Saint John's plays host to Concordia-Moorhead for a pair of games at 2 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, Jan 21-22, at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. Sunday's contest is Youth Hockey Day. All area youth hockey players wearing his or her jersey gains free admittance. An open skate with the Johnnies is also scheduled following Sunday's game. – Listen Live (Sunday only, WBHR-660 AM)
Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (2:13)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (4-9-2, 2-9-4 MIAC) returned to the win column with a 4-3 victory of Gustavus last Saturday, Jan. 14, in St. Peter. Freshman John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.) tallied two goals, while sophomore Josh Gross posted a career-high three assists. Freshman Josh Gaughan (Buffalo, Minn.) gave the Johnnies an early lead 1:52 into the first period. Junior Jascha Pettit (Wadena, Minn.) added a power-play goal, his team-leading seventh goal of the season, at the 11:02 mark of the second period. Haeg scored the game-winner, unassisted, 9:07 into the third period. Junior J.D. Wells (Anoka, Minn.) made 22 saves to earn his first win in two starts this season.
POWER PLAY BACK ON TRACK: SJU currently boasts the top power play in the MIAC (all games) at 22.0 percent (13-for-59). The Johnnies entered last weekend's series with the Gusties on a 1-for-22 (4.5 percent) streak, but went 2-for-7 in the split.
HAEG LIGHTS THE LAMP…FINALLY: Haeg's frustrating 34-shot, eight-game streak without a goal came to an end as the freshman tallied a pair in the Johnnies' 4-3 win at nationally-ranked Gustavus last Saturday night. The team's leader in assists (13), points (16) and shots (47), Haeg was robbed by GAC's John McLean the night before, extending a string of similar instances since his first career goal at Augsburg Nov. 18. He enters this weekend's games second in the MIAC (all games) in both assists and freshman scoring, and is tied for sixth in points among all skaters. Haeg's 1.07 points per game ranks him in a tie for 11th among all NCAA Division III first-year players.
A LOOK AT THE COBBERS: Concordia (8-6-3, 4-2-2 MIAC) earned a split with Augsburg last weekend, dropping a 5-1 decision Friday night before earning a 4-1 win Saturday. The victory snapped a three-game skid in which Concordia was out-scored 13-2. Seniors Erick Galt and Nick Thielen, and junior Ben Payne lead the team with 10 points apiece. Junior Aaron Wheeler has four of the squad's 12 power-play goals. Sophomore Chris Neamonitis (5-2-2 record) is second in the conference (all games) in both GAA (2.07) and save percentage (.936). Neamonitis and Kelly Andrew (3-4-1 record) have combined for a .926 save percentage and a 2.32 GAA this season. The Cobbers lead the league in penalty minutes per game (15.8) and are last with 1.88 goals per game.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: SJU fell to Concordia 2-1 in the MIAC Showcase this past October 30. The Johnnies outshot the Cobbers 35-27 on goal. The Johnnies tallied 16 shots in the first period but were unable to score. Wheeler gave Concordia a 1-0 lead 5:46 into the second period, while Braden Rahman increased the Cobbers' lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at the 13:00 mark. Junior Tobias Linbro (Nykvarn, Sweden) put the Johnnies on the scoreboard 1:06 into the third period. Senior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 25 saves in the loss.
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies have either defeated or tied the Cobbers in 22 of the last 26 meetings, including a 16-3-2 record in the last 21 games (since the 2002-03 season). SJU head coach Doug Schueller is 3-2-2 against Concordia. Four of the last six meetings have gone to overtime (1-1-2 record).
