Saint John's senior forward Josh Gross (Maple Grove, Minn.) extended his consecutive-games streak with a point to nine with four points (2g/2a) as SJU went 2-0 over the weekend against Wisconsin-Stout (5-3) and Marian (2-1, OT). He has 14 points (6g/8a) during the nine-game stretch and was named the MIAC Men's Hockey Athlete of the Week for his weekend performance.
He recorded the game's first goal and two more points on the power play, including what proved to be the game-winning goal, against Stout. Gross then assisted on the Johnnies' game-tying goal in the first period against Marian.
Gross currently leads the MIAC (all games) in power-play goals (5), is second in power-play points (7), is tied for third in points (15) and is tied for fifth in goals (7).
The Johnnies (8-6, 3-3 MIAC) return to conference action with a pair of home games against Concordia-Moorhead (9-4-2, 3-2-1 MIAC) this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19. Both contests are scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, and Sunday's matinee is Faith & Family Day.
SJU looks to continue its recent success against Concordia; a stretch in which it has either defeated or tied the Cobbers in 27 of the last 32 meetings (25-5-2 record), including a 21-4-2 record in the last 27 games since the 2002-03 season and an 8-3-2 record under the direction of head coach Doug Schueller. SJU is 14-1-1 in its last 16 games against Concordia at the National Hockey Center.