Notables
-Fourth win in a row for Johnnies
-First overtime game of the season for CSS
-Millin has recorded at least one point in the last five games
-CSS out-shot SJU 31-23
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica men's hockey team fell in an overtime battle to Saint John's University on Saturday night at Mars Lakeview Arena by a final score of 3-2.
The Action
Almost all of the first period passed before any goals were scored. A Johnnie penalty put the Saints up a man with just under five minutes left in the period. The penalty passed with no scoring by the Saints, but as the power play ended, the Saints used their existing momentum to sneak one through the pipes before the Johnnies were able to establish their fifth man back on the ice. The goal was credited to Steven Phee (Balzac, Alberta/George McDougall HS (Canmore-AJHL) ), who was assisted by Brett Radford (Campbell River, British Columbia/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Canmore-AJHL)) and Brandon Millin (Port Moody, British Columbia/Heritage Woods HS (Notre Dame Hounds-SJHL) ), and it put CSS up 1-0 - a score that brought the game to the first intermission.
The second period saw three of the four goals scored in regulation time. It began with an SJU goal from Brady Heppner after five minutes of play to tie the score at 1-1. The Saints' Kristofer McKinzie (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Marshall School (Minnesota Magicians-NAHL)), assisted by Josh Hansen (Chilliwack, British Columbia/Unity Christian School (Chilliwack-BCHL) ), answered not long after that to regain the 2-1 lead for CSS. The third goal of the period came from the Johnnies to tie the game once more. The remaining nine minutes of the period were played out with no score changes, despite another power play for CSS. The score would not change for the rest of regulation. CSS out-shot SJU in the third period 8-7, but was not able to find the back of the net.
The contest looked like it was going to end in a tie as it reached the final minute of overtime. The Saints got three shots off, while Saint John's only got two, but one of those two crossed the goal line, Heppner's second goal of the contest with 23 seconds left to give the Johnnies the 3-2 victory.
Notable Performances
Phee led the Saints offense with seven shots on goal. He was followed by Millin and Mike Nolan (Aldergrove, British Columbia/Yale Secondary (Fresno-WSHL)), who picked up five a piece. Peter Megariotis (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Canyon HS (Adrian)) was between the pipes for the Saints, and he recorded 20 saved shots during the game.
Brady Heppner scored two of the three Johnnie goals, including the game winner. Dan McNamara had one goal and recorded four shots. Tyler Nelson made 29 saves for SJU as goalkeeper.
Up Next
The Saints (5-6-0) will not be back in action until 2017, when they take on Finlandia University (Mich.) at the Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth on January 6. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
