Saints Drop 'Jackets, Sweep Season Series
 
It's been a while since St. Scholastica has swept a season series from the Yellowjackets.  Think Swatches and parachute pants.  The year was 1985-86, and the players involved in this year's matchup weren't even born yet.  That was the last time the Saints swept the season series from the Yellowjackets.  Until this year.

Jordan Chong scored twice in the final three minutes and added an assist as the Saints topped the Yellowjackets 4-1 on Thursday night, in a game that was much, much closer than the score indicates.  This loss, coupled with Eau Claire's win over these same Saints on Friday, means the 'Jackets must win their game on Saturday night at Eau Claire to avoid being the first team in NCHA history to win the league championship one season and finish last in the league the next season.

St. Scholastica opened the scoring in the first period when Stephane Phaneuf was left uncovered in front of the Yellowjacket net and finished off a passing play out of the right corner to make it 1-0 at 15:44 of the first period.  In the second the Saints made it 2-0 when Tyler Miller banged home a one-timer to complete a two-on-one rush at 14:08.  The 'Jackets got their only goal of the game when Logan Isley (Jr. Bonnyville, Alberta) used a brilliant toe-drag in the right circle to pull the puck around a sliding defender, then lifted the puck high over the shoulder of goaltender Zach Kleiman to make it 2-1.  The power play goal was Isley's fifth of the year.  Jesse Junkermeier (Jr. Minnetonka, Minnesota) had the assist.

In the third, Chong scored on a rebound to the left of the Yellowjacket net at 17:53 to make it 3-1.  He then scored into an open net with 11 seconds to play to close out the scoring at 4-1.

The loss was a heartbreaker for a Yellowjacket team that has seen its share of struggles this season, but has played better of late.  For St. Scholastica, the win kept them in the hunt for the NCHA title, a title that would go to St. Norbert by way of the Green Knights' win and the Saints loss on Friday.

Bryan Dalbec (So. Superior, Wisconsin) made 16 saves for the 'Jackets, while Kleiman made 26 saves for the Saints.  Each team took three penalties for six minutes in the game.  The 'Jackets went 1-3 on the power play, while the Saints were scoreless with the man advantage.

The 'Jackets will close out the 2009-10 regular season on Saturday night, with a game at the Hobbs Ice Center in Eau Claire, where they will take on the Blugolds.  The teams met twice earlier in the season at Wessman Arena, with the teams tying 2-2 in the Friday game and the 'Jackets winning 3-0 in the rematch.  Game time on Saturday night will be 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live locally on KUWS 91.3 FM, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.  If you are outside the local listening area you can tune in on the web at www.ifan.tv.  Jon Garver will have the call.