 6 and 7 when Minot State plays at Midland (Neb.).
The Beavers started off strong as Carter Barley opened the scoring 7 minutes, 57 seconds into the action, then captain Davis Sheldon added a goal for a 2-0 Minot State lead after one period.
But 12 seconds into the second period Central Oklahoma got a power-play goal by Leeam Tivers, igniting the Bronchos offense, which tied it with 9:50 left in the stanza on a Jordan Sgro goal.
All even headed to the final session, the Beavers took control as Josh Pederson finished off an assist from Reece Henry, breaking the tie and opening the floodgates.
Drew Carter scored and Brayden Pawluk pushed Minot State in front 5-2 with a goal with 10:57 left in the contest. Sheldin Howard then stretched the lead to 6-2 before Pederson’s second of the period capped the win with 44 seconds remaining.
Jake Anthony finished with 20 saves in the win for Minot State.
