ARDEN HILLS, Minn.— Bethel University star hockey player Jack Paul recently signed a professional contract with the Duisburg Fuchse (Foxes) of the German Oberliga (Upper League). Paul, who completed his final year in a Bethel Royal uniform in 2012-13 with his fourth All-Conference selection, will report to Duisburg in early August with the season set to start in September. The Fuchse are an affiliated feeder team to the Kolner Haie (Cologne Sharks) who compete in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), which is the top professional league in Germany. Duisburg was just recently eliminated from the Oberliga playoffs in the past week and play a 40-game regular season schedule in addition to the playoffs. A total of 39 teams in four divisions compete in the Oberliga, with several teams employing one or two American players.

“I am really excited for this opportunity and hopefully this is a stepping stone to move up,” Paul said.

Bethel’s head men’s hockey coach Charlie Burggraf spent time in the DEL in Germany from 1979-81 and played in the same city, Duisburg, that Paul is headed to.

“Coach has had a lot of good advice for me since it is the same city he played in,” Paul explained. “Otherwise I would be going in with no idea, so he has been really helpful.”

The Fuchse are bringing Paul in for his goal scoring and leadership ability. In four years at Bethel, Paul scored 53 goals and 103 points, including leading the MIAC in scoring during the regular season in his senior year. The Minnetonka, Minn., native also played two seasons of junior hockey in the NAHL before coming to Bethel after a standout, three–sport, career at Minnetonka High School.

“This will be a great experience for Jack to play in a foreign country,” coach Burggraf said. “The hockey is good and it is a big sheet of ice. They are looking for Jack to bring scoring and to mentor the younger guys on and off the ice. If he continues to play well more opportunities will open up for him.”

Paul will receive his degree from Bethel this May before heading to Germany to begin his professional career. Duisburg is located on the western part of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia and has the world’s biggest inland harbor, making it an important venue for commerce and steel production. While there, the Fuchse will provide Paul with housing and transportation in addition to a monthly stipend. Currently, the Fuchse have one other American on their roster.

VIDEO: Royal Perspective with Paul

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Already selected to the 2012 AFCA Coaches All-American First Team, Bethel’s Seth Mathis (Jr., Anoka, Minn.) was recently named to the 2012 All-American First Team by D3Football.com.Releasing its All-American list just before the 2012 Stagg Bowl between Mount Union and the University of St. Thomas, Mathis was one of three MIAC athletes and three linebackers selected to the First Team.Mathis—just a junior—was chosen to the AFCA Division III Coaches’ All-America Team a week ago, as he finished the season 25th nationwide in total tackles. His 120 tackles helped him average 10.9 per game, while moving him into the Top 3 in Bethel’s record book for career tackles.The two-time All-MIAC player led the Royals in interceptions as well, finishing with five picks—including a 56-yard return for a touchdown against St. Olaf on November 3. Mathis also forced and recovered three fumbles for Bethel’s defense.“These are great awards for a great leader, athlete, worker, and player,” says head football coach Steve Johnson. “Not only is Seth fast and tough, but he is passionate about his teammates and the game. That is what makes him so special.”Seth will return to help the Bethel defense—who helped the Royals rank 42nd nationwide in turnover margin with a .75 margin per game—in 2013, as BU looks to return seven starters on the defensive side of the ball.D3Football.com RELEASE | AFCA RELEASE | VIDEO: Mathis Reaction to AFCA Award

Bethel stops Concordia’s two-point conversion to win 24-23

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Royals are moving on to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 24-23 win over No. 18 Concordia University Saturday. The hosting Cougars (10-1) scored with 0:18 left in the fourth quarter, but J.D. Mehlhorn (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) broke up the ensuing two-point conversion to give Concordia University-Chicago its first loss of the season and an early exit from the 2012 postseason.

A sold out crowd at Concordia Stadium saw the Royals take the 24-10 lead with 6:31 left in the third quarter, but the Cougars never quit. Trailing 24-17 with under seven minutes in the final period, Bethel quarterback Erik Peterson (So., Orono, Minn.) was stripped in an attempt to place the ball over the goal line, which kept the score within seven. CUC later drove down the field to score what appeared to be the equalizer, but a failed pass attempt by Cougar quarterback Jake Koehler ended the game with the final 24-23.

The Royals’ defense proved to be the difference early on. Inside linebacker Seth Mathis (Jr., Anoka, Minn.) recorded his fifth interception of the season on the Cougars first drive, which was inside the Bethel 20-yard-line. A quick 3-and-out gave the ball back to Concordia, butJordan Anderson (Sr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) followed suite with his first interception of the season on the Bethel 18.

BU turned the turnover into points at the 4:11 mark in the first quarter, when freshmen kicker Nathaniel Van Loon (Fr., Faribault, Minn.) kicked a career-best 40-yard field goal to give the Royals the 3-0 advantage.

Bethel put together another six-minute drive on their next possession, however, this time the Royals put six on the board. Erik Peterson connected with Mitch Hallstrom (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) on a 4th-and-7 touchdown pass from the CUC 22-yard-line, which put BU up 10-0.

Hallstrom wasn’t done scoring, as he threw a touchdown to fellow wide out Jay Hilbrands(Sr., Clara City, Minn.) on the next Bethel possession. Peterson threw a bubble screen to Hallstrom, who then stepped back and fired a pass that got tipped right into the hands of Hilbrands, who then clipped the pylon.

Trailing 17-3, Concordia cut into the BU lead with an 8-play, 68-yard drive to go into the half down 17-10.

The Royals weren’t done scoring, though, as a solid rushing performance by Marshall Klitzke (Fr., Annandale, Minn.) helped Bethel find the end zone with 6:23 left in the third quarter. Erik Peterson’s one-yard carry gave BU just enough, as it and the Van Loon PAT was the difference maker in the 24-23 final.

Bethel finished the day with 21 first downs, totaling 350 yards. Klitzke rushed for 134 yards on 18 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Peterson completed 16-of-23 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. Perhaps the most impressive stat was no turnovers throughout the entire 60 minutes.

Bethel’s quarterback connected with Mitch Hallstrom eight times for 100 yards. Hallstrom had an exceptional one-handed catch late in the fourth quarter on a fourth down play that extended the Royals drive. Brandon Marquardt (So., Champlin, Minn.), Jay Hilbrands, andKyle Ulstad (Sr., Fargo, S.D.) each caught two passes as well.

Defensively, Seth Mathis had another outstanding performance. Mathis finished with 15 tackles—eight solo—and one interception returned for 31 yards. Brett Skoog (Sr., Long Lake, Minn.) ended with 10 tackles, including one for loss. Erik Smith (Sr., Henning, Minn.) wrapped up six carries, including a sack for a six-yard-loss. In the secondary, J.D. Mehlhornalso played a special role, not only breaking up the potential game-winning two-point conversion, but also breaking up two other potential touchdowns.

The Royals kicker, Nathaniel Van Loon, was also astonishing. Van Loon not only nailed a 40-yarder, but he put every kickoff inside the Cougar five-yard-line—opposed to Concordia, who purposefully never got a kickoff past the 30-yard-line.

According to Concordia Coach Lonnie Pries, “We were not willing to put the ball in the hand’s of Bethel’s return men, so we decided made someone else hurt us.” This was effective on the first kick, as Bethel dropped the opening kickoff and the Cougars recovered—but the Royals had great field position the rest of the way.

With Saturday’s win, Bethel travels to Oshkosh, Wis. to take on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, who handled the College of St. Scholastica 55-10 in Oshkosh Saturday. The Titans finished its regular season 10-0 and received the automatic qualifier from the WIAC.

Box Score

Bethel University, on the strength of its regular season finale victory over St John’s University on Saturday, got a at large bid  as one of the 32 teams to make it to the 2012 playoffs. The No. 25-ranked Royals (8-2) will face an unranked Concordia College-Chicago (10-0)—Northern Athletic Conference automatic qualifier—next Saturday at Concordia Stadium in River Forest, Ill. St. Thomas, the automatic qualifier from the MIAC, will open up at home on Saturday against St. Norberts.

Bethel finished its regular season with a 27-22 win over the Johnnies securing a tie for second place in the MIAC with Concordia-Moorhead, as both teams finished league play 6-2. With the 15-14 homecoming thriller over the Cobbers earlier in the season, BU was one step ahead of CC looking at the postseason. Sunday’s selections revealed both automatic qualifier St. Thomas and Bethel as part of the playoff field, leaving the Cobbers on the outside looking in.

2012’s postseason appearance will be the seventh tournament for the Royals since 2000, as Bethel enters the NCAA Playoffs with a 6-6 (.500) record overall. The last two times BU was a part of the Division III postseason they were crowned West Coast Region Champions (2007 and 2010).

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A complete team performance helped the Bethel University football squad finish the MIAC regular season with a 27-22 win over Saint John’s University Saturday. The Royals (8-2, 6-2 MIAC) held the Johnnies (5-5, 3-5 MIAC) to 52 yards rushing and 258 yards passing on 49 attempts, while totaling 484 yards of offense. Saturday’s results gave BU a chance at a Pool C bid in the NCAA Division III Playoffs, while also giving the Johnnies its first losing record in conference play since 1973. In addition, the win gives Bethel its sixth win over Saint John’s in the last seven years and helps the Royals finish the 2012 season undefeated at Royal Stadium. 

Erik Peterson (So., Orono, Minn.) was electric Saturday, finishing the game 22-of-33 for 267 yards passing, alongside 104 yards rushing on 13 carries.

Peterson and the Bethel offense drove down to the Johnnie 11-yard line on the first drive of the game, before Nathaniel Van Loon (Fr., Faribault, Minn.) kicked his second field goal of the season from 27 yards out.

Van Loon was matched eye-for-eye when SJU kicker Jimmie Mattson converted a 49-yard field goal attempt on the Johnnies first drive, evening the score at 3-3 with 6:29 left in the first quarter.

The points continued on the Royals next drive when Jesse Phenow (Jr., Richfield, Minn.) plunged into the end zone from one-yard out to give Bethel a 10-3 lead late in the opening quarter. Phenow’s touchdown was set up by a 28-yard pass and catch between Peterson and Brandon Marquardt (So., Champlin, Minn.) who was tackled at the SJU one-yard-line.

Saint John’s tallied another 40-plus yard field goal thanks to kicker Jimmie Matson at the 11-minute mark in the second quarter, before Bethel put together another touchdown drive with 6:14 remaining in the half. An 11-play, 78-yard drive that included another Marquardt reception for 30 yards led to a Peterson rushing TD on 4th-and-1 to give the Royals a 17-6 advantage.

The Johnnies answered BU’s score with a 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive that lasted 4:50. Harry Awe completed the drive with a two-yard draw, narrowing the gap to 17-13 in favor of the Royals heading into intermission.

Following the half time break, Bethel’s defense came up with a critical play when senior linebacker Erik Smith (Henning, Minn.) intercepted a Connor Bruns pass at the Johnnie 37-yard line, which gave BU great field position to start the second half. The Royals executed nicely and finished with the second Jesse Phenow touchdown of the day, giving Bethel a 24-13 advantage.

Jimmie Matson kicked his third field goal of the game in the ensuing Saint John’s drive, putting the Johnnies eight points back with 5:37 left in the third quarter. Royal Stadium then witnessed the game’s first punt with 1:51 left in the third, when Philip Peterson (Fr., Richfield, Minn.) pinned the Johnnies inside their own 25-yard-line.

The Johnnies were forced into a 3-and-out before punting to the Royals, who subsequently completed a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a Van Loon field goal from the Johnnie’s nine-yard-line.

Trailing 16-27 with 1:04 left in the fourth quarter, Saint John’s intercepted a Peterson pass at the SJU two-yard line and managed to score a touchdown on a Bethel prevent defense with 0:11 left in the game, giving way to the 27-22 final.

Bethel finished with 217 yards rushing, while throwing for 267 more. Peterson led all BU carriers with 106 yards on the ground, averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Jesse Phenow carried the ball 24 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

Peterson connected with seven different receivers, with Mitch Hallstrom (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) leading the way with nine catches for 123 yards. Hallstrom continues to have the most catches in the MIAC with 61 receptions on the year. Brandon Marquardt also finished with four catches for 59 yards. 

The Royals’ defense was just as dynamic, holding the Johnnies to three field goals and a touchdown, before SJU’s final touchdown with 11 second remaining. Brett Skoog (Sr., Long Lake, Minn.) finished with eight tackles, including one for loss as well as a pass breakup and quarterback hurry. Additionally, Trent Duppenthaler (So., Sherwood, Ore.) led the team with 11 tackles.

With Saturday’s 27-22 victory, Bethel remains hopeful for a berth into the 2012 NCAA Division III Playoffs. There are seven teams included from Pool C in the postseason, which are all at-large teams hoping for a playoff game. The Royals will discover its fate tomorrow at 4 p.m., when the NCAA releases the 32-team field at ncaa.com.