Box Score DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – In the final NCHA Bridge Battle on Saturday night at Mars Lakeview Arena, the St. Scholastica men's hockey team made sure that the University of Wisconsin-Superior's season would not continue as the Saints took the NCHA Peters Cup quarterfinal series with the 2-1 game two win.
This marks the first time the Saints have defeated the Yellowjackets in the Peters Cup quarterfinals in which it did not require the mini-game.
Just like last night,
Brandon Nowakowski (Calgary, Alberta/Central Memorial HS (Calgary Royals-AJHL)) would get the Saints on the board first with an even-strength goal with 5:46 left in the period. For Nowakowski, that marks the fifth straight game with a goal.
Dylan Nowakowski (Calgary, Alberta/Centennial HS (Brooks-AJHL) ) and
Paul Marcoux (Brandon, Manitoba /Vincent Massey Collegiate (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ) had the assists. Both teams had 10 shots apiece in the first period.
It remained 1-0 until
Tyler Miller (Fort Frances, Ontario/Rainy River HS (Thunder Bay-SIJHL) ) extended the CSS lead to 2-0 with his 10th goal of the season with 3:39 left in the second frame. Miller scored for the third straight game.
Brett Corcoran (Parksville, British Columbia/Ballenas Secondary (Trail Smoke-BCHL) ) and
Brenden Kotyk (Regina, Saskatchewan/Michael A. Riffel HS (Dauphin-MJHL) ) had the assists. The Saints had an 11-10 shots advantage in the second period as St. Scholastica goaltender
Colin Rundell (Tees, Alberta/Lacombe Composite (Alaska-Fairbanks) ) made some spectacular saves to keep the 'jackets scoreless.
The Yellowjackets came out strong in the third period and finally broke through on the power-play as Michael Rey scored from the point to make it 2-1 with 14 minutes remaining. UWS continued to be strong immediately after that goal, but the Saints would neutralize the 'jackets the final 10 minutes of the game as UWS did not have many great scoring chances. The Yellowjackets had an extra-attacker the final 1:04, but would not get a single shot on goal as the Saints took the Peters Cup quarterfinal series 2-1.
Colin Rundell (Tees, Alberta/Lacombe Composite (Alaska-Fairbanks) ) made 30 saves, 10 in each period to earn the win. Drew Strandberg had 23 saves in the loss for the Yellowjackets. The Saints are 9-2-1 in their last 12 games. Superior's season and time in the NCHA ends with a record of 11-14-2.
The Saints (13-13-1) are .500 for the first time since the second game of the season. CSS will be at second-seeded St. Norbert College for the Peters Cup semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday night. All of the action can be heard live on Saints Sports Net.
