DULUTH, Minn. – After just missing the NCAA Division III Tournament last season, the St. Scholastica men's hockey team will begin its journey for its second NCAA appearance in the last three years when it opens the season Friday night at Mars Lakeview Arena against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Game Times:
Friday – 7:05 p.m.
Saturday – 7:05 p.m.

GameDay Media:
Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats

Last Action:
In what proved to be the final game of the 2009-10 season, the Saints were eliminated by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls by a score of 6-3 in the NCHA Peters Cup Semifinals.

St. Scholastica Saints (2009-10 Record: 17-5-6, 11-3-4 NCHA)
For the second consecutive year, the Saints have lost a solid corps of seniors, including All-American Jordan Chong (North Vancouver, British Columbia/Dryden (SIJHL)) and first team All-NCHA goaltender Zach Kleiman (Ottawa, Ontario/Quinnipiac Univ.) and defenseman Dustin DeGagne (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Salmon Arm (BCHL)) … However, Head Coach #Mark Wick# has started to turn the program around to a point where the Saints are reloading, rather than rebuilding … Back in the fold this season is All-NCHA honorable mention junior forward #Jeremy Dawes# and junior defenseman #Austin Brown# … Dawes was at the top of the conference last season with 11 goals in NCHA play … Junior goaltender #Brennan Poderzay#, who was solid between the pipes last season before getting injured, also returns … Another familiar name that did not play last season is back for one more go around as senior defenseman #Neil Sauter# returns to the Saints … Sauter, who is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, missed last season to focus on academics … This year's sophomore class brings back a lot of experience from its freshman campaign … Sophomore forward #Tyler Miller# received honorable mention west region rookie team accolades by USCHO after finishing eighth in the conference in assists last season … Coach Wick has brought in another solid recruiting class, which look to make an instant impact this season … The problem with the Saints last season was actually at Mars Lakeview Arena … CSS was just 6-4-6 at home last season, while going 11-1-0 away from Duluth … The one loss tied a program record for the fewest road losses in a season … Another change for the Saints actually took place on the bench as gone is Lenny Hofmann, who took a similar position for USHL's Tri-City … In his place, will be former Minnesota-Duluth and Michigan Tech coach #Mike Sertich# … Sertich led the Bulldogs to four NCAA Tournament appearances.

UW-Stevens Point Pointers (2009-10 Record: 12-15-1, 6-12-0 NCHA)
The Pointers enter this weekend's series with a game under their belt already, falling to Lawrence University (Wis.) last Saturday 5-4 … UWSP made it to the NCHA Peters Cup semifinals a year ago, before falling to eventual champion and national runner-up St. Norbert College … Back for the Pointers this season first team All-NCHA defenseman Garett Suter … Suter had six goals and 15 assists last season … Forward Jon Madden is also back after a successful freshman season where he was named honorable mention All-NCHA … Division I transfer Randy Wolcott got the start in net in the season opener, allowing five goals in the loss … Nick Graves, who started 19 games last season, is also expected to see action.

Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. UW-Stevens Point: 12-42-3)
The Saints defeated the Pointers 6-2 on February 6th at Mars Lakeview Arena. Six different Saints scored in the victory.

NCHA Preseason Poll
1.St. Norbert (6) 6
2.UW-River Falls 13
3.UW-Stevens Point (1) 17
4.St. Scholastica 18
5.UW-Eau Claire 28
6.UW-Superior 29
7.UW-Stout 38