MIAC teams have a full slate of non-conference games against NCHA squads this week before returning to conference next week as each MIAC member faces difficult opponents. With all but two teams within three points of the MIAC leaders, next week’s games are extremely significant. However, we should not overlook this week’s tilts as just some humdrum non-conference games.
The NCHA is loaded with very good hockey teams so these games will be important to MIAC teams to gauge their talent. It will be interesting to see the outcomes of these MIAC/NCHA battles and if one conference displays dominance over the other.
Game of the Week
No. 4 St. Thomas @ No. 1 St. Norbert (Saturday, January 12) — This game will give the winning team huge momentum for the rest of the regular season. Both teams have only faced one ranked team this season. St. Norbert defeated No. 6 UW-River Falls, 5-2, on December 12. while St. Thomas also downed the Falcons 5-0 on November 27.
My prediction: All signs point to this game being a tie. These teams are so evenly matched that it’s impossible to say one team will definitely win. Both teams have outstanding goaltending, which usually helps to make a prediction. If I have to choose one team it would be St. Norbert in overtime because they are the higher ranked team.
MIAC Player of the Week
Sophomore Chris Johnson (Augsburg) notched a hat trick and an assist as Augsburg won 7-3 over UW-Eau Claire. The goals were the first three of the season for Johnson. Currently, he has three goals and six assists. Johnson scored a power-play goal and recorded an assist on Thursday night against Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. The Auggies won the exhibition match 2-1.
This Week’s Schedule
Thursday
St. John’s vs. UW-River Falls
Overall Records: SJU — 5-6-2 (2-2-2 MIAC); UWRF — 10-2-3 (4-1-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: SJU — Wisc.-Stevens Point; UWRF — Bethel
Top Scorers: SJU — Joel Stacklie (4-11-15); UWRF — Tyler Dahl (4-24-28)
Top Goaltenders: SJU — Vince Wheeler (13 GP, 5-6-2, 2.43 GA, .896 SV%); UWRF –Tyler Owens (11 GP, 7-2-2, 3.05 GA, .896 SV%
Friday
Augsburg @ UW-Eau Claire
Overall Record: AUG — 1-10-2 (0-6-0 MIAC); UWEC — 7-8-0 (3-3-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: AUG — UW-Eau Claire; UWEC — UW-Superior
Top Scorers: AUG — Jim Jensen (5-5-10); UWEC — Sean Garrity (7-11-18)
Top Goaltenders: AUG — Andrew Kent (8 GP, 1-6-1, 4.52 GA, .868 SV%); UWEC — Tyler Brigl (14 GP, 7-7-0, 2.65 GA, .890 SV%)
Concordia @ No. 6 UW-River Falls
Overall Record: CON — 1-10-0 (0-4-0 MIAC); UWRF — 10-2-3 (4-1-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: CON — UW-Eau Claire; UWRF — Bethel
Top Scorers: CON — Shawn Goos (3-4-7); UWRF — Tyler Dahl (4-24-28)
Top Goaltenders: CON — Jeremy Boniface (9 GP, 1-6-0, 4.40 GA, .885 SV%); UWRF –Tyler Owens (11 GP, 7-2-2, 3.05 GA, .896 SV%
Gustavus @ St. Scholastica
Overall Record: GAC — 6-7-0 (4-2-0 MIAC); SSC — 5-8-2 (2-4-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: GAC — St. Norbert; SSC — Wisc.-Stevens Point
Top Scorers: GAC — David Martinson (6-11-17); SSC — A.J. Tucker (8-12-20)
Top Goaltenders: GAC — Matthew Lopes (5 GP, 3-2-0, 1.61 GA, .927 SV%); SSC — Steve Bounds (7 GP, 3-3-1, 1.98 GA, .921 SV%)
Hamline @ UW-Stevens Point
Overall Record: HAM — 6-3-2 (3-1-0 MIAC); UWSP — 9-5-1 (2-4-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: HAM — Gustavus Adolphus; UWSP — St. Thomas
Top Scorers: HAM — Dustin Fulton (8-11-19); UWSP — Josh Calleja (6-11-17)
Top Goaltenders: HAM — Zachary Faust (8 GP, 3-1-2, 1.54 GA, .936 SV%); UWSP –Thomas Speer (10 GP, 7-2-1, 1.39 GA, .944 SV%)
St. John’s @ No. 8 UW-Stout
Overall Records: SJU — 5-6-2 (2-2-2 MIAC); UWSC — 11-2-1 (4-2-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: SJU — Wisc.-Stevens Point; UWSC — UW-Eau Claire
Top Scorers: SJU — Joel Stacklie (4-11-15); UWSC — Joel Gaulrapp (13-10-23)
Top Goaltenders: SJU — Vince Wheeler (13 GP, 5-6-2, 2.43 GA, .896 SV%); UWSC –Matt Koenig (14 GP, 11-2-1, 2.48 GA, .918 SV%)
St. Mary’s @ No. 1 St. Norbert
Overall Record: SMU — 5-5-2 (4-2-0 MIAC); SNC — 13-1-1 (5-0-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: SMU — Gustavus Adolphus; SNC — UW-River Falls
Top Scorers: SMU — Mike Glaesmer (8-9-17); SNC — Marc Belanger (13-13-26)
Top Goaltenders: SMU — Dan Smith (12 GP, 4-5-2, 3.78 GA, .901 SV%); SNC — Kyle Jones (10 GP, 8-1-1, 1.49 GA, .929 SV%)
St. Olaf @ UW-Superior
Overall Record: SOC — 5-6-2 (2-3-1 MIAC); UWSC — 8-4-4 (3-3-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: SOC — Mass.-Dartmouth; UWSC — Bethel
Top Scorers: SOC — Nick Stalock (10-7-17); UWSC — Kevin Huck (10-6-16)
Top Goaltenders: SOC — Brycen Eberwein (7 GP, 3-3-1, 3.93 GA, .874 SV%); UWSC — Chad Beiswenger (11 GP, 7-2-2, 1.49 GA, .940 SV%)
No. 4 St. Thomas @ Lake Forest
Overall Record: STU — 9-1-1 (4-0-0 MIAC); LFC — 2-12-1 (0-6-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: STU — Wisc.-River Falls; LFC — Skidmore
Top Scorers: STU — Nick Pernula (6-14-20); LFC — Mike Kneeland (6-5-11)
Top Goaltenders: STU — Tyler Chestnut (11 GP, 8-1-1, 1.96 GA, .924 SV%); LFC — Scott Campbell (9 GP, 2-6-1, 3.32 GA, .920 SV%)
Saturday
Augsburg @ UW-Stevens Point
Overall Record: AUG –1-10-2 (0-6-0 MIAC); UWSP — 9-5-1 (2-4-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: AUG –Wisc.-Eau Claire; UWSP — St. Thomas
Top Scorers: AUG — Jim Jensen (5-5-10); UWSP — Josh Calleja (6-11-17)
Top Goaltenders: AUG — Andrew Kent (8 GP, 1-6-1, 4.52 GA, .868 SV%); UWSP –Thomas Speer (10 GP, 7-2-1, 1.39 GA, .944 SV%)
Gustavus @ UW-Superior
Overall Record: GAC — 6-7-0 (4-2-0 MIAC); UWSC — 8-4-4 (3-3-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: GAC — St. Norbert; UWSC — Bethel
Top Scorers: GAC — David Martinson (6-11-17); UWSC — Kevin Huck (10-6-16)
Top Goaltenders: GAC — Matthew Lopes (5 GP, 3-2-0, 1.61 GA, .927 SV%); UWSC –Chad Beiswenger (11 GP, 7-2-2, 1.49 GA, .940 SV%)
Hamline @ UW-Eau Claire
Overall Record: HAM — 6-3-2 (3-1-0 MIAC); UWEC — 7-8-0 (3-3-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: HAM — Gustavus Adolphus; UWEC — Wisc.-Superior
Top Scorers: HAM — Dustin Fulton (8-11-19); UWEC –Sean Garrity (7-11-18)
Top Goaltenders: HAM — Zachary Faust (8 GP, 3-1-2, 1.54 GA, .936 SV%); UWEC –Tyler Brigl (14 GP, 7-7-0, 2.65 GA, .890 SV%)
St. Mary’s @ Lake Forest
Overall Record: SMU — 5-5-2 (4-2-0 MIAC); LFC — 2-12-1 (0-6-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: SMU — Gustavus Adolphus; LFC — Skidmore
Top Scorers: SMU — Mike Glaesmer (8-9-17); LFC — Mike Kneeland (6-5-11)
Top Goaltenders: SMU — Dan Smith (12 GP, 4-5-2, 3.78 GA, .901 SV%); LFC — Scott Campbell (9 GP, 2-6-1, 3.32 GA, .920 SV%)
St. Olaf @ St. Scholastica
Overall Record: SOC — 5-6-2 (2-3-1 MIAC); SSC — 5-8-2 (2-4-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: SOC — Mass.-Dartmouth; SSC — UW-Stevens Point
Top Scorers: SOC — Nick Stalock (10-7-17); SSC –A.J. Tucker (8-12-20)
Top Goaltenders: SOC — Brycen Eberwein (7 GP, 3-3-1, 3.93 GA, .874 SV%); SSC — Steve Bounds (7 GP, 3-3-1, 1.98 GA, .921 SV%)
No. 4 St. Thomas @ No. 1 St. Norbert
Overall Record: STU — 9-1-1 (4-0-0 MIAC); SNC — 13-1-1 (5-0-1 NCHA)
Top Wins: STU — UW-River Falls; SNC — UW-River Falls
Top Scorers: STU — Nick Pernula (6-14-20); SNC — Marc Belanger (13-13-26)
Top Goaltenders: STU — Tyler Chestnut (11 GP, 8-1-1, 1.96 GA, .924 SV%); SNC –Kyle Jones (10 GP, 8-1-1, 1.49 GA, .929 SV%)
Sunday
Concordia vs. No. 8 UW-Stout
Overall Record: CON — 1-10-0 (0-4-0 MIAC); UWSC — 11-2-1 (4-2-0 NCHA)
Top Wins: CON — UW-Eau Claire; UWSC — UW-Eau Claire
Top Scorers: CON — Shawn Goos (3-4-7); UWSC — Joel Gaulrapp (13-10-23)
Top Goaltenders: CON — Jeremy Boniface (9 GP, 1-6-0, 4.40 GA, .885 SV%); UWSC — Matt Koenig (14 GP, 11-2-1, 2.48 GA, .918 SV%)
