Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. – Saint John's hockey completed a sweep of Bethel with a wild 5-4 win on Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine.

Freshman forward Brady Heppner (Crookston, Minn.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal, his second of the season and sixth overall, shorthanded with 3:27 remaining in the game.

Sophomore defenseman Sean Lang (Apple Valley, Minn.) gave SJU (10-6-3, 5-3-2 MIAC) a 4-3 lead on a blistering wristshot with 11:50 remaining in the game. He recorded two goals and an assist on the night. George Splichal tied the game at 4-4 for BU, however, with a breakaway goal seconds after being slashed with 4:34 remaining. 

Jay Paul took advantage of an SJU turnover to give Bethel a 1-0 lead 45 seconds into the game, just the second time the Royals (1-14-2, 0-6-2 MIAC) had scored the game's first goal this season.

Freshman defenseman Adam Orn (Ramsey, Minn.) tied the game at 1-1 with his first collegiate goal 2:33 into the second period. The puck squirted out of a scrum in front to Orn, who unleashed a blast to the back of the net.

The two teams proceeded to combine for four goals during a 4:15 span in the second period. Dallas Marvin gave the lead back to BU, 17 seconds after a Royal power play expired, with a breakaway goal at the 8:47 mark of the second period.

Freshman defenseman Kyle Wagner (St. Francis, Minn.), who was playing forward for the third time this season and second consecutive game, re-tied the game for SJU 56 seconds later on a deflection in front of the net from Lang's initial shot from the point. The Johnnies were without five forwards (Kevin Becker, Joe Chitwood, Matt Colford, Matt Perry and Robb Stautz) Saturday night due to injury.

Lang gave SJU a 3-2 lead, its first of the game, with a power-play goal at the 11:34 mark of the second. BU goaltender Jesse Garcia kicked a save on a shot from junior forward Huba Sekesi (Germering, Germany) to his right, but directly to Lang who had a wide-open net to score. Peter Barral, however, tied the game at 3-3 on a 2-on-1 only 1:28 later.

Senior goaltender Tyler Nelson (Champlin, Minn.) made 25 saves in the win to improve to 7-4-1 (4-2-0 MIAC) on the season.

The Johnnies take on St. Thomas (8-5-4, 6-1-1 MIAC) for a home-and-home series next weekend, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. contest on Friday, Jan. 27, at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights. SJU returns home to host the Tommies at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, hours after SJU and UST square off on the basketball court (3 p.m.) in Collegeville, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.