Byron Center, Mich. — The thought of overtime was just starting to settle in on Saturday night (Sept. 23) as the Aquinas men's hockey team was deadlocked at 2-2 with Roosevelt in the closing minutes. But, with 14.5 seconds remaining in regulation, the Roosevelt Lakers escaped Southside Ice Arena with a game-winning goal off the stick of Noel Klassen.
After a 7-3 win over Roosevelt in their season-opener on Friday (Sept. 22), the Saints dropped the rematch 3-2. Both teams moved to 1-1 overall on the season.
Penalties, especially in the opening period, was the overarching theme of the contest. A total of 27 combined penalties were called with 18 of them coming in the opening 20 minutes. And yet, after all the mischief, not a single power play goal was scored in the entire game.
Aquinas captain
Brandon Rozema scored the only goal in the first period with
Ryan Kleber picking up the assist.
Roosevelt seized the lead late in the second period with a pair of goals less than two minutes apart. Ryo Takano tied the game at 1-1 with Logan Lukasezck getting credit for an assist. Then, with 51 seconds remaining before the second intermission, Max Finner doubled up for the Lakers with help from Griffin Lehet and Lukasezck on the assists.
It took until 13:27 left in the third period before Aquinas found the equalizer. A determined individual effort from freshman
Nicola Vogel paid off for the Switzerland native with his second goal this season.
Roosevelt used a timeout in the final 25 seconds to setup what turned out to be the game-winning goal. In a cruel twist of fate, it was Klassen who delivered the final dagger. Klassen made himself a thorn in the Saints' side all game long after racking up five minor penalties in the first period.
Aquinas outshot Roosevelt, 43-33. But the Lakers netminder, Harber Cassel, made enough saves to keep AQ at-bay.
Max Johnston, starting his second straight game to begin the season, ended up making 30 saves in the defeat.
The Saints wrap up a three-game weekend home stand to start the season with a regional showdown against Davenport on Sunday (Sept. 24). Puck drop from Southside Ice Arena is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
