Box Score

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Saint John's hockey opened its 2025-26 season with a 4-4 tie at Marian (Wis.) on Friday, Oct. 31.

Marian (0-0-1 overall) had a two-goal lead on two occasions, but SJU (0-0-1 overall) battled back to tie the game each time in the draw.

SJU forced consistent pressure through the first few minutes of ice time, including a 2-on-1 opportunity that narrowly missed. A pair of rebounds escaped the Johnnie sticks in front of the net and set up a rush for the Sabres the other direction that led to the first penalty of the season for SJU 7:36 into play.

Eemil Rautio took advantage of the extra skater, scoring seven seconds into the power play off the faceoff from a shot from the point that made its way through traffic and past senior goaltender Jon Howe (Chanhassen, Minn.).

Marian doubled the lead five minutes later, as a hit in the Johnnie zone created a turnover at the top of the faceoff circle. More traffic out front allowed Robert Pizzey to collect his own rebound in the crease for a 2-0 advantage. 

Junior forward Chris Kernan (Maple Grove, Minn.) cut the lead in half six minutes into the second period. A penalty set the Johnnie power play up with possession in the Sabre zone. SJU worked the puck from the point down the wall to the stick of classmate Jack Wandmacher (St. Louis Park, Minn.), who delivered a pass from the half wall for Kernan to redirect between the goalie's legs. 

Junior forward Jacob McPartland (Victoria, Minn.) scored less than a minute later, as a takeaway in the neutral zone set up a 3-on-1 for the Johnnies down the ice. Freshman forward Jordan Larkee (St. Paul, Minn.) delivered the pass to McPartland in front of the goal to tie the game at 2-2.

The momentum was extinguished just a few minutes later, as Marian scored back-to-back goals of its own – just 13 seconds apart – to regain the lead. A failed breakout set up Nolan Flint behind the net, who found Brendan Bottem uncontested in the slot. A penalty immediately after the goal gave the Sabres the player advantage once more, rushing the zone on a long pass and scoring off a loose puck that did not get cleared in front.

Junior forward Cam Boche (Lakeville, Minn.) converted a 4-on-4 opportunity before the end of the period after junior Kasen Sauer (Maple Grove, Minn.) intercepted a Sabre breakout to set up the play. Junior forward Jackson Bisson (Edina, Minn.) gathered the puck for another odd-man rush and fed Boche across the slot to cut the difference to one heading into the second intermission.

Sophomore forward Jordan Newpower (Lino Lakes, Minn.) tied the game at four apiece early in the third period with his first collegiate goal that eventually forced overtime. Junior forward Jackson Borst (Edina, Minn.) took the puck away from a Sabre defender behind the net and connected with Newpower in the slot, who rifled a shot into the top-left corner.

SJU directed all the chances for the first few minutes of 3-on-3 extra hockey and was backstopped by Howe, who robbed the Sabres on a 2-player breakaway with 1:54 remaining. A break for the Johnnies the other way gave the visitors a power play for the final 1:34, but they did not convert on five shot attempts.

Marian owned the advantage in shots 49-43 (37-31 on goal), but the Johnnies edged the home team 10-3 (6-3 on goal) in overtime. The Sabres converted on 2 of 4 power-play opportunities to the Johnnies' 1-for-5 showing. 

The Johnnies start MIAC play with a home-and-home series against St. Scholastica next weekend. SJU travels to Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth for a 7 p.m. puck-drop on Friday, Nov. 7, followed by Senior Night at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.