Skip To Main Content

Saint John's University Athletics

Saint John's University Athletics, go to homepage

Schedule

Events

Schedule
All Events
Trent Johnson
Senior captain Trent Johnson

SJU Begins Crucial MIAC Series vs. Bethel Thursday Night in St. Cloud

2/12/2014 4:51:00 PM

The Johnnies play host to Bethel for a 7 p.m. game on Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, and conclude the weekend series at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM, Both Games) | Live Stats (Thursday) | Live Video (Thursday) | Live Stats/Live Video

Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (1:48)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (13-8, 7-5 MIAC) bounced back with a pair of 3-2 wins for a five-point sweep against Hamline Feb. 7-8. The Johnnies picked up only two points in the conference standings, instead of three, in Saturday's overtime victory since the game was not decided in regulation. A pair of third-period goals from freshman forward Kevin Becker (Roseville, Minn.), 54 seconds apart, gave SJU the win Friday night in St. Paul and a goal from another freshman, Nate Mondry (Grand Rapids, Minn.), the first of his collegiate career, 1:49 into overtime gave the home team a sweep Saturday afternoon.

FRESHMAN GAME-WINNERS: The last time SJU swept a weekend series against an opponent, in which a freshman scored the game-winning goal in each of the two victories, occurred Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2002. Defenseman Darryl Smoleroff '06 tallied both game-winners in the 4-2 and 8-3 sweep of Lawrence (Wis.). A four-time All-MIAC first-team selection and a three-time All-American, Smoleroff ended his career as the program's all-time leader in plus/minus rating (+84) and second in game-winning goals (13). He missed SJU's 100-point club by one with 99 (35g/64a) in 107 career games.

BALANCED ATTACK: Fourteen different Johnnies recorded a point in the sweep of Hamline last weekend. Twenty-two of SJU's 25 skaters have a point or more.

SCHUELLER NEARS NO. 2: SJU head hockey coach Doug Schueller (65-72-13 record) needs one victory to tie Denny Hartman (1981-88, 66-118-2 record) for second in the program's history in wins with 66.

A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel (3-16-2, 2-9-1 MIAC) begins this week's series riding a five-game losing streak, but the losses are a bit misleading. The Royals suffered a pair of one-goal losses to St. Olaf (Jan. 24-25), lost to now-No. 4 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (5-3 on Feb. 1) and were recently swept by No. 7 St. Thomas last weekend (2-1 OT and 5-2). BU is led offensively by four sophomore forwards: Travis Payne (9g/9a), Brock Raffaele (8g/10a), Mitch Hughes (6g/5a) and Tony Larson (2g/7a). Sophomore Steven Bolton is 3-12-2 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.93 GAA. The Royals have allowed 18 power-play goals this season (78.3 percent, 65-for-83) and are eighth out of nine MIAC teams with 22 goals in 12 conference games. BU has eight transfers on the team, including three that started their collegiate careers at a different MIAC institution.

LAST YEAR: SJU earned a weekend sweep of Bethel, 6-2 and 4-1, last season. Saint John's broke a 2-2 tie with four third-period goals to earn a 6-2 win at Bethel last Feb. 15 in Blaine and ended the regular-season, by clinching a share of the MIAC title, with a 4-1 home win the next day.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 38-22-8 against Bethel since the 1984-85 season, but 12-13-5 in the last 30 meetings: 8-4-4 in St. Cloud, 4-8-1 on the Royals' home ice and 0-1-0 at a neutral site.


Print Friendly Version