Saint John's hockey travels to face Saint Mary's for a pair of MIAC games this Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (2 p.m.), Nov. 22-23, at SMU Ice Arena in Winona. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM) | Live Stats/Live Video
Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (2:49)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (3-3, 1-1 MIAC) opened conference play with a series split against St. Olaf last weekend. The Johnnies suffered a 2-0 loss Nov. 15 in Northfield, which is only the second shutout loss in 83 MIAC games under the direction of head coach Doug Schueller. SJU's offense, aided by three power-play goals, came alive in a 7-4 victory the following night in St. Cloud.
POWER-PLAY DROUGHT ENDS: The Johnnie hockey team entered its Nov. 16 home opener against St. Olaf riding a 0-for-20 streak on the power play, but converted all three of its power-play chances, on a total of four shots on goal, in the 7-4 win over the Oles.
NO ROOM IN THE SIN BIN: In addition to 11 goals, the two teams combined for 25 penalties in the game, including 20 in the second period alone. Among the 25 penalties were 10 sets of coincidentals, eight of which occurred during a scrum between the two teams 2:37 into the second period.
BIG GAME FOR BECKER: Freshman Kevin Becker (Roseville, Minn.) provided a much-need offensive spark with three points (2g/1a) in the Johnnies' 7-4 win Saturday night. He scored the first of his two goals on the night 3:11 into the game, and tallied his second after St. Olaf scored two quick goals to cut the Johnnies' lead to 3-2 in the second period. With a one-goal lead (5-4), Becker was the lone assist on sophomore Andrew Commers' power-play goal that gave SJU a two-goal cushion with 3:31 remaining in the contest. Becker currently leads, or is tied for the team-lead, in goals (3), assists (2) and points (5).
A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's (2-4, 0-2 MIAC) bounced back from its pair of losses to St. Thomas Nov. 8-9 (3-1, 3-0) with a non-conference split at home last weekend. The Cardinals topped Wisconsin-Superior 3-1 Nov. 15 before falling to No. 5 Wisconsin-Stevens Point 6-4 Nov. 16. Junior defenseman Bob Marx leads the team in goals (3) and points (5), including four points (2g/2a) on the power play. Junior netminder Christian Gaffy, a transfer from Division I Minnesota-Duluth, is 2-3 with a 2.85 GAA and a .917 save percentage. He made 38 of his career-high 46 saves against the Pointers in the final two periods.
LAST YEAR: The Johnnies last year's games with SMU for the fourth consecutive time at home. SJU dominated play with a 6-0 shutout in the first game, including two shorthanded goals from senior Justin Hochsprung (Alexandria, Minn.), but fell 2-1 via a shorthanded goal with 1:30 left in overtime in the finale.
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 42-23-3 against Saint Mary's since the 1984-85 season, including wins in 19 of the last 24 meetings overall. SJU has won nine of the last 10 meetings in Winona.
