Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's hockey lost a wild 6-5 decision to Hamline on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

The two teams combined for five goals in the final 9:30 of the game and the Pipers' Charlie Adams tallied four goals, including two in the third period.

Hamline (9-7-4, 5-3-3 MIAC) grabbed an early 2-0 lead with a pair of unusual goals nine seconds apart in the first period. Charlie Adams scored on a wraparound goal from behind the net 6:07 into the game and Chad Hennum made it 2-0 with a shot from behind the goal line that deflected off the backside of junior goaltender Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.) into the net.

Junior forward Andrew Commers (Edina, Minn.) ended the Pipers' penalty-kill streak at 33 with a power-play goal at the 19:22 mark of the first period to cut the deficit in half for SJU (9-6-5, 5-4-2 MIAC). Sophomore forward Kevin Becker (Roseville, Minn.) skated the length of the ice, ripped a shot on goal and the rebound went straight to the stick of Commers at the left of the goal for his third tally of the season. Junior defenseman Joe Freemark (Lakeville, Minn.) added the second assist.

Senior forward Phil Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) tied the game for SJU with his fifth goal of the season 56 seconds into the second period. Becker and senior forward John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.) were credited with the assists. Johnson now has 12 points (4g/8a) in nine career games against the Pipers, while the assist was Haeg's 97th career point (31g/66a).

Despite the shift in momentum, Hamline tallied two rebound goals to take a 4-2 lead into the third period. Adams and Hennum lit the lamp for the second time, each, at the 11:00 and 19:16 mark, respectively.

Freshman defenseman J.D. Cotroneo (Woodbury, Minn.) made it a one-goal game with his first collegiate tally 10:30 into the third period, with an assist going to freshman forward Sam Valerius (Maple Grove, Minn.).

Adams made it 5-3 at the 13:44 mark before SJU rallied for two goals to tie the game. Valerius netted his second goal of the season with 4:29 to play, with assists going to sophomore forward Dan Voce (Princeton, Minn.) and junior forward Neal Smith (Rogers, Minn.). 

Freshman forward Huba Sekesi (Germering, Germany) tied the game with 2:58 remaining, his sixth goal of the season. Commers and freshman forward Tyler Dunagan (Maple Grove, Minn.) assisted on the scoring play.

The swing in momentum was short-lived once again, however, as Adams scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 40 seconds later.

Junior goaltender Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.) made 30 saves in the loss.

SJU out-shot the Pipers 45-36 in the game, including a 16-9 advantage in the third period.

The Johnnies travel to face the Pipers for a 7 p.m. game on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Oscar Johnson Arena in St. Paul.