POTSDAM, N.Y. — Entering the 2016-17 ECAC Hockey season, sophomore forward Juho Jokiharju had appeared in only five games for the Clarkson Golden Knights.
Goalless and pointless, Jokiharju set out to earn a permanent roster spot with one of the top teams in the ECAC. After a three goal weekend, including two goals in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the University of New Hampshire, Jokiharju’s hard work appears to be paying off.
“Last summer I had some motivation to work hard because I was angry about last season, and I didn’t want to sit again,” said Jokiharju. “I shot a lot of pucks and did some extra things, like working out more.”
After recording his first career goal Friday night against Merrimack, Jokiharju returned to the lineup for the second straight game and doubled his output, scoring a pair of even-strength goals for the Golden Knights.
“The first goal was definitely a confidence boost for me, especially because my parents were watching that game,” said the Tampere, Finland native. “It felt really good, because last year when my parents came over they didn’t get to see me play, so I was nervous about not being in the lineup.”
Jokiharju’s first goal of night came early in the first period, less than ten minutes into the contest. Sam Vigneault threaded a pass through a defender’s skate from below the goal line to Jokiharju, who was unmarked in the slot. He buried a quick wrist shot past Danny Tirone short side to put Clarkson up 2-0.
After the Wildcats scored two unanswered goals in the first and second periods to tie the game, Jokiharju lit the lamp again for the Golden Knights, this time from a sharp angle in the left faceoff circle. He took a pass from rookie Nico Sturm and flung the puck over Tirone’s shoulder just a minute and ten seconds after Dylan Maller tied the game.
“I just tried to play my own game,” said Jokiharju after the loss. “Shoot some pucks and play my own role.”
Ultimately, Jokiharju’s two goal performance was overshadowed by a similar performance by New Hampshire’s Tyler Kelleher, who recorded two goals, including the game winner and an empty net goal to ice the win for UNH.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a leader and set a good example for the younger guys,” said Kelleher about his performance. “It’s nice to finally get a win, and I think winning is habit, so hopefully we can start a winning habit.”
Jake Kielly made 27 saves in the loss one night after recording his first career shutout, while Danny Tirone stopped 29 shots for the Wildcats. New Hampshire had the lone power play goal among 11 chances for both sides.
Clarkson travels to Providence next weekend while UNH returns home to host Colorado College.
Other ECAC Scores:
Union 4, Sacred Heart 4
Union held a two goal lead heading into the second half of the third period, before Vito Bavaro and Zach Tsekos scored less than a minute apart to earn a tie for the Pioneers. Jake Kupsky finished with 30 saves for the Dutchmen.
No. 3 Quinnipiac 3, Maine 2 (OT)
Craig Martin netted the overtime winner for the Bobcats after Maine tied the game late in the third on Nolan Vesey’s second goal of the year. The Bobcats had jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes before surrendering a pair of goals to the Black Bears.
No. 15 St. Lawrence 4, Merrimack 1
Four different goal scorers powered the Saints to a weekend sweep after their 6-2 win over UNH on Friday. Michael Laidley scored the game winning goal on the power play early in the third period and Kyle Hayton had 24 saves.
No. 1 North Dakota 5, RPI 2
RPI struck first against the defending national champion Fighting Hawks, on Evan Tironese’ first goal of the season, Joel Janatuinen’s for hat trick for North Dakota outpaced the entire Engineers’ offense in a 5-2. Jake Wood scored the second goal for RPI.
