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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Drew Strandberg
Jed Carlson-Superior Telegram

Men's Hockey

Johnnies Foil Yellowjackets in season opener

Drew Strandberg made 27 saves in the season opener against St. John's on Friday.
Box Score

St. John's 3, Yellowjackets 1

The Yellowjacket men's hockey team opened up its 56th season of varsity play on Friday night, playing host to St. John's University at Wessman Arena. It was the first game for the Yellowjackets in nearly nine months, and for most of the game they looked like a team that hadn't seen game action in that long. After a fast start to the night, the Yellowjackets were virtually shut down, as St. John's scored once each period on its way to a 3-1 win.

With the loss, the Yellowjackets have now won just once in their last 14 games dating back to last season.

Things started off great for the home team, as they came out flying in the opening minutes, generating offense and drawing an early penalty. As time expired on the game's first power play the Yellowjackets opened the scoring. Jordan Shockley (Duluth, Minn./Marshall School) picked up his first goal of the season off of a scramble in front of the St. John's goal to put the Yellowjackets ahead 1-0 just 4:11 into the contest. Anton Svensson (Soldertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) and Wes Judnick (Virginia, Minn./Virginia) assisted on the Shockley's first collegiate goal.

Unfortuantely, that was about the extent of the solid scoring chances for the Yellowjackets, who were outshot handily in the contest, 30-16.

St. John's tied the score at 9:59 of the opening frame as Tyson Fulton finished off a perfect centering pass from Kevin Becker. They took the lead for good at 8:38 of the second period when John Haeg scored his first of the year, making it 2-1.

The Johnnies finished off the scoring at 13:44 of the third period on a brilliant goal by Dan McNamara. Carrying the puck down the right win boards, McNamara executed a perfect toe-drag to get around a Yellowjacket defender and wired a wrist shot high over the glove of Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Westgate CV&I) to push the lead to 3-1. The Yellowjackets tried to apply pressure in the closing the minutes, but the Johnnies would have none of it and clamped down the defense on the Yellowjackets to pick up the win.

Strandberg was strong in the net for the Yellowjackets, playing valiantly at times in the losing effort. He falls to 0-1-0 on the year, finishing the night with 27 saves. At the other end, Saxton Soley picked up his second win of the season for St. John's, stopping 15 shots in the game.

Each team was called for five minor penalties in the game, and each team went 0-for-5 with the man advantage.

The Yellowjackets (0-1-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) will try to bounce back on Saturday, November 9, when they host Concordia College at Wessman Arena beginning at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live locally on 91.3 FM KUWS, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 p.m. If you are outside the local listening area you can tune in online through the iFan Sports Network, or watch the game live by pay-per-view through UW-Superior's online content provider, AmericaOne. Jon Garver will be on the call.

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