Bemidji State falls to Michigan Tech 5-2 at Sanford Center

Bemidji State men’s hockey returned to the Sanford Center on Jan. 9 and left with a frustrating 5-2 defeat at the hands of Michigan Tech. The Beavers surrendered three goals in the first period, rallied with two second-period goals from Connor McClennon, but could not complete the comeback as Michigan Tech re-established a two-goal margin in the third and added an empty-netter to seal the win.

The game opened poorly for Bemidji State, with Michigan Tech converting enough chances early to build a 3-0 lead. McClennon’s two goals in the middle frame brought the crowd back into the building and highlighted the team’s ability to generate offense when they landed clean zone entries. However, persistent struggles with zone entries and a power play that went 0-for-5 left the Beavers unable to sustain momentum and turn pressure into a full comeback.

Coaches and players after the game pointed to mistakes and the need to clean up execution across the lineup. Those tactical and execution issues are particularly costly late in the season. The loss extends Bemidji State’s winless stretch, which has been in effect since Nov. 22, and will increase scrutiny on special teams strategy, transition play, and in-zone discipline.

For the Bemidji community, the result matters beyond the scoreboard. The Sanford Center remains a central gathering place for northwoods fans, and home losses affect local morale and the program’s trajectory. On-ice performance has ripple effects for attendance, student-athlete development, and recruiting conversations in a region that prizes college hockey. The inability to convert power-play opportunities and difficulties entering the offensive zone raise tactical questions for the coaching staff and suggest areas needing immediate attention if the Beavers hope to regain footing.

From a team management perspective, the game underscored the importance of execution and situational play. Cleaning up turnovers in the defensive and neutral zones, finding more consistent results on the man advantage, and tightening late-game defense will be necessary to stop the winless slide. Fans can expect lineup and strategy adjustments as the coaching staff addresses those problems in practice and game planning.

The takeaway? The Beavers showed fight but left too much undone in the fundamentals. Our two cents? Keep backing the team at the Sanford Center, but expect and ask for clearer execution on zone entries and special teams so the next time the Beavers chase a comeback they can finish it.