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Red Knights sweep pair at North-South Classic

By BSMHockey.com, 12/08/18, 11:30PM CST

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Goaltending, timely goals, lead BSM to victories in Brainerd.


Blake Mesenburg scored twice and added an assist to give him a team-best seven points on the season.

BRAINDERD, Minn. -- Benilde-St. Margaret's downed a pair of ranked opponents, defeating No. 14 Brainerd, 3-1, Friday, before handing Class A No. 1 Hermantown a 3-2 loss, Saturday, in the North-South Classic at the Essentia Health Sports Center.

• KEY GOALS
Both victories saw key goals lead to victory.

Friday, while his team was killing a penalty, Blake Mesenburg caused a turnover at the Red Knight blue line. He then picked up the loose puck and raced through two zones before burying fourth goal of the season to give BSM a 2-0 lead.

Saturday, it was another Red Knight newcomer who proved to be a difference maker. This time, it was sophomore Jackson Bisson who, after assisting on the team's first two goals, beat Hermantown goalie Cole Manahan with a shot from the right faceoff circle, giving his team a 3-1 lead and providing a much-needed insurance goal.

• GOALTENDING
The Red Knights got some of the best goaltending they've received in several years, with a pair of sophomores manning the nets.

Friday, Carson Limesand's bid for a sixth career shutout came up eight minutes, 45 seconds short when the Warriors' Mason Kruse scored on the power play but the second-year netminder earned his 13th career win with a 21-save effort.

Saturday it was Jack Olson, making his varsity debut. The BSM rookie goalie looked cool and collected while making a number of big saves. Both goals he allowed were special teams goals by Hermantown but he finished with 29 saves to earn the team's player of the game award.


Jackson Bisson helped account for all three goals in Saturday's win.

• TEAM EFFORT
The Red Knights got scoring from several different players and the balanced attack was vital.

Friday, it was Cooper Gay who got the game's first goal, just 2:42 into the second period. Mesenburg's goal came just 34 seconds later.

BSM's final goal was a shot from the right point by James Callahan, who recorded his second goal of the season when his shot found its way through traffic and into the back of the net.

• SUPER COOPER
In his first varsity season, Cooper Gay has quietly become one of the Red Knights' top offensive threats.

The first-year junior scored goals in both games over the weekend and has three goals in his last four games. He is also one of just two BSM players to register a point in all five games this season.

• OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
The Red Knights' captains, senior Ian Bahr and junior Nate Schweitzer, have shown why they wear the "C" on their jersey.

Bahr, who has five points in five games this season, scored the game's first goal in the opening period, Saturday, and set up Bisson's game-winner in the third period.

Schwietzer, the only other Red Knight with a point in all five games this season, had a three-point weekend, picking up a pair of assists, Friday, before making the breakout pass that led to Bisson's goal Saturday.

• OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Up next for the Red Knights is a 7 p.m. meeting with No. 5 St. Thomas, Tuesday, in Mendota Heights.

• ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Five Red Knights were named to the all-tournament team. The group included Schweitzer at defense, forwards Gay and Mesenburg, and goalies Limesand and Olson.

Schweitzer, who had an assist in each game and averaged 28:22 of ice time in the two games, including 31:14 in Saturday's win, was named the Steve Olinger Most Valuable Player.

• UP NEXT
BSM will be home again, Friday, when it hosts No. 12 Moorhead in a 7 p.m. game at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center.