MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. – Shortly after playing in their final regular season game last week, the Minot State men's hockey team returned to kickstart another postseason run at the ACHA National Tournament. The Beavers were off for the first day of the tournament, as they awaited their first-round opponent. Grand Canyon emerged as that opposition in round one after they took down Illinois State in their first game on the bracket.

The 1^st-seeded Beavers took care of business as they handled the 17-seeded Antelopes by a final score of 5-0. Minot tallied the ice breaker halfway through the first period of action and did not look back, as they collected four more that went unanswered. They scored another two goals in the second and twice again in the final period of regulation. Not only did Minot State go into the second period with the lead, they went ahead to bury Grand Canyon fast and early in the middle frame to make it an even taller hill to climb. The last two goals made for extra insurance as the Beavers win comfortably.

Minot State moves on to the quarterfinal round and will await the winner between #24 Oswego State and #8 Ohio University, as those two squads will drop the puck tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. (CT).

Sheldin Howard struck the back of the net for the first good hockey goal by the Beavers in the National Tournament at 11:10 of the first. Jay Buchholz and Reece Henry scored just 17 seconds apart within the first minute to open the middle period. Then in the third, it was the Colby Joseph show as he picked up not one but two goals in his first appearance in the ACHA National Tournament.

Jake Anthony opens the National Tournament as the number one option in net for the Beavers and was not tasked to do too much. He grabs a modest eight-save shutout effort as the Beaver defense stifles the Lopes' offense.

After sweeping them in a weekend set back in early December, the Beavers grab their third win overall this season versus the Grand Canyon Antelopes to advance to the quarterfinals.