Saint John's (1-1-1, 0-0-0 MIAC) plays host to St. Thomas (1-1-1, 0-0-0 MIAC) for its conference and home opener this Friday, Nov. 11. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. The Johnnies then travel to face the Tommies for a 7 p.m. game Saturday, Nov. 12, at the St. Thomas Academy Ice Arena in Mendota Heights. – Listen Live (Both Games)| Live Stats (Friday)
Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (2:23)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Seven different Johnnies tallied a goal as Saint John's defeated Wisconsin-Stout for its first win of the season last Saturday in Menomonie, Wis. Stout gained an early 1-0 lead 5:02 into the game, but sophomore Jason Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) tied it 53 seconds later with his first varsity goal. Freshman Buzz Tryggeseth (Buffalo, Minn.) assisted on the scoring play for SJU. The Blue Devils regained the lead at the 8:33 mark of the first period, but SJU answered with another game-tying goal, this time from freshman Phil Johnson (Duluth, Minn.). The goal, Johnson's second of the young season, was assisted by freshman Wally Cossette (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Jason Johnson. Cossette gave SJU its first lead of the game with his first collegiate goal on a pass from fellow freshman John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.) late in the opening period. The Johnnies' special teams came alive with a pair of goals to increase the lead to 5-2. Junior Joe Harren (Warroad, Minn.) tallied his first goal of the year, which proved to be the game-winner, at the 13:02 mark of the second period. Haeg and freshman Josh Gaughan (Buffalo, Minn.) collected the assists. Senior Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.) added a power-play goal of his own 7:17 into the final frame, with an assist going to Tryggeseth. Stout cut the deficit to 5-3 less than three minutes later with a five-on-three goal. Sophomore Josh Gross (Maple Grove, Minn.) lit the lamp for the first time of his career, on the power play, at the 15:34 mark. Cossette and junior Tobias Linbro (Nykvarn, Sweden) added the assists. Junior Jascha Pettit (Wadena, Minn.) ended the scoring with his first goal of the year 3:28 later. Senior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 35 saves in the win for SJU, which was outshot 38-22 in the game. The seven goals are the most for the Johnnies since they defeated Concordia-Moorhead 7-2 on Jan. 30, 2010, and the most on the road since an 8-5 victory at Lake Forest (Ill.) on Nov. 3, 2006.
NEW FACES PROVIDING A SPARK: Through the first three games of the season, the Johnnies' top five scorers are unfamiliar faces to the Saint John's varsity program. Cossette leads the squad with four points (1g/3a), while Haeg, Phil Johnson, Jason Johnson and Tryggeseth have three points apiece.
SPECIAL-TEAMS SUCCESS: Saint John's answered its 1-for-44 showing on the power play with a 13-for-61 performance (21.3 percent) in final 16 games last season. The momentum carried over to this season, as the Johnnies are 4-for-12 (33.3 percent) with the man advantage in three games this year.
THIRD-PERIOD BOOST: Ten of the Johnnies' 11 goals scored so far occurred in the first and third periods, including six in the final frame. SJU scored 18 third-period goals in 25 games last season.
A LOOK AT THE TOMMIES: St. Thomas fell at home to Concordia-Moorhead by a 2-1 score last Saturday in non-conference play. Senior defenseman Nick Gorski scored the lone Tommie goal late in the second period. Junior goaltender Tyrone Simcoe recorded 21 saves in net. St. Thomas tied St. Olaf 1-1 to start the season and then defeated Saint Mary's 3-2 at the MIAC Showcase. Junior forward Travis Baker and senior forward Rob Philip share the team lead in goals (2) and shots (10). Simcoe currently boasts a .952 save percentage and a 1.45 GAA. The Tommies are just one of 11 on the power play (9.1 percent), but boast a .933 percentage on the penalty kill (14-15).
SERIES HISTORY: St. Thomas leads the all-time series 38-23-6 dating back to the 1984-1985 season. The two schools have played to an even 6-6 record in the last 12 meetings in St. Cloud, and have split five of the last six weekend series.
