'Jackets Win 9-1

BIG SECOND PERIOD LIFTS 'JACKETS

The first period saw the 'Jackets get off to a little bit of a slow start. The second period saw them blow it open and the third period saw them put the game away. Five goals in the middle frame, three of them coming from Talon Berlando (So. Drumheller, Alberta) gave the 'Jackets all they needed and then some, as they rolled to a 9-1 win over Finlandia at Wessman Arena.

The Lions opened the scoring when Corey Blake scored just 2:34 into the game. Off a face-off,

Yellowjacket goaltender Chad Beiswenger (Sr. Moorhead, Minnesota) went down prematurely and Blake beat him with a wrist shot to make it 1-0. The lead stood until the final minute of the period when Berlando scored his first to tie the score at 1-1.

The score stayed that way for nearly half the period before the 'Jackets blew it open, scoring three times in a span of 1:19. Chris Wilson (Jr. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) scored his first goal as a Yellowjacket, unassisted at 8:31 to make it 2-1. Berlando scored his second of the game just over a minute later at 9:37 to make it 3-1. Just 13 seconds later, Art Clark (Jr. Bloomington, Minnesota) scored his second of the season on the power play to make it 4-1. Logan Isley (So. Bonnyville, Alberta) won a face-off back to Brian Bina (Jr. Grand Forks, North Dakota), who sent it to Clark at the other point. Clark let a shot go that beat Finlandia goaltender Ryan Donovan at 9:50. Berlando would score his hat trick goal at 14:16 of the second period to make it 5-1. He would then add his fourth goal of the game, finishing off a brilliant 2-1 to make it 6-1. Wilson and Isley had the assists.

The 'Jackets added three more goals in the third period. Rob Turville (Sr. Olds, Alberta) scored his second of the year just 23 seconds into the period, with Bina getting the assist, to make it 7-1. It went to 8-1 at 10:36 when Andrew MacKenzie (Sr. Terrace Bay, Ontario), scored his first goal of the season. Eric Bausano (Sr. Laurium, Michigan) and Kevin Huck (Sr. Rochester, Minnesota) assisted. Huck closed out the scoring, getting his first of the season, at 16:40. Clark and Braden Desmet (Jr. Strathmore, Alberta) assisted.

Berlando, who didn't score a collegiate goal until the final game of the season a year ago, already has six this season and has scored seven goals in his last three games. He became the first Yellowjacket to score four goals in a game since Mike Wiggins did it against St. Thomas on November 27, 2004. Isley and Bina each had three assists in the game. MacKenzie had a goal and two assists.

The game was relatively penalty free. The 'Jackets took just three penalties for six minutes, while the Lions took six penalties for 20 minutes. Finlandia went 0-2 on the power play, while the 'Jackets went 1-4.

For the second consecutive game, the 'Jackets handily outshot their opponent, this time outshooting the Lions 41-13. Beiswenger made 12 saves to pick up his second win of the season. At the other end, Ryan Donovan made 32 saves.

The 'Jackets (2-0-0) now hit the road to take on the Tommies from the University of St. Thomas. The Tommies defeated the Yellowjackets 3-0 at Wessman Arena last season, handing them their first loss of the year. Game time on Friday, October 31 is 7:05 p.m. from the St. Thomas Ice Arena. The game can be heard live locally on KUWS 91.3 FM, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. If you are outside the local listening area, you can tune in via the Internet at www.kuws.fm. John Munson will have the call.