Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (3:39)
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – There's no wonder why the Saint John's University hockey team qualified for the 2011-2012 MIAC Playoffs last season.
They improved in nearly every offensive category in making the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
The Johnnies scored 21 more goals in 2011-12 than they did in 2010-11 (78-57).
Saint John's led the MIAC in power-play efficiency, converting on 27 percent (17-for-63) of its chances in 16 conference games, compared to 14.7 percent (10-for-68) in 2010-11. In all games, the Johnnies converted on 22.2 percent of their chances; the year before, just 13.3 percent.
Their improved offensive attack helped the Johnnies, who were picked to finish eighth in the pre-season coaches' poll, to a 9-7 record in the MIAC, good for a third-place finish and the playoff berth (11-13-2 overall).
Offense should continue to be a plus for the Johnnies in 2012-13. Saint John's is expected to return 70 of its 78 goals (89.7 percent) and nearly 92 percent (197 of 215) of its points from a year ago; of which 42 of the 70 goals were tallied by underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores).
Here's a look at the Johnnies, by position:
FORWARDS
The 2012-13 Johnnies return their top eight scorers from last season, including leading-point scorer John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.). Haeg tallied 27 points (7g/20a) in 24 games as a freshman, including 22 points in conference play to finish second in the MIAC. He became the first freshman to lead SJU in scoring since Ryan Langenbrunner in 2002-03 (15g/24a). Haeg ended the regular season as the conference's leader in points per game (1.57) and points among freshmen. He earned All-MIAC first-team honors and was named to the six-man All-MIAC rookie team.
Senior Jascha Pettit (Wadena, Minn.) returns after leading the team, and tying for the MIAC lead, with 14 goals last winter. He led the MIAC with an average of 0.67 goals per game (10 goals in 15 MIAC games) in conference play. Pettit ended the season second on the team in plus/minus (+8) and third in points (20).
Junior Josh Gross (Maple Grove, Minn.) also had a breakout season for the Johnnies in 2011-12. After a freshman season that saw him appear in just 12 games and record zero points, Gross emerged with 22 points (7g/15a) in 25 games as a sophomore. He was named All-MIAC honorable mention after finishing sixth in the MIAC (conference games only) in points (18) and tied for fifth in power-play goals (4).
Seniors Michael Palmiscno (East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Joe Harren (Warroad, Minn.) are also expected to play an important role for the Johnnies this season. Palmiscno claimed fifth on the team with 16 points (5g/11a) while serving as the team's captain last winter. He appeared in all 26 games and posted a team-leading nine points (3g/6a) on the power play. Harren, meanwhile, posted seven points last season, all of which were goals. He led the Johnnies with 19 points (9g/10a) as a sophomore in 2010-11.
Senior Tobias Linbro (Nykvarn, Sweden), an assistant captain last season, returns after posting a steady nine points (2g/7a) and only two penalties in 2011-12. Sophomores Josh Gaughan (Buffalo, Minn.) and Phil Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) also return after recording impressive freshman seasons. Johnson finished seventh on the team with 14 points and was one of six Johnnies to record double digits in assists (10). Gaughan, meanwhile, ended second on the team with eight goals for a total of 12 points.
DEFENSEMEN
The Johnnies are just as deep on the blue line as they are on the attack. Six defensemen are expected to return with a combined 129 games played last season. The Johnnies' other All-MIAC first-team honoree, junior Trent Johnson (Duluth, Minn.), was sixth on the team and second among defensemen in scoring with 15 points (2g/13a). Like Palmiscno, Johnson played every game for SJU last season. He also finished seventh among all MIAC defensemen with nine points in conference play and recorded a plus/minus rating of +8, an impressive figure considering the fact that he was matched up against the opposition's top lines all season.
One of the biggest surprises for the Johnnies last season was the impressive play of sophomore defensemen Wally Cossette (Maple Grove, Minn.), who led all Johnnie defensemen and ranked fifth among MIAC freshmen with 17 points. He finished second on the team with eight points (2g/6a) on the power play. Cossette was named All-MIAC honorable mention and earned a spot on the All-MIAC rookie team alongside Haeg.
Other defensemen returning for the Johnnies include junior Axel Ramsgard (Gothenburg, Sweden) and sophomores Dave Mylrea (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Nick Senta (Savage, Minn.) and Nick Vatnsdal (Independence, Minn.). The foursome combined for 18 points (2g/16a) last winter.
GOALTENDING
Senior J.D. Wells (Anoka, Minn.) returns in goal after posting a string of impressive performances to close out the 2011-12 season. Wells went 7-2 during a nine-game streak in conference play to help propel Saint John's into the MIAC Playoffs, posting a 2.24 GAA and a .903 save percentage.
One of the biggest areas of concern for the Johnnies in the offseason was adding depth at the goalkeeper position, and they certainly did that. A pair of newcomers from Wisconsin is expected to push Wells for the starting job in goal. Junior Mitch Thompson (Onalaska, Wis.), a transfer from Division I Wisconsin, served as the Badgers' third-string goaltender while earning Academic All-Big 10 honors. He played for the Bozeman Icedogs of the Northern Pacific Hockey League in 2008-09.
Freshman Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.), meanwhile, became the first goaltender to earn Wisconsin's prestigious “Mr. Hockey” award as the state's most outstanding high school hockey player while at Eau Claire Memorial in 2011. Soley played for Odessa (NAHL) and Green Bay (USHL) last season.
SCHEDULE
SJU's home opener is scheduled for Nov. 2 against Wisconsin-Stout at the Municipal Athletic Complex (MAC) in St. Cloud. The Johnnies begin MIAC play Nov. 8-9 against St. Thomas. The Nov. 8 contest is the first of 10 home games at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, including a non-conference game against the Tommies Dec. 13.
