Box Score Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – Tyler Miller (Fort Frances, Ontario/Rainy River HS (Thunder Bay-SIJHL) ) scored one minute and 19 seconds into overtime to defeat the University of Wisconsin-Stout 3-2 to advance the St. Scholastica men's hockey team to the NCHA Peters Cup Semifinals.

The Blue Devils who ended last night with all of the momentum, kept it going tonight as Garrett Grimstad took advantage of a CSS turnover at the blue line to put Stout up 1-0 midway through the opening period. The Saints were out-shot in the period 11-8.

The Blue Devils extended their lead to 2-0 halfway through the second period when as a Stout penalty was expiring, the puck (behind the Stout net) was sent around the boards and right onto Charles Lachance's stick, who was just came out of the box and proceeded to put the puck in the net on the breakaway.

The Saints cut the margin to one when Brandon Nowakowski (Calgary, Alberta/Central Memorial HS (Calgary Royals-AJHL)) scored on the power-play with 2:16 left in the second period. Garet Chumley (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS (Jersey-EJHL) ) and Matt Malenstyn (Surrey, British Columbia/Tamanawis Secondary (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ) had the assists. CSS dominated the second period, out-shooting the Blue Devils 25-5.

CSS kept pressure on in the third period, but UW-Stout goaltender Nick Hopper was standing on his head as he finished with 50 saves. Fortunately for the Saints they were able to tie it up with 3:38 left in regulation as the puck was under Hopper and he couldn't find it and Alex Valenti (Blaine, Wash./Bellingham HS (Merritt-BCHL) ) knocked it home. Chris Sinclair (Fort Frances, Ontario/Beaver Brae Secondary (Fort Frances-SIJHL) ) and Jeremy Dawes (Winnipeg, Manitoba/College Jeanne Suave (Portage-MJHL) ) had the assists.

So the game headed to overtime. Since last night's game ended in a tie, if either team scored they would advance and the loser's season would come to an end. The Saints got an opportunity early as Dawes broke free and sent a pass to Miller, who put the Saints into the semifinals, just one minute and 19 second into the extra session.

Colin Rundell (Tees, Alberta/Lacombe Composite (Alaska-Fairbanks) ) stopped 25 shots to earn the win in net for the Saints. CSS out-shot Stout 53-27 in the contest.

The Saints move on to face the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, who defeated UW-Superior in sudden death overtime of the mini-game to advance. The Saints and Pointers semifinal matchup will take place at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night at Mars Lakeview Arena. All of the action can be seen live at csssaints.com.