Saint John's opens its 2010-11 hockey season with a pair of non-conference games at the MIAC Showcase this weekend. The Johnnies are scheduled to face Hamline for a 5:30 p.m. game Friday, Oct. 29, followed by a 4 p.m. showdown with St. Olaf on Saturday, Oct. 30. Both games will be held at the Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine. - Showcase Website | Live Stats (Both Games) | Listen Live Friday (WBHR-660 AM) | Listen Live Saturday (WBHR-660 AM; the game will be joined in progress)

Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (4:21)

SEASON PREVIEW
The Saint John's University hockey team is looking to pick up where it left off in 2009-10, when SJU closed out the season winning three of its final four games. 

With a squad of proven starters, the Johnnies are looking to jump out to a better start and put themselves in a position to win close games. Fourteen of the Johnnies' 25 games last year were decided by two goals or less. The task will not be an easy one, however, as SJU has slated a difficult schedule that includes a number of ranked opponents, and potentially three of the four teams that played in last season's NCAA Division III Frozen Four.  

Here's a look at the Johnnies, by position:

FORWARDS
The 2010-11 Johnnies return senior forward Mike Wallgren (Oakdale, Minn.), a strong two-way player and leader, who tallied 16 points (2g/14a) last winter. He will don the captain's “C” for the Johnnies this season. SJU also returns senior Grant Ellena (Coon Rapids, Minn.), who leads all returning players with 18 points (8g/10a) a year ago. 

Other key returning forwards for the Johnnies include senior Alex Lindeberg (Forest Lake, Minn.) and junior Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.). Lindeberg finished the season with 10 points (3g/7a), including two power-play goals, while Rooney boasted a team-leading .235 shot percentage (eight goals on 34 shots) and two game-winning goals. He also recorded three two-goal games last season.

Sophomore Michael Palmiscno (East Grand Forks, Minn.) tied for fourth among all MIAC freshmen with 16 points (8g/8a) and became the fifth Johnnie since the 2004-05 season to be named to the All-MIAC Rookie team last season. Four returning sophomore forwards, including Palmiscno, made positive impacts as freshmen last year: Jascha Pettit (6g/5a; Wadena, Minn.) and Joe Harren (4g/4a; Warroad, Minn.). 

DEFENSEMEN
Defensively, SJU returns all but one defenseman from a year ago, including seniors Brent Brodersen (1g/9a; Shakopee, Minn.), Pat McClure (2g/8a; Maple Plain, Minn.) and James Olmscheid (1g/1a; St. Cloud). Brodersen and McClure tied for the team-lead among defensemen with 10 points each. Junior Nick Roscoe (Eau Claire, Wis.) and sophomores Corey Kosak (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and Ryan Wold (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) are expected to contribute at the blue line again this season.

GOALTENDING
Junior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) and sophomore Adam Andersson (Pixbo, Sweden) are expected to take over in net for the graduated Stu Van Ess. Last year, Civello started nine games and posted a 1-5-1 record with a 3.64 GAA and a .891 save percentage. He made 52 saves to defeat nationally-ranked St. Scholastica in his first career start last season Nov. 6. Andersson, meanwhile, tallied a 2-1-0 record with a .905 save percentage and a 2.36 GAA.     

FRESHMEN TO WATCH
Four freshmen are expected to contribute right away this season: forwards Justin Hochsprung (Alexandria, Minn.), James Saintey (Rosemount, Minn.), and Jake Vande Lune (Monona, Wis.), and defenseman Trent Johnson (Duluth, Minn.). Hochsprung played for the Springfield, Ill., Junior Blues (NAHL) last season and accumulated 26 points (6g/20a), while Saintey tallied 42 points (20g/22a) for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL) last winter. Vande Lune, meanwhile, amassed 75 points (31g/44a) in 46 games for the local Granite City Lumberjacks (MNJHL). Johnson ended the 2009-10 season with the Alaska Avalanche (NAHL) and finished third among defensemen with 19 points (3g/16a).

OVERVIEW
Over the past two seasons, SJU has tallied three wins and four ties against ranked teams (Top 15 or those receiving votes), including a 3-1 victory at No. 13 St. Scholastica last season.

Doug Schueller enters his third season as head coach with a 19-26-5 career record, including 10 one-goal losses. 

The Johnnies play host to Wisconsin-Superior for the home opener on Nov. 4 at St. Cloud State University's National Hockey Center, and begin their conference schedule Nov. 11 against Bethel. All home games are scheduled to be played at the National Hockey Center this season.

SJU is set to participate, once again, in the PrimeLink Shootout Nov. 26-27 in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The Johnnies participated in the Shootout during the 2007-08 season and lost a pair of one-goal games to nationally-ranked Plattsburgh (N.Y.) in overtime, and Middlebury (Vt.).