By: Kelsey Whaley
BLAINE, Minn. - Day two of the 2015 MIAC Hockey Showcase picked up right where day one left off. Saint John's, Concordia, and Hamline took the ice for the first time this season while St. Thomas, Bethel, and Gustavus were hoping to continue their hot offensive play on day two in the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.
In eerily similar fashion to the 2014 season, Saint John's and St. Thomas fought their way to a 4-4 draw. After five minutes of overtime weren't enough for either team to seal the deal, Saint John's (0-0-1) went on to win the shootout. However, more than the usual three shooters were needed to determine this game, as the Johnnies and Tommies used eight skaters before Saint John's shot the final dagger.
Concordia and Hamline also got off to fast, offensive starts this season. The Cobbers (1-0-0) beat Bethel (0-1-1) 3-2 in their first game of the season and outshot the Royals 41-21. Hamline and Gustavus also needed a shootout in their game, as they ended regulation and overtime in a 3-3 draw. Hamline went on to win the shootout.
Saint John's 4 , St. Thomas 4 (SJU wins shootout 2-1) | Box Score | Photos |
In the 2014 MIAC Hockey Showcase, Saint John's and St. Thomas ended their game in a 0-0 draw with St. Thomas winning the shootout 2-0. This year, the scene was very similar, only more goals were scored. Saint John's and St. Thomas scored 4 goals apiece in their first face off of the 2015 season and needed eight shooters to determine a winner in the shootout.
The Tommies hoped to get off to the same quick start in their second game of the Showcase as they did the first. This time, though, it was the Johnnies who started with the hot hand, as forwards Huba Sekesi (1) and Kevin Baker (1) found the back to put Saint John's up 2-0 in the first period. A minute after Baker's goal, St. Thomas managed to cut the score in half on a Chris Benson (1) wrister, but the Johnnies extended their lead again, this time on a goal by Neal Smith (2).
St. Thomas went on to score the next three goals to go up 4-3 in the third period. Thomas Williams (2), Jordan Lovick (1), and Joakim Broberg (1) each contributed to the sudden offensive surge. However, Smith connected for his second goal of the night, sending the game into overtime. Five extra minutes wasn't enough to determine a victor, and just like 2014, a shootout was needed. This time, however, it was the Johnnies who were victories, as their eight skater managed to dump the ball over St. Thomas goalie Joe Morris' leg.
Saxton Soley (0-0-1) was in net for the Johnnies and allowed 4 goals while making 39 saves in 65 minutes of play. Morris (1-0-1) started for the Tommies, making 24 of 28 saves in 65 minutes of play. Saint John's will take on Augsburg at 3:30 p.m. Sunday and St. Thomas is off until next weekend, when they travel to Wisconsin for games against UW-River Falls and UW-Superior.
Bethel 2, Concordia 3 | Box Score | Photos |
See recap above
Hamline 3, Gustavus 3 (HU won shootout) | Box Score | Photos |
The 2014-15 MIAC Playoff Champion Hamline Pipers got off to a fast start in their first game of the 2015-16 season. While the Gusties outshot the Pipers 9-5 in the first, Hamline was still able to find the net twice. The first, in the 17th minute, was Charlie Adams (1) from Mitch Hall and Brandon Zurn and the second was a Kevin Novakovich (1) power play goal to give the Pipers a 2-1 lead. The Gusties actually outshout Hamline 9-5 in the period, but only managed to find the goal once.
It was a similar story in the second period. Brandon Zurn found the net early for Hamline to extend their lead to 3-1. However, Gustavus managed to close the gap as they continued to fire at John Sellie-Hanson. Evan Erickson (1) got the Gusties within one at 13:38 in the second and Jake Bushey (1) tied the game with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.
After five minutes of overtime, the two teams were still tied at 3. The second shootout of the night took place, but only three shooters were needed for Hamline to take the victory.
Sellie-Hanson (0-0-1) started for the Pipers, saving 26 of 29 shots in 65 minutes of play. Chris Amsden (0-0-1) made his first start for the Gusties this season and stopped 38 of 41 shots he faced. Hamline will take on Saint Mary's on Sunday at3:00 p.m. while the Gusties take Sunday off. They will return to the ice next weekend on the road against UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout.
Showcase Concludes Sunday
The 2015 MIAC Hockey Showcase will wrap tomorrow with three final games. Concordia and St. Olaf will kick off the final day of Showcase at 2:30 p.m. before Hamline faces off against Saint Mary's at 3:00 p.m. in a rematch of last year's MIAC Playoff Championship. Augsburg and Saint John's will be the final two teams to take the ice at 3:30 p.m. All games will have live stats online courtesy of Saint Mary's, Bethel, and Hamline sports information, and select games will have video or audio broadcast courtesy of their athletic department or local media.
The MIAC Men's Hockey Showcase features all nine MIAC teams playing two games over the course of the three-day event, with all games counting as nonconference games in the standings. Fans can follow on the action all weekend long on the MIAC Showcase home page, and can track the scores on the MIAC Scoreboard or with the free MIAC mobile app.
2015 MIAC Men's Hockey Showcase
Friday, Oct. 30
Game 1: Gustavus 5, Saint Mary's 4 | Box Score | Photos | Recap |
Game 2: St. Thomas 4, Augsburg 2 | Box Score | Photos | Recap |
Game 3: St. Olaf 5, Bethel 5 (OT) | Box Score | Photos | Recap l
**St. Olaf wins shootout 2-1
Saturday, Oct. 31
Game 4: Saint John's 4, St. Thomas 4 (OT) | Box Score | Photos | Recap | **SJU wins shoutout 2-1
Game 5: Bethel 2, Concordia 3 | Box Score | Photos | Recap |
Game 6: Hamline 3, Gustavus 3 (OT) | Box Score | Photos | Recap | **HU wins shootout
Sunday, Nov. 1
Game 7: Concordia vs. St. Olaf | 2:30 p.m. | Rink 1 | Live Stats |
Game 8: Saint Mary's vs. Hamline | 3 p.m. | Rink 2 | Live Stats |
Game 9: Augsburg vs. Saint John's | 3:30 p.m. | Rink 4 | Live Stats | Live Audio |
