Greenwave Drop Opener to Bemidji 4-1

Boys hockey: Wave can't capitalize


East Grand Forks Senior High was unable to turn opportunities into points Thursday night. That ultimately spelled a 4-1 Green Wave loss to Bemidji High at the East Grand Forks Civic Center in the season opener for Senior High.

By: Robb Jeffries, Grand Forks Herald

East Grand Forks Senior High was unable to turn opportunities into points Thursday night.

That ultimately spelled a 4-1 Green Wave loss to Bemidji High at the East Grand Forks Civic Center in the season opener for Senior High.

Tyler Follis scored twice for Bemidji and nine different Lumberjacks recorded points while playing solid defense throughout. Miah Graves made several tough stops in goal for Bemidji, finishing the night with 18 saves.

Jake White put Bemidji on the board first, controlling a loose puck and pushing it past Senior High goalie Hunter Aubol eight minutes into the game.

Follis built the lead up to two for the Lumberjacks, rebounding a stray shot from forward Matt Serratore. Serratore later had an opportunity to add to Bemidji’s early lead on a breakaway, but Aubol made a difficult glove save.

“We came out with a lot of energy … and then they scored a quick one and it seemed like we lost the momentum after that,” said Senior High co-coach Tyler Palmiscno. “Then we spend the first eight minutes of the second period on the power play, make it a 2-1 game, and they come right back.”

A flurry of Bemidji penalties gave Senior High plenty of chances to score early in the second period.

Sophomore Tommy Hajicek briefly turned around Senior High’s power play luck, punching the puck in from the right side with a five-on-three advantage, cutting Bemidji’s lead to 2-1.

Less than a minute later, however, Bemidji responded with a goal from Max Hazelton, who deflected a shot from point by defenseman Brady Devescovi.

Follis put the icing on the victory for Bemidji with his second goal of the night early in the third period.

Hajicek had a chance on a breakaway to put in his second goal midway through the last period, but was stopped by Graves.

The Senior High power play struggled all night, managing just 12 shots on goal during 12 power plays.

“Early in the season, sometimes it’s easier to kill penalties than it is to play with a man advantage, and that was pretty evident tonight,” Palmiscno said. “We’ll have a good week in practice and work on it, and turn it around.”

Aubol made 23 saves for the Green Wave.

BEMIDJI 4,

EGF SENIOR HIGH 1

First period — 1. Bem: Jake White (Will Bruestle, Eric Hermesman) 7:26; 2. Bem: Tyler Follis (Matt Serratore) 8:43

Second period — 3. EGF: Tommy Hajicek (Gage Ausmus, Kyle Swanson) 2:28; 4. Bem: Max Hazelton (Brady Devescovi, Dillon Eichstadt) 2:59

Third period — 5. Bem: Follis (Easton Halbert) 1:05

Goalie saves — Bem: Miah Graves 4-7-7-18; EGF: Hunter Aubol 7-9-7-23