MIAC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's junior goaltender J.D. Wells (Anoka, Minn.) was named the MIAC Men's Hockey Player of the Week on Monday, Jan. 23.

Wells was stellar in net as SJU claimed a sweep of second-place Concordia-Moorhead over the weekend. The Johnnies are now a win Thursday (vs. Hamline) away from climbing out of eighth and jumping into a tie for second place in the MIAC standings. Wells posted a 1.00 GAA and a .956 save percentage (43 saves) to improve to 3-0 on the season (four starts). He allowed a late power-play goal (17:05 of the 3rd) and made 20 saves in the 2-1 win Saturday, before allowing a late goal (18:52 of the 3rd) and stopping 23 shots in Sunday's 4-1 victory.

SJU entered the weekend series near the bottom of the league on the penalty kill (71.4 percent), but held the Cobbers to just 1-for-10 on the power play. The Johnnies have now either defeated or tied Concordia in 24 of the last 28 meetings, including an 11-0-1 record in the last 12 games at the National Hockey Center. Wells and the Johnnies have now won three consecutive conference games for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

Wells made his first start of the season Nov. 26 against Concordia (Wis.), but suffered a concussion late in the second period. He continued to serve as the backup goalie until Jan. 14; a 4-3 win at nationally-ranked Gustavus Adolphus. Wells was 0-2 with a .806 save percentage and a 4.32 GAA in two MIAC starts last year, and is now 3-0 with a 1.67 GAA and a .929 save percentage in three conference games this season.

As mentioned above, the Johnnies (8 pts.; 6-9-2, 4-4-0 MIAC) face Hamline (9 pts.; 7-10-2, 4-5-1 MIAC) in a crucial home-and-home series this week, beginning with a 7 p.m. puck-drop this Thursday, Jan. 26, at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.