Byron Center, Mich. — The Aquinas men's ice hockey team took the ice against Rochester on Saturday (Dec. 2) night for the second game in their two game series. This was the fourth meeting of the two teams this season. Aquinas defeated the Warriors of Rochester each time and looked to go for the four game sweep. The Saints did just that and won the bout, 8-2, following up on the game on Friday (Dec. 1) where they won 6-2.

AQ was confident against the Warriors as it has outscored Rochester 16-6 across their three previous meetings. And their confidence showed as Christian Look went on to light the scoreboard just under two minutes into the contest, with assists from Brandon Rozema and Dylan Rumpke. 

Rochester did find an answer just over 11 minutes later, equalizing the score 1-1. Just two minutes after that, Matt Denhartigh tallied another goal for the Saints, this time with assists from Rozema, and Alex Johnson. The remainder of the period played out with no additional goals. 

The Saints must have had a discussion about their play during intermission because the second period was a turning for AQ. Austin Gilmore caught a connection pass from Logan Wesolek and Xavier Erickson and pierced the veil just 17 seconds into the second period. 

Look found the back of the net again just under two minutes into the period as well, with assists from Rozema and Johnson. The Saints continued to battle but had trouble finding the sweet spot. But Erickson found the back of the net on a power play with just under five minutes left in the period. Erickson managed the score with passes from Gilmore and Denhartigh. 

Wesolek wanted his own action and smashed in a score just 43 seconds later with assists from Shane DiTullio and Mitchell Hoon. No further goals were scored in the second period. As the Saints left the ice they had a 6-1 lead.

The third period began slow, as it began to once again pick up Rochester managed a breakaway and landed themselves a goal at 12:28. Bringing the difference to 6-2. But Rumpke wouldn't have it and went on to score just 80 seconds after the Warriors, making it 7-2.

The Saints kept attacking the Rochester net and tapped in a last stitch goal with 22 seconds remaining in the game. Johnson slung it in with assists from Rumpke and Rozema. 

As the remaining seconds expired the Saints had defeated the Warriors for the fourth time this season and have outscored them 24-8 overall this season. This win pushes Aquinas' winning streak to six straight. AQ outshot the Warriors 72-13.

The boys are back in action on Friday (Dec. 8 & 9) for the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Tournament, but the details are yet to be finalized. The Saints will return to regular season play on Friday (Jan 5), as AQ will host #13 UM-Dearborn.