Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams did not fair well against schools from Wisconsin last weekend by compiling a record of 2-9-3. This does not give much hope or optimism for MIAC schools looking to make a run in the postseason. Granted it is very early in the hockey season, but with that big of a difference in wins and losses between the two conferences, the MIAC has some catching up to do.
Next week marks the beginning of conference play, and the St. Thomas-Bethel rivalry will be the highlight of the weekend. The Royals finished last season as the MIAC regular season champions by edging out the Tommies. Bethel was chosen in the preseason as the top MIAC team, is undefeated this season with a 4-0-0 record, and is ranked No. 13 in the latest USCHO.com poll. St. Thomas, meanwhile, is one rung higher, 3-1-0, and was predicted to finish second in the preseason MIAC poll.
In other games, St. John’s and St. Mary’s will face off against each other and St. Olaf and Augsburg will clash while Hamline and Gustavus play a two-game series. On Tuesday, St. Thomas also hosts Wisconsin-Stout and St. Mary’s travels to play Wisconsin-River Falls. Also, Bethel travels to Duluth on Wednesday to face St. Scholastica.
Last Week’s Recap
Augsburg
Last week Augsburg remained winless with a 2-2 tie against Wisconsin-Superior on Friday and a 3-2 loss to St. Scholastica on Saturday. First-year Cory Ellertson was one of the bright spots for the Auggies as he recorded a goal in each game. The other bright spot was the solid play of goaltenders Adam Hendel and Andrew Kent, a senior and junior, respectively. Hendel made 37 saves on Friday while playing all 65 minutes of the game; Kent stopped 28 shots but was unable to notch a win.
Bethel
The Bethel Royals swept Marian College by scores of 7-3 on Friday and 4-3 on Saturday. Bethel’s player of the weekend was senior Dan Bonne, who notched two goals and an assist on Friday and the game winning goal on Saturday in overtime. Sophomore goaltender Adam Damjanovich played both games and allowed three goals each night while stopping 25 shots on Friday and 46 on Saturday.
Concordia
Concordia fell to 1-3 on the season as it dropped its Friday game 5-4 to Lake Forest and its Saturday game 3-1 to St. Norbert. Junior Ryan Clukey had an assist on Friday and a goal on Saturday to lead the Cobbers.
Gustavus Adolphus
After losing a pair of one-goal games on the weekend Gustavus slid to 2-2. The Gusties lost 6-5 to Wisconsin-River Falls on Friday and 3-2 to Wisconsin-Stout on Saturday. David Martinson had a goal and an assist on Friday as well as a goal on Saturday. Martinson leads Gustavus with four goals on the season. Gustavus received five votes in the latest USCHO.com poll
Hamline
The Hamline Pipers posted a couple of 1-1 ties against St. Scholastica on Friday and Wisconsin-Superior. Sophomore Zachary Faust led Hamline in both games with 18 saves on Friday and 20 on Saturday. The Pipers are now 0-2-2 on the season.
St. John’s
St. John’s picked up a split on the weekend with a 4-1 win over Lake Forest and a 3-2 loss to St. Norbert. Nate Meinz, who recorded a goal in each game, and Jake Hipp, who scored two goals in Saturday’s game, led the Johnnies on the weekend.
St. Mary’s
Wisconsin was not kind to St. Mary’s as Wisconsin-Eau Claire (6-4) and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (3-1) swept the Cardinals. Sophomore defenseman Jeff Miller had a goal and an assist against Eau Claire to lead St. Mary’s.
St. Olaf
St. Olaf recorded a 6-4 loss to Wisconsin-Stout and a 4-4 tie to Wisconsin-River Falls last weekend. Nick Stalock, who notched two goals on Friday and a goal and an assist on Saturday, led the Oles on the weekend. Goaltender Brycen Eberwein recorded the tie on Saturday giving up four goals while stopping 32 shots.
St. Thomas
A split was what the Tommies got last weekend with after losing to Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 4-2, but beating Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 5-4. Nate Ryan recorded a goal and an assist on Friday and two assists on Saturday. St. Thomas saw some inconsistencies in goaltender Tyler Chestnut, who transferred from Holy Cross, after he allowed six goals while only facing 34 shots in about 74 minutes of play.
Conference Leaders
Goals: Kent Bostrom (Bethel), Jr., F — 4 games, 6 goals.
Assists: Jeff Balvin (Bethel), Sr., F — 4 games, 6 assists.
Save Percentage: Zachary Faust (Hamline), So. — 69 saves, 4 goals against, .945.
