The Johnnie hockey team resumes competition with a weekend series against No. 15 Gustavus Adolphus this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 21-22. SJU (3-12, 2-4 MIAC) travels to face the Gusties (10-5-2, 4-2-2 MIAC) for a 7 p.m. game tonight and then returns home to host GAC for a 2 p.m. contest Saturday at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. – Listen Live (Friday) | Live Stats/Live Video (Friday) | Live Stats (Saturday)
Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (2:39)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The Johnnies return to action following a pair of non-conference losses and their bye week. SJU fell to then-No. 1 St. Norbert (6-0) and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (4-2) Jan. 7-8. SJU surrendered five third-period goals as sophomore #J.D Wells# (Coon Rapids, Minn.) made 33 saves in his second career start against the Green Knights. The Pointers emerged out of a 1-1 tie with three goals in the second period to earn a 4-2 win. Senior Mike Wallgren (Oakdale, Minn.) tied the game with his seventh goal of the season and the 60th point of his career 4:39 into the second period. Sophomore Tobias Linbro (Nykvarn, Sweden) and junior Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.) assisted on the scoring play for SJU. The Pointers regained the lead 22 seconds later and added two more goals in the second frame to take a 4-1 lead. Rooney cut the deficit to 4-2 with a power-play goal, the first of his career, with assists going to Wallgren and sophomore Corey Kosak (Grand Rapids, Minn.). Junior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 39 saves in the loss as the Johnnies were outshot 34-12 thru the first two periods.
A LOOK AT THE GUSTIES: Gustavus is coming off of a three-point weekend against Augsburg (2-2 tie, 4-1 win). Ross Ring-Jarvi currently leads the Gusties with 15 points (6g/9a), followed by Gustav Bengtson(6g/6a), Ryan Johnson (5g/7a), Adam Smyth (4g/8a) and Brad Wieck (2g/10a) with 12. Josh Swartout recently won his 40th career game in net. He is 6-4-2 on the year with a 2.55 GAA and a .908 save percentage. Backup Tyler Venne is 4-1 with a 2.00 GAA and a .920 save percentage.
HOME DOMINANCE: The Johnnies have either defeated or tied GAC in 31 of the last 36 meetings (27-5-4). Since the 1992-93 season, SJU is 18-3-1 against the Gusties at home, including a 16-1-1 mark in the last 18 meetings at the National Hockey Center.
