Beavers' hot streak ends in heartbreak against Michigan Tech in Mason Cup championship

Mar. 23—BEMIDJI — After CCHA commissioner Don Lucia handed the Mason Cup to Michigan Tech on Friday night at the Sanford Center, Bemidji State fifth-year captain Kyle Looft skated to the door that led to the Beavers' locker room.

Before he exited the Sanford Center ice for the final time, Looft stopped and turned around. He hugged each teammate before taking a long look at the ice, which was littered with the gloves, sticks, and helmets of the celebrating Husky players.

After Looft had enough, he slowly walked to the locker room and gave his final words to his team as BSU's captain.

"Super proud," Looft said. "I just told those guys in the locker room that it's been a pleasure being their captain. It means so much to me. It's been a hell of a five years. This group, especially, was really special."

In one of the hardest moments of his half-decade stint at Bemidji State, Looft didn't hang up his captain hat. Instead, he strapped it on tighter.

"It doesn't take long to be with him to realize he's a rock star," head coach Tom Serratore said. "He's a great leader, a great competitor, an unbelievable human being. It stings for him. He came back for a fifth year for a multitude of different reasons — he believes in the program. He's a Beaver."

The stinging feeling enveloped the Beavers after a 2-1 loss against MTU in the Mason Cup championship, marking the end of an 11-game unbeaten streak and the 2023-24 season for Bemidji State.

The Beavers pushed through an up-and-down first period. With the help of Mattias Sholl's opening 12 saves, Kasper Magnussen lifted BSU to a 1-0 lead.

Jackson Jutting played the puck to Austin Jouppi behind the net. Jouppi fought off a Husky before dishing a pass to Magnussen in the slot, who scored on a low-blocker shot.

"We just funneled the puck," Serratore said. "You noticed today there were a lot of shots from the corner. We just tried to manufacture some offense. It was just a funnel (play) from us, and (Jouppi) happened to put it right on Kasper's stick. I think it probably surprised (Blake) Pietila."

Bemidji State allowed a handful of odd-man rushes, none of them burning the Beavers until 56 seconds after the game's opening goal.

BSU turned the puck over on Michigan Tech's blue line, setting up a 2-on-1 chance for MTU. Sholl stopped Alex Nordstrom's short-side shot, but Chase Pietila trailed into the zone just behind the play and scored on the rebound.

"It beats the alternative," MTU head coach Joe Shawhan quipped about the tying goal. "It was a great play. ... We were playing well in the first, but it was the shift after (BSU) scored (that gave us) that bounce back. Remember the last time we were here? We had a four-goal lead, and see you later to that."

Arvid Caderoth gave the Beavers another scare nine seconds into the opening frame. He ripped a shot from the blue line through traffic that hit the post.

Ryland Mosley gave Michigan Tech its first lead midway through the second period. The Huskies benefited from a favorable Bemidji State line change.

Vince Corcoran dumped the puck into the MTU zone from the red line. While the puck wrapped around the back of the net to Matthew Campbell on the far side of the ice, the Beavers on the ice went to the bench. With a full head of steam, Mosley caught a two-line pass and made a toe-drag deke on Looft, who was backchecking. Mosley slid the puck past Sholl off the right post.

"I was a little surprised (it went in)," Mosley said. "Sholl is a good goalie. He comes out and plays his angles well. I kind of just threw one out there with the backhand, and it went in."

BSU suffocated opposing teams with its second-period forecheck during its 11-game unbeaten streak. However, Michigan Tech survived one extended shift in the middle frame on Friday night. MTU's pointed breakout prevented Bemidji State from establishing pressure below the goal line.

"They break the puck out so well," Serratore said. "They support the puck extremely well. Their forwards are good on the wall. It's a combination of short, little passes — we call them bump plays or dink plays. They do a good job of supporting the puck and keeping the puck going north. We were one step behind."

BSU found some life in the third period, outshooting the Huskies 17-6 in the final 20 minutes. With 4:58 left in regulation, Bemidji State went on the game's only power play but managed just one shot.

"It's called desperation," Serratore said. "We're down 2-1, and you have to find it. You have to find juice. We did, and we had opportunities, but Michigan Tech weathered a few storms and managed the puck. It just wasn't meant to be."

Blake Pietila stopped 34 shots to help Michigan Tech win its first Mason Cup title in program history. The Huskies will play in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season next weekend.

"It's unbelievable. I can't describe it," Pietila said of winning the Mason Cup. "I've played for five years, and this is my first win in a playoff championship. It's really special. Tonight, I'll be rewinding the video and watching everybody's reactions over and over again."

The Beavers will begin their yearly offseason process on Monday, one that will likely see Looft extend his hockey career beyond the college game.

But until then, Looft will wear his admiration for Bemidji State on his sleeve. Despite his final sendoff ending with a heavy loss, he expressed his undying passion for the program that gave him a home.

"It was a rocky start to the year," Looft said. "We didn't find our game until the second half. It was a buy-in from all 27 guys. Even though we didn't win the championship tonight, we will walk together forever."

Michigan Tech 2, No. 20 Bemidji State 1

MTU 1 1 0 — 2

BSU 1 0 0 — 1

First period — BSU GOAL: Magnussen (Jouppi, Jutting) 14:07; MTU GOAL: C. Pietila (Nordstrom, Bartle) 14:59.

Second period — MTU GOAL: Mosley (Campbell) 9:20.

Third period — No scoring.

Saves — Sholl (BSU) 25; B. Pietila (MTU) 34.