Hamline starts strong
This weekend’s second annual Minnesota Intercollegiate Hockey Conference showcase reflected what is expected to be a tight race for the title.
No. 15 Hamline, which was a preseason favorite in the coaches poll, claimed two victories, shutting out Saint John’s, 3-0, on Friday and then edging St. Olaf, 3-2, on Sunday.
The showcase did not count in the standings.
Against the Johnnies, Austun Tavis, Brian Arrigoni and Ryan Kupperman all scored while Matt Hemingway turned away 25 shots for the shutout.
On Sunday, Chris Berenguer scored the game-winner at 4:50 in the third period after St. Olaf stormed back to tie the game with second-period goals two minutes apart by Cam Severson and Austin Wetmore. Alex Lundbohm and Austun Tavis also scored for Hamline.
St. Thomas also went undefeated in the three-day showcase at St. Mary’s College, knocking off Bethel, 7-2, Friday and beating Concordia, 4-2, Sunday.
Tommies forward Travis Davis scored a hat trick while transfer Matt Lipinski found the net twice on Friday. Freshman goalie Geoff Sadjadi turned away 25 of 27 shots in his debut.
The victory was also Jeff Boeser’s first as St. Thomas coach. Boeser, a former Tommies player and an assistant for 30 years, replaced longtime Tommies coach Terry Skrypek , who retired after 23 seasons.
“I have been assistant here for 30 years, so it’s probably a lot different than from somebody who is coming in new,” said Boeser, who worked with the defense as an assistant. “I knew all these kids. There were 20 returning hockey players. Skry definitely didn’t leave the cupboard bare.”
Zach May scored the game-winner as Gustavus beat Augsburg, 2-1, Friday. Ryan Johnson scored both goals in the Gusties’ 2-1 victory over St. Mary’s on Sunday.
St. Norbert’s lift-off successful
The No. 3 Green Knights’ weekend sweep of University of Wisconsin-Stout at home sent ominous tones throughout the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.
St. Norbert won 3-1 Friday and 6-3 on Saturday at home to start the campaign 2-0. A similar feat last season at UW-Stout set the tone, as the Green Knights finished 24-4-3 overall and 14-2-2 for first place in the NCHA.
UW-Stout was the consensus pick for first last season. This season, the Green Knights are favorites to repeat.
“I know that the series we played at Stout last year really started our season off in a good fashion and hopefully that is true for us this year,” coach Tim Coghlin said.
Brandon Longley, Alain Joanette and Carl Ekstrom scored in Friday’s victory while Johan Ryd led the Green Knights with two goals in Saturday’s win. Senior B.J. O’Brien backstopped St. Norbert in both victories.
St. Norbert steps away from conference play for road games against MIAC foes Hamline, ranked No. 15, on Friday and Bethel on Saturday. The team recommences NCHA affairs with a pair of contests at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Nov. 12-13.
Big House bound
Last week, it was announced that No. 10 Adrian and Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association-rival Concordia will play the first-ever DIII men’s game of the modern era outdoors at the University of Michigan Stadium Big Chill tussle in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The game is at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 4, which is a week prior to the UM-Michigan State Big Chill tussle Dec. 11 at the 109,000 capacity stadium.
Concordia Coach Tony Hrkac, who played 758 NHL games, missed out on the pro league’s annual outdoor classics that are now the rage.
“When I was 6-years-old, I played an outdoor game,” said Hrkac, who grew up in Thunder Bay, Ont. “Other than that, no.”
The Adrian-Concordia game was originally scheduled as a home game for the Bulldogs, but the Southeastern Michigan school agreed to move the contest.
“NCAA Division III student-athletes work very hard and to reward them with an opportunity to play in a venue like the ‘Big House’ may only come along once in a lifetime,” Adrian Athletic Director Mike Duffy said. “This will be a moment that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
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