Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
Coming off a challenging three-loss stretch in Bozeman, Montana against Montana State from January 23rd to 25th, the Sault College Cougars men’s hockey program returned home looking to reset as they welcomed the University of Minnesota Gophers for a two-game ACHA Division II series on January 30th and 31st at the Northern Community Centre.
In game one of the weekend, the Gophers powerplay proves costly with the opening contest seeing the visiting Gophers strike twice on the power play late in the first period to seize early control. At 15:51, Luke Myers opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season, converting a man-advantage opportunity set up by Keegan Johnson and Ethan Peterson. Minnesota struck again with the extra skater at 19:38 as Myers buried his 11th of the year and second of the game, this time assisted by Caleb Engelbrecht and Tyler Bishop.
The Cougars responded quickly to begin the second period, cutting the deficit in half just 22 seconds in. Nick Jameus continued his strong season with his 15th goal, finishing a play created by Brock Santa Maria and Jonah Des Rosiers to make it 2–1.
Minnesota regained momentum in the third period when Keegan Johnson made it 3–1 at 5:06, scoring his 13th of the season with assists from Tyler Bishop and Luke Myers. The Gophers added an insurance marker at 13:15 as Bishop notched his 14th of the campaign off a feed from Myers to seal a 4–1 win.
In goal, Owen Peterson was sharp for Minnesota, stopping 18 of 19 shots, while Cougars netminder Keenan Marks made 31 saves on 35 shots in the loss.
Game of two of the weekend series Cougars respond with gritty matinee victory with a Saturday’s early afternoon rematch saw a much different outcome as Sault College came out with energy and purpose.
The Cougars opened the scoring at 3:46 of the first period when Liam McDonald recorded his first goal of the season, finishing a setup from Gabriel Zimbaro and Chase Johnson. Sault College doubled the lead at 7:56 as Nick Jameus continued his hot streak, scoring his 16th of the year with assists from Jacob Kovacs and Brodie McLeod.
Minnesota answered back at 12:15 of the first period when Luke Myers struck again, scoring his 12th of the season on an unassisted effort to make it 2–1.
The lone goal of the second period came in dramatic fashion as Jameus completed his standout weekend with a shorthanded marker at 12:15, netting his 17th of the season unassisted to restore a two-goal cushion for the Cougars.
The Gophers pushed late in the third, pulling within one at 14:38 when Keegan Johnson scored his 14th of the season off a feed from Luke Myers to make it 3–2, but Sault College held firm the rest of the way to secure the win.
Between the pipes, Keenan Marks was outstanding for the Cougars, turning aside 38 of 40 shots, while Owen Peterson stopped 30 of 33 for Minnesota in a hard-fought contest.
With the split, the Cougars showed resilience after their tough Montana road trip and will look to build momentum in their next outing. Sault College returns to action on Sunday, February 1st, hosting the Davenport Panthers in a noon puck drop at the Northern Community Centre. Meanwhile, the Gophers will cross the St. Mary’s River to face the Lake Superior State Lakers at Taffy Abel Arena with a 1:00 p.m. start on February 1st.
