Men's Varsity Sweeps Saints; Grabs Regular Season Title
The Men’s NCAA team was back in action at Arrington Ice Arena this weekend. The Bulldogs faced off against the Saints of the College of St. Scholastica in a two games series. After St. Norbert was bested the night before by MSOE, the Bulldogs were only one win away from securing the NCHA Regular Season title for the third consecutive season.
The captain Mat Thompson would strike first on Friday night with his first goal since November. Vinny Paquette and Joey Colatarci would grab assists on Thompson’s second of the season. The Saints would tie the game before the end of the first, leaving the two teams deadlocked at 1 a piece through twenty minutes.
Matt McNair would break the tie in the second period on a shorthanded goal. Taylor McCloy would notch the only assist on the tie breaking goal. McCloy would grab a shorthanded goal of his own three minutes later to give the home team a more solid two goal lead. Braden Hellems’ second of the season would give the Bulldogs the 4-1 lead at the 14:49 mark of the second. Kyle Brothers would add a powerplay goal before the end of the period off of assists from Bryan Yim and Cory Dunn and the Bulldogs would head into the final frame up 5-1.
The Saints would pull within three during the third period at the 1:47 mark, however, the Bulldogs would regain the three goal lead off of a Cameron Cooper shot from the point. Cooper’s goal would be assisted by Thompson and Brothers. The final buzzer would sound and the Bulldogs would capture their third consecutive Peters Cup, winning the NCHA Regular Season title.
The Bulldogs truck first once again off of a goal from Cory Dunn. Dunn’s coast to coast goal would be assisted by goalie Kevin Entmaa. The Saints would tie the game minutes later but an absolutely beautiful tic tac toe play led to a Mat Thompson from Kyle Brothers and Taylor McCloy goal to go up 2-1. The Bulldogs would lead 2-1 going into the first intermission.
Bryan Yim would tally the lone goal in the second period at the 6:45 mark on the powerplay. Yim’s powerplay goal would be assisted by Brothers and Dunn. The Saints would come within one once more at the 37 second mark of the third. A goal from Vinny Paquette would ensure victory at the 2:08 mark of the third and final frame off of assists from Joey Colatarci and Mat Thompson. The Bulldogs would take the final game of the regular season by a score of 4-2.
With the victory, the Bulldogs would clinch home ice for the entire Harris Cup Playoffs. The semifinal game will be held here at Arrington Ice Arena on Saturday, February 25th at 2:05 pm against a to be determined opponent.