The Johnnie hockey team plays host to St. Thomas this Friday, Nov. 19. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. Buses will be available (first-come, first-serve) beginning with a 6 p.m. departure from the SJU Abbey Church Bell Banner, followed by a 6:20 p.m. departure from CSB's Gorecki Center. The buses will return to both sites following the game. SJU then travels to face the Tommies for a 7 p.m. game Saturday, Nov. 20, at the St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights. – Listen Live (Both Games)| Live Stats (Friday)
Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (2:40)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's snapped its string of four one-goal losses with a convincing 4-1 win at Bethel in its most recent game Nov. 12. The two teams combined for 0-for-14 on the power play (1-for-29 on the series) thanks to a total of 34 penalties for 93 minutes. Sophomore Joe Harren (Warroad, Minn.) followed his two-assist game on Thursday with a pair of goals Friday, including the game's first tally, unassisted, 6:14 into the game. Bethel tied the game at 1-1 three minutes later, but junior Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.) gave the lead back to SJU (1-5, 1-1 MIAC) for good 18 seconds later. Senior Mike Wallgren (Oakdale, Minn.) and sophomore Tobias Linbro (Nykvarn, Sweden) were credited with assists. Freshman James Saintey (Rosemount, Minn.) extended the lead to 3-1 with his first collegiate goal 5:55 into the second period. Fellow freshmen Justin Hochsprung (Alexandria, Minn.) and Jake Vande Lune (Monona, Wis.) recorded assists on the scoring play for their first collegiate points. Harren put the game away with an athletic goal at the 14:21 mark of the third period. Harren flew up the left wing, slipped the puck past a sliding defenseman while jumping over him, and then shot the puck past Zac Bush upon landing back to the ice. Senior Grant Ellena (Coon Rapids, Minn.) and freshman Trent Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) tallied assists on the play. Junior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 25 saves to record his first win between the pipes this season. SJU outshot Bethel 40-26 in the game (85-52 in the series).
A LOOK AT THE TOMMIES: St. Thomas (4-2 overall, 2-0 MIAC) is coming off of a two-game sweep of Augsburg Nov. 12-13. The Tommies allowed just one goal between the two games, finishing with scores of 2-1 and 4-0 over the Auggies. Freshman goaltender Jeff Sadjadi stopped 40 of 41 shots, which improved his GAA to 2.17 and raised his save percentage to .910. He was named the MIAC men's hockey Player of the Week for his performance. The Tommies were picked to finish third in the MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as they return two-time All-MIAC honoree Rob Johnson and All-MIAC forward Andrew Kappers. Division I transfer Matt Lipinski leads UST with eight points (5g/3a), while Kappers and Riley Horgan have five points apiece.
LAST YEAR'S SERIES: The Johnnies and Tommies squared off for an even 1-1-1 record last season. SJU and UST first met in the second game of the MIAC Showcase and skated to a 1-1 tie. Rooney scored the Johnnies' lone goal. In the conference series less than a month later, SJU lost the first game by a 2-1 decision in Mendota Heights. The Tommies scored on a power-play goal 1:35 into the second frame and extended their lead to 2-0 at the 15:41 mark. SJU cut the deficit to 2-1in the third period. The Johnnies outshot UST 11-9 in the third period, but could not capitalize on a 5-on-3 power play with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation. Civello tallied 30 saves in the loss. In the second game of the series, SJU scored three third-period goals, two of which were shorthanded, to post a 3-0 victory at the MAC in St. Cloud. Following a scoreless first and second periods, Harren scored his first career goal, shorthanded, just 1:43 into the third period. Saint John's scored another shorthanded goal with three minutes remaining in regulation. Ellena put the game away with an even-strength goal at the 18:34 mark.
