A hat trick by senior Konrad Reeder provided St. Cloud State with the boost it needed to gain a 5-0 win at Alaska Anchorage on Friday in Anchorage, Alaska.
Reeder got the Huskies started at Alaska Anchorage with his fourth goal of the season at 6:58 of the first period. Justin Fletcher started the play driving in from the left circle. He got the puck to Billy Hengen, who then got the assist with his pass to Reeder on the right side of the net.
“Konrad made the big plays to get us going tonight,” coach Bob Motzko said. “He has five goals in the last five games…he’s in a groove right now. We also played a great game defensively and Bobby Goepfert was outstanding.”
Reeder continued the hot hand at 14:30 of the first with his second goal of the night as Marty Mjelleli and Nate Raduns had assists on the play. Reeder brought home his first career hat trick when he scored at 17:35 of the first period, with assists provided by Mjelleli and Raduns. The third goal by Reeder was also the last allowed by starter John DeCaro, who was replaced after the play by Nathan Lawson.
“Coach Motzko has really put me into some good positions to score this season,” Reeder said. “Hopefully, I can continue to score when given the opportunity.”
For Reeder, the hat trick was his first at SCSU, and he now has six goals this winter. Of note, the last person to gain a Husky hat trick was Joe Motzko on March 7, 2003 against Minnesota. The last person to gain a hat trick in one period was Mark Hartigan, who set a school record with four goals in a period against UAA on Feb. 15, 2002. SCSU outshot the Seawolves 14-9 in the first period, as Husky goalie Bobby Goepfert made several big-time saves in the period to keep UAA off the scoreboard.
Reeder now has 14 goals in his career at SCSU, and his six goals this season is a career-best for the forward from Vanderhoof, B.C. Reeder’s previous season-high was five goals posted in 2003-04.
In the second period, SCSU and UAA dueled to a draw, as the score remained 3-0 going into the final period. SCSU outshot the Seawolves 16-4 in the period.
SCSU iced the game late in the third period when John Swanson scored on the power play at 15:54, with assists from Grant Clafton and Reeder. Swanson got the puck 10 feet in front of the net and worked it past the UAA goalie on a quick wrist shot.
Raduns finished the scoring for SCSU at 16:44 with goal assisted by junior defender Casey Borer. Raduns brought the puck in from the blue line and scored on the right side of the UAA net.
The victory improves SCSU’s record to 6-7-2, 4-6-1 in the WCHA. UAA falls to 3-9-1, 1-7-1 WCHA. For Goepfert, this was his second shutout of the season and his fifth career shutout as a collegiate goalie. Goepfert had three shutouts during his time at Providence College. In the game, Goepfert made 16 saves for the Huskies.
SCSU will complete the series at UAA with a 10:07 p.m. start on Saturday, Dec. 3.
