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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Drew Strandberg
Jed Carlson-Superior Telegram

Men's Hockey

Saints put an end to Yellowjackets' season

Drew Strandberg
Box Score

St. Scholastica 2, Yellowjackets 1
Box Score

The Yellowjacket men's hockey team of 2012-13 was literally a team of two seasons. In the beginning the team got off to a fantastic start, scoring goals and racking up wins on their way to a top-ten national ranking. The second half, however, was the complete opposite, as the team lost its way offensively, struggled to find the net and limped its way to a 1-11-1 record in its final 13 games, scoring only 20 times in the process.

On Saturday night in the second game of their NCHA quarterfinal series with St. Scholastica, the dearth of offense was again on full display, as the Yellowjackets, whether snakebitten or otherwise notched only one goal in a 2-1 loss to the Saints. With the win the Saints swept the opening round series from the Yellowjackets, advanced to the NCHA semifinals next weekend at St. Norbert and put an end to UW-Superior's season.

It was a result that was completely indicative of the last seven weeks for the Yellowjackets.

Early on the teams traded opportunities but the game remained scoreless. That all changed in the second half of the first period when the Saints took advantage of a Yellowjacket miscue.

A miscommunication behind the Yellowjacket net resulted in a defender falling down and a loose puck behind the cage. Dylan Nowakowski centered a pass to Paul Marcoux, whose shot was stopped, but Brandon Nowakowski pounced on the rebound and poked it past Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Westgate CV&I) to make it 1-0 at 14:41 of the opening period.

In the second period the play was once again even. The Yellowjackets had opportunities during an early power play but were unable to convert. Later the Saints had a power play of their own and threw numerous opportunities consecutively at Strandberg, but the junior goaltender stood tall and kept it a one-goal game.

Late in the period the Saints would stretch the lead.

Tyler Miller had the puck in the neutral zone and moved it to Brett Corcoran on the right wing, who carried it into Yellowjacket territory. Corcoran skated down the right wing and centered it to Miller who drove the net and deflected it past Strandberg for his tenth of the season to make it 2-0 at 16:11 of the second period.

The Yellowjackets received a late power play and had a golden scoring chance, but Cody Hotchkin (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) was denied as Saints' goaltender Colin Rundell turned the puck away with the butt of his stick.

In the opening minute of the third period the Yellowjackets nearly broke through, but a one-timer by Brett Wold (Westlock, Alberta/R.F. Staples) clanged off the post and the score remained 2-0.

The Yellowjackets finally broke through on a power play early in the period. Joey Massingham (Duncan, British Columbia/Cowichan Secondary) had the puck on the right side and fed a pass across to the left circle where Michael Rey (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Garden City Collegiate) one-timed it past Rundell on the short side to get the Yellowjackets on the board. The third goal of the season for Rey made it a one-goal game at 5:59 of the period.

As the game wore on the Yellowjackets continued to press, but every time they got the opportunity to tie the game Rundell was equal to the task. In the closing minutes the pressure continued and the Yellowjackets pulled Strandberg for an extra attacker, but the Saints withstood the rally and went on to pick up the victory.

Strandberg again was the hard-luck loser, finishing the game with 23 saves, some of which were of the spectacular variety. At the other end Rundell, who also made a few spectacular stops in the game, finished with 30 saves. Rundell's performance, especially in the third period, was the difference between the win and a potential mini-game for the Saints.

The Yellowjackets took two penalties for four minutes, while the Saints took three for six minutes. On the power play the Yellowjackets were 1-for-3 and the Saints were 0-for-2.

With the loss the Yellowjackets saw their season end, and with it the careers of four seniors - team captain Kyle Leahy (Fort St. John, British Columbia/North Peace Secondary), Josh Kesler (Naperville, Ill./Northville), Chad Blanleil (Kelowna, British Columbia/Kelowna Secondary) and Ryan Hill (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown).

The Yellowjackets close out the 2012-13 season with a record of 11-14-2.
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