Box Score Box Score

DE PERE, Wis. – The last team to defeat the second-ranked St. Scholastica hockey team could not do it for a second time as the Saints blanked the fifth-ranked St. Norbert College Green Knights by a score of 3-0 at the Cornerstone Community Center.

In doing so, CSS goaltender #Steve Bounds# (Sr.-Airdrie, Alta.) made 29 saves to set a school record with his fourth shutout of the season and sixth of his career. The former records were held by Tyler Johnson (East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks HS), who graduated last year.

The Saints did something they couldn't do in the first meeting against the Green Knights and that is score goal as #Matt Saler# (Sr.-Minnedosa, Man.) netted a short-handed goal, his first goal of the season, seven minutes into the game to make the score 1-0. #Joey Hughes# (Sr.-Springvale South, Australia) and #Dustin DeGagne# (Jr.-Winnipeg, Man.) had the assists. The Green Knights controlled the opening period, out-shooting CSS 10-4, but the Saints held a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.

#Jeff Gagnon# (Jr.-Quesnel, B.C.) extended the Saints lead to 2-0 at the 11:27-mark of the second period with an even-handed goal. Matt Saler (Minnedosa, Manitoba/Powell River (BCHL)) and #Aaron Spotts# (Jr.-Spokane, Wash.) had the assists. St. Norbert out-shot the Saints again in the second period 9-8 and had a 10-8 advantage in the third period, but Bounds was tough between the pipes.

The Saints sealed the deal seven minutes into the third period when #AJ Tucker# (Sr.-Fort Frances, Ont.) registered his second goal in as many nights and his fifth point of the weekend with a power-play goal. #Jeremy Dawes# (Fr.-Winnipeg, Man.) and Dustin DeGagne (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Salmon Arm (BCHL)) had the assists. The Saints went on to win 3-0; the exact same score St. Norbert defeated the Saints in the first game at Mars Lakeview Arena.

The Saints extend their unbeaten streak to 14 games, which is currently the second-longest in Division III behind Adrian's 18-game unbeaten streak. St. Scholastica is also 6-1-2 against ranked teams this year. The Saints' overall record is now 17-3-2 and 8-2-1 in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). The Green Knights fall to 15-6-1 overall and 6-4-1 in the NCHA. With Wisconsin-Stout defeating Wisconsin-Stevens Point tonight, the Saints are now guaranteed to host a first round NCHA Peter's Cup Playoff series. The Saints sit in second place in the NCHA, one point behind first place Wisconsin-Superior with three games to play.

The Saints return home for their final two regular season home games of the season next weekend. CSS will first face 13th-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Friday night at Mars Lakeview Arena. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.