DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The ninth-ranked St. Scholastica men's hockey team will prepare for non-conference games at Saint John's University on Friday and sixth-ranked University of St. Thomas at Mars Lakeview Arena on Saturday in its final games of the 2013 calendar year.
Game Schedule:
Friday at Saint John's – 7 p.m.
Saturday vs. St. Thomas – 7 p.m.
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#9 St. Scholastica Saints
Record: 8-1-2 (6-0-2 NCHA)
Head Coach: Mark Wick |
- The Saints took a home sweep of Lake Forest College (Ill.) last weekend, Bruggeman stopped 58 of the 60 shots he faced in 4-1 and 5-1 victories. He improved to 5-0-0 on the year and allowed the Saints to remain unbeaten in league play.
- The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) announced on Tuesday that
Tyler Bruggeman (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS (Austin-NAHL) ) was the Men's Hockey Defensive Player of the Week. Bruggeman is Scholastica's second goaltender to be named Player of the Week this season.
- Last weekend defenseman
Matt Malenstyn (Surrey, British Columbia/Tamanawis Secondary (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ) scored his first two goals of the season and
Alex Valenti (Blaine, Wash./Bellingham HS (Merritt-BCHL) ) recorded two goals as well.
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Brandon Nowakowski (Calgary, Alberta/Central Memorial HS (Calgary Royals-AJHL)) still remains the leader for the Saints in points (15), goals (7), assists (8), and power-play goals (4).
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Dylan Nowakowski (Calgary, Alberta/Centennial HS (Brooks-AJHL) ) follows his brother in points (11) and goals (5).
- The CSS special teams have a 61 percent success rate; good for first in NCHA and third in the country.
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Saint John's University Johnnies
Record: 5-5-0 (3-3-0 MIAC)
Head Coach: Doug Schueller |
- Saint John's was a NCAA Tournament team last season, falling to eventual national champion UW-Eau Claire in the opening round.
- Johnnies split their last series against Augsburg; winning the second game of series 5-0.
- Alex Ach scored two goals against Augsburg; his first two of the season.
- Jason Johnson scored his first goal of the season against the Auggies.
- Johnnies are set to play UW-River Falls on Thursday night.
- Josh Gross leads the Johnnies in points (8), goals (5) and power-play goals (4).
- Goaltender Saxton Soley sits fourth in the MIAC with a 2.15 goals-against-average and holds a 4-4 record.
Series History: (CSS is 13-13-1 vs. Saint John's)
- The Saints' last encounter with Saint John's was in 2010. The Saints won 4-3. |
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#6 University of St. Thomas Tommies
Record: 7-1-2 (4-0-2 MIAC)
Head Coach: Jeff Boeser |
- In their last two series, the Tommies have tied Friday night's contest, but have won on Saturday. St. Thomas does not play a game before playing the Saints on Saturday.
- St. Thomas has been successful with defense in the early going as it is in the middle of the pack in the MIAC in scoring offense, but lead the league in scoring defense (1.5 goals/game allowed) and penalty-kill percentage (.946). The Tommies rank in the top five in Division III in both of those categories.
- Nick Nielsen leads MIAC with nine assists and sits fourth with points (11).
- Alex Altenbernd leads the Tommies with six goals.
- Jeremy Hepler scored his first of the season last weekend.
- Drew Fielding is first in the MIAC for goals-against-average (1.47), save percentage (.947), and is second in win percentage (.778).
- Fielding's three shutouts are tied for the most in the nation this season.
Series History: (CSS is 10-20-2 vs. St. Thomas)
- The Saints have not had a win against St. Thomas since 1991.
- The two teams have not played each other since 2008; which ended in an overtime tie.
- The Tommies have not visited Duluth since 2004. |
