BEMIDJI, MN. – The Merrimack hockey team completed a weekend sweep of Bemidji State with a 2-1 victory Saturday night in a non-conference matchup.
The Warriors are 3-0 for the first time since the 1993-94 season and have reached last year’s win total in just three games.
Junior John Goebel (Parma, OH) scored his second goal in as many games, this one shorthanded and unassisted at 12:06 of the first period.
Sophomore Justin Bonitatibus (Arlington, MA) tallied the game-winner, taking passes from Matt Jones (Kentwood, MI) and Pat Kimball (Framingham, MA) and putting it past Matt Climie for his first of the season at 11:12 of the second
Making his first start of the season, Andrew Braithwaite (Kingston, Ontario) stopped 28 shots for his first collegiate victory.
The Beavers only goal came from Travis Winter at 17:48 of the second on the power-play.
The Warriors killed three penalties in the third period and spent the final 1:03 of the game shorthanded. Merrimack held Bemidji to just one goal in 15 man-advantage opportunities over the weekend and even tallied a shorthanded goal.
Bemidji outshot Merrimack 29-21 in the contest.
The Warriors (3-0) open Hockey East play with a home-and-home with #4 Boston College. Friday night is at Conte Forum, with Saturday at Lawler Arena. Both games are at 7 p.m.