Saint John's returns to the ice with a pair of neutral-site, non-conference games this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6-7. The Johnnies take on No. 5 Wisconsin-River Falls at 7 p.m. Friday in Alexandria (Runestone Community Center), followed by a 7 p.m. game against Wisconsin-Eau Claire Saturday in Buffalo (Buffalo Civic Center). – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM) | Live Stats
Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (1:52)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: SJU (3-6-2, 1-3-0 MIAC) returns to action following a 27-day break since its last game, a 5-3 non-conference loss to St. Thomas Dec. 10. The Johnnies scored three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes of the third period but their 5-0 deficit was too much to overcome. UST jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, including a power-play goal 2:11 in. The Johnnies have been whistled for a penalty in the first 5:35 of the game, five of their 11 games this season (four in the first three minutes). The Tommies added two more in the second period before SJU made things interesting. Junior Joe Harren (Warroad, Minn.) put the Johnnies on the scoreboard with his second goal of the season just 50 seconds into the third frame. The goal was awarded to Harren, upon a meeting of the referees, more than a minute after the goal occurred. Senior Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.) cut the deficit to 5-2 with his team-leading sixth goal of the season less than three minutes later. Rooney, a St. Thomas Academy graduate, now has seven points (4g/3a) in eight career games against St. Thomas. Sophomore Josh Gross (Maple Grove, Minn.) tallied SJU's third goal of the period with 11:06 left. Senior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 10 saves in the loss, while junior J.D. Wells (Anoka, Minn.) made nine stops in a scoreless third period of relief.
MIAC LEADERS: The Johnnies currently lead the MIAC (all games) in scoring offense (3.36 gpg.), including third-period goals (16), and on the power play (23.4 percent, 11-for-47). Freshman forward John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.) leads the league with 11 assists and is tied for the conference-league in scoring among MIAC rookies with 12 points. Rooney is tied for third with his six goals and is tied with Gross for fourth with three power-play tallies.
A LOOK AT THE FALCONS: Wisconsin-River Falls (9-2-2, 4-1-1 NCHA) is eager to hit the ice since falling to Gustavus (2-1) Dec. 14, its second loss in the last three games. UWRF is led by a pair of senior forwards, Justin Brossman and Jason Yuel, both of which boast 17 points in 13 games. Sophomore Scott Lewan has a 2.05 GAA with a .925 save percentage and two shutouts in net. The Falcons feature fine special-teams play, including the ninth-ranked penalty kill in Division III (.896, 60-for-67). The Johnnies are 9-19-1 all-time against River Falls, including one-goal overtime losses in each of the past two meetings.
A LOOK AT THE BLUGOLDS: The Blugolds (8-6, 4-6 NCHA) enter this weekend's non-conference play following a series split with River Falls Dec. 9-10. Junior Jordan Singer leads the team in goals (6) and points (11), while senior Tyler Romasco has nine assists. Junior Brandon Stephenson is 6-5 with a 2.26 GAA and a .908 save percentage for UWEC. Saturday's matchup to watch will be Eau Claire's power play, ranked 67th out of 71 Division III schools (11.0 percent, 8-for-73), against the Johnnies' 68th-ranked penalty kill (69.4 percent, 34-for-49). SJU is 5-10 all-time against the Blugolds.
