Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Saint John's hockey ended its 2016-17 season with a 4-2 win over No. 11 Augsburg on Saturday, Feb. 18, in Minneapolis.

The Johnnies (12-10-3, 7-7-2 MIAC) out-shot the Auggies 28-20 after the first period and scored two unanswered goals in the third to earn the win.

Senior forward Kevin Becker (Roseville, Minn.) broke a 2-2 tie with what proved to be the game-winning goal on a backdoor rebound, his 20th career goal and 50th career point, with 7:56 remaining.

Sophomore forward Joe Chitwood (Carmel, Ind.) padded the Johnnies' lead with another rebound goal, his third of the season, to make it 4-2 with 3:45 left.

Eric Brenk tied the game at 2-2 for Augsburg (15-4-6, 9-2-5 MIAC) with one second remaining on a power play 7:52 into the third period. Brenk, however, was issued an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebration following the goal. SJU directed four shots on goal during the ensuing power play but could not score.

Despite an 18-7 deficit in shots, SJU took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to a goal from junior co-captain Huba Sekesi (Germering, Germany), his sixth of the season, 7:12 into the game.
    
The Johnnies took advantage of a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty when junior forward Sam Valerius (Maple Grove, Minn.) made it 2-0 seconds after senior goaltender Tyler Nelson (Champlin, Minn.) denied a shorthanded breakaway with 3:19 left in the second period. Nelson finished with 36 saves to earn his 10th career win (10-6-1 record) in his final collegiate game.

The Auggies were served another penalty with 2:37 left in the second stanza, creating a 5-on-3 for SJU, but Sekesi was called for a penalty with 41 seconds left. AUG scored off the ensuing faceoff, 4-on-4, three seconds later.