Bemidji beats Roseau 2-1 in key Section 8AA road victory

Bemidji High School earned a tight 2-1 road victory over Roseau in a key Section 8AA contest, a result with immediate implications for section seeding and postseason positioning. The game unfolded with early offense, a second-period winner and a standout performance in goal that sealed the outcome.

Griffin Dewar opened the scoring early for Bemidji, giving the visitors an initial lead. Roseau answered before intermission when Jude Whittrock tied the game, keeping the teams level into the first break. Six minutes into the second period Cameron Knott scored the go-ahead goal, and that strike proved to be the eventual game-winner.

Between the pipes, Christian Hill delivered a near-flawless performance, recording 26 saves while allowing just one goal. Facing 27 shots, Hill posted an approximate .963 save percentage for the night, a defensive anchor that limited Roseau’s scoring opportunities and preserved the margin created by Knott’s goal.

The result matters beyond the final score. In Section 8AA, seeding determines postseason matchups and potential home-ice advantage, and a road win in a head-to-head section contest can swing tiebreakers and momentum as teams jockey for position. For Bemidji, the victory on Roseau’s ice strengthens its standing within the section and gives the program tangible momentum heading into the remainder of section play. For Roseau, the narrow loss underscores the importance of tightening defensive coverage and converting late-game pushes into goals as the section race tightens.

From a community perspective, close section games like this resonate across Beltrami County. Strong regular-season results boost attendance and local interest, with postseason home games generating additional economic activity for downtown businesses, restaurants and service providers. On-ice success also affects youth programs and local engagement with high school athletics, shaping recruitment, practice intensity and community support into the spring.

Coaches and players will now pivot to the remaining Section 8AA schedule, where each game carries weight for seeding permutations. Bemidji leaves Roseau with a hard-fought win and a goaltender’s performance that gives the team a foundation to defend as section play continues. For local fans, the takeaway is clear: this result tightens the section race and raises the stakes for the weeks ahead.