| Saints Drop 'Jackets, Sweep Season
Series |
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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. |
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