Wednesday night's Class 2A, Section 8 final was the ninth time in 18 games Moorhead and Bemidji had played into overtime.

Just like it was drawn up in practice.

The overtime winner in Bemidji's 4-3 Class 2A, Section 8 championship victory over Moorhead may have looked like a broken play, but it was far from it. The Lumberjacks (23-2-2) practiced to make perfect, coach Wade Chiodo said.

"We work on that play probably three days a week," said Chiodo, who added he borrowed the winning "drop to the dot" play from Bemidji State.

Just over three minutes into the extra session and with Moorhead (16-11-0) on a line change, the Lumberjacks tipped a long dump-in shot into the corner. It narrowly avoided an icing call that many Spuds thought was coming, including goaltender Lance Leonard, who raised his arm in the universal icing signal.

Instead, freshman Hunter Olson beat everyone to the puck and, rather than circling behind the net, threw a no-look backhanded pass to the tape of Tyler McNamara. The senior tucked it off the post short side, setting off a wild celebration as the victory returned Bemidji to the state tournament.

Was it icing?

"In overtime, it's a bang-bang play, so anything can happen," said Moorhead coach Jon Ammerman, who admitted he was talking to one of his players and didn't see the goal happen.

However, he made no excuses. "We came down and had our opportunities, too. It was a back-and-forth game."

"I'll admit I have no idea, but icing or not icing, bottom line, we found a way to score a goal and win," Chiodo said.

After the game, blood dripping off his forehead and down his nose from an overly aggressive victory hug from teammate Erik Fitzgerald, McNamara described the winning play just as it was drawn up. Did he think it was icing?

"It doesn't matter," laughed McNamara. "Me and my boys get to keep playing for a state championship."

That the game went to overtime should have come as no surprise. In the previous 18 meetings between the two programs, nine have gone to an extra period. But as noted by Chiodo, this was the first time the Lumberjacks had won (0-5-3) in extra time.

"I knew it was going to be a tough game," Chiodo said. "We finally got one."

Last year, the 'Jacks didn't need overtime, earning their first state tournament berth in 29 years with a 2-0 victory over Moorhead. The return trip to St. Paul was much sooner this time around.

"We have a club that can make a lot of headway in the state," said Chiodo, who admitted the toughest game to win has been the section final.

For the first half against Spuds, it looked like one goal just might win it.

After a scoreless first period, Moorhead struck first for its only lead of the game. Sophomore Carter Randklev netted a wraparound goal on a rebound of Jack Stensgard's shot.

But it took Bemidji less than two minutes to respond, as Nick Leitner roofed a slap shot from the point on the power play to tie the score at 1 after two periods.

Then the two giants of Section 8 started throwing haymakers that might have knocked out lesser teams.

The game opened up in the third, as the teams combined for four goals in a span of 4 minutes, 34 seconds. Twice Bemidji took a one-goal lead on goals from Alex Pollock and Brady Tatro, and twice Moorhead erased it, including the final goal on a 5-on-3 power play by Jack Fahrendorf, whose hustle earlier in the shift had led to both Lumberjacks' penalties.

"Our kids, they fought all year and I'm proud of the way they progressed," said Ammerman, whose team had lost at Bemidji 5-0 back in December.

"It's always a battle with Moorhead," McNamara said. "I have a lot of respect for them, and I'm just glad we won."


Moorhead's Jack Stetz (21) celebrates his third period goal that tied the score at 2-2.

First Report

Tyler McNamara scored just over three minutes into overtime to give Bemidji its second straight Class 2A, Section 8 title following a 4-3 victory over Moorhead that propelled the Lumberjacks back to the state tournament.

On the overtime winner, top-seeded Bemidji (23-2-2) caught the Spuds (16-11-0) on a line change, dumping the puck in deep on a play that several Moorhead players thought was going to be called icing.

Instead, Lumberjacks freshman Hunter Olson beat everyone to the puck and flipped a no-look backhander to McNamara, who tucked it short side on Spuds' goaltender Lance Leonard.

McNamara's goal ended a back-and-forth game, as neither team was able to get more than one goal ahead on the other.

Alex Pollock finished with a goal and two assists for Bemidji, while Brady Tatro and Nick Leitner each had a goal and an assist.

Carter Randklev, Jack Stetz and Jack Fahrendorf scored for Moorhead, which twice rallied from one-goal deficits in the third to send it to overtime.

Both sophomore goaltenders played well, as Bemidji's Matt Fitzgerald had 20 saves and Leonard finished with 21.

Spotlight Game Coverage