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Volume CXVIII, No. XXIII |
December 8, 2005 |
High-scoring Johnnies net 30 goals in five straight wins
After a slow start, SJU rolls to 4-0 start in conference play
Staff writer
After starting off the season with a 1-2-1 record, the St. John's hockey team (6-2-1, 4-0-0 MIAC) has won five straight games.
"We are having more success offensively," head coach John Harrington said. "The teams that face us now can't key anyone up because we have guys on all of our lines scoring."
Senior forward Aaron Getchell agrees with Harrington.
"We have had chances to score," Getchell said. "In these past few games, we've been able to do better on our opportunities and start putting the puck away."
Already early on this season, some players have stepped up and taken on some important roles on the team.
"The obvious answer is Hanna," senior Scott Bjorklund said. "He is a big difference maker for us and can win the game by himself.
"Besides [Hanna] though, the newcomers like [Jason] Weigel and Jake Hipp have made a difference on the team. Those guys have given us some spark, and Weigel has helped out on the power play."
The Johnnies began the season playing four Wisconsin teams: St. Norbert, Lake Forest, Wis.-River Falls and Wis.-Stout. These teams have brought some tough competition in past years, and this year was no different.
"[By playing them] it is a real good test for us," first-year Hipp said. "It gives us a chance to get off the high horse some of us think we are on.
"On any given night we can lose, which is something that we have learned when facing those teams, and it is a lot more fun to have those close games for us and the fans."
Getchell said the conference these Wisconsin teams are in, the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, usually has bigger and stronger teams, but he still likes playing them early in the season.
"It helps us get ready and focused for our conference games, which mean something," Getchell said. "It's good playing them and it helps us prepare for our tough schedule."
This weekend the hockey team will be facing St. Mary's University in a two-game road series Friday and Saturday.
With St. Mary's having a small rink, which seats only 700 people, the ambiance is different than when the team plays at home.
"Players love the smaller rink," Bjorklund said. "It will also be fun to get away on the road and stay at a hotel overnight.
"It's a little different atmosphere and not quite as comfortable, but people are excited to play there. It should be a good game."
After this weekend's games, the Johnnies will not play another game for four weeks.
"We will practice through the last day of classes," Harrington said. "We will have some fun and get some good skating in.
"The guys will come back with their batteries recharged, and they will be energized and excited to be back."
Hipp also welcomes the time off from school and hockey, but will continue to stay in shape.
"It will be nice to go home for Christmas and everything, but I am sure some of us will want to get back on the ice after two days," Hipp said. "I plan to do a lot of skating around on the outdoor rinks while I'm home."
St. John's will not play at home until Jan. 6, when they host Wis.-Eau Claire.
