Box Score

RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Saint John's hockey scored three unanswered goals to win its 2022-23 season opener with a 3-1 score over Wisconsin-River Falls on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Hunt Arena.

Valentino Passarelli gave UWRF (1-1 overall) a 1-0 lead 4:07 into the game, but freshman defenseman Mason Campbell (Rosemount, Minn.) answered with a game-tying goal – his first collegiate point – 29 seconds later.

Senior forward Joe Papa (St. Charles, Ill.) tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal with 6:41 left in the opening period and junior forward Max Borst (Edina, Minn.) added an insurance goal with the empty net at the 19:28 mark of the third frame.

Sophomore goaltender Bailey Huber (Mahtomedi, Minn.) made his first collegiate start and stopped 27 shots in the victory.

The two teams combined to go 0-for-6 on the power play (SJU: 0-4, UWRF: 0-2). SJU posted a 15-6 advantage in shots in the first period, though the Falcons registered a 22-12 margin the rest of the way. 

Both programs received votes in the USCHO.com Preseason Top 15 poll. The Falcons shut out Hamline 4-0 last night at home.

The Johnnies return to Wisconsin for a pair of games next weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. puck-drop on Friday, Nov. 4, at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. SJU ends the trip at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Northland (Wis.).