St. Scholastica Thanksgiving Hockey Classic Preview

Voice of: Joe Hansen

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As promised, it’s time for a quick preview of this weekend’s St. Scholastica Thanksgiving Hockey Classic, featuring the Saints, two sets of Vikings, and Green Knights. If those names don’t get your inner nerd excited, then perhaps some hype will get the sports fan in you ready for action:

St. Norbert College Green Knights (8-0-1, 6-0-0 NCHA)
The fact that St. Norbert has dominated the series between the Knights and Saints (37-7-2 all-time vs. CSS) is rather inconsequential, at least for one week, as they will not be facing each other in Duluth. Rather, the Knights will be hosting CSS next weekend in DePere, Wis. for a conference showdown, and it will be up to the Saints to knock the Green Knights from the ranks of the unbeaten – that is, if the Vikings don’t do so this weekend. The point is, I think the Saints tended to scare themselves against the Green Knights in the past, because last season, they proved they are very beatable, snapping a five-game winless streak against St. Norbert with a 3-0 victory in DePere.
Players to Watch:
F Shane Wheeler (Sr.) – 9 goals, 8 assists, 17 points
F Cody Keefer (Fr.) – 7 G, 7 A, 14 pts.
D Nick Tabisz (Jr.) – 4 G, 7 A, 11 pts.
G B.J. O’Brien (Jr.) – 1.37 GAA, .933 Sv.%, 2 shutouts

Salem State College Vikings (3-0-0, 0-0-0 MASCAC)
There’s not much history between the Saints and Vikings. In fact, there isn’t any history at all. This will be the first meeting between the two teams. Salem State has opened their season up with three straight victories, including a 4-3 overtime win over Fitchburg (Mass.) State their last time out. The Salem State Vikings are on a hot streak, but the Saints are undefeated their past three games as well, so it will be an interesting match-up when the two teams face-off on Friday night.
Players to Watch:
F Matt Johnson (Jr). – 2 G, 1 A, 3 pts.
F Justin Roy (So.) – 1 G, 2 A, 3 pts.
F Chris MacInnis (Sr.) – 2 G, 0 A, 2 pts.
G Jamie Lacour (Sr.) – 2.30 GAA, .921 Sv.%, 89 saves

Lawrence University Vikings (6-1-0, 5-0-0 MCHA)
The Saints and Vikings are making it a Thanksgiving tradition, playing each other Saturday, exactly one year to the day of their last meeting on Nov. 28, 2008. Last season, the Saints edged out the Vikings with a 4-3 overtime victory in a similar Thanksgiving tournament hosted by St. Norbert. St. Scholastica is 5-1-1 against the Vikings over the history of the two programs, but make no mistake about it: the Vikings are a good team. Their only loss on the season came from our perennial pain-in-the-neck, Wis.-Superior. They’ve won two games by seven goals this year and scored eight goals three times. This is a team that is capable of putting up big numbers, and they should not be taken lightly.
Players to Watch:
F Marc Howe (Sr.) – 9 G, 5 A, 14 pts.
F Ben DiMarco (So.) – 8 G, 6 A, 14 pts.
D Jameson Raymond (So.) – 1 G, 6 A, 7 pts.
G Evan Johnson (Jr.) – 3.03 GAA, .899 Sv.%, 170 saves

I figure there’s no reason to preview the Saints – if you’re here, you know who they are. Forwards Riley Riddell (Jr.) and Jeremy Dawes (So.) have looked great on offense, while a young defensive corps has helped out goaltenders Zach Kleiman (Sr.) and Brennan Poderzay (So.). I know it’s a holiday weekend and you’ll be fat and happy from your Thanksgiving dinner, but try and make it out for the games this weekend – you won’t be disappointed.

For more information on the tournament, as always, stay current with www.csssaints.com/.

For all of us in the St. Scholastica athletics department and at the Voice of the Saints, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! We’ll see you next week.

Enjoy the turducken,
-jh