Box Score Byron Center, Mich — The Aquinas men's hockey team took on the John Carroll Blue Streaks on Friday (Jan. 19) at Southside Ice Arena. The match looked grim as the first period saw three goals for the Blue Streaks, and one for the Saints due to a power play. But Aquinas went on to slowly chip away at the difference and forced the contest into overtime. After a nail biting back and forth, the game headed to a shootout where Aquinas secured the pull back victory with a goal in the second round.

Aquinas 4 (1), John Carroll 4 (0)

The first period was all John Carroll. The Blue Streaks put up three goals in the first 16 minutes. Aquinas did manage to bounce back with a power play goal by the likes of Alex Johnson with an assist from Christian Look with 1:43 remaining in the period. Overall John Carroll had 15 shots while Aquinas had seven.

The second period was the start of the Saints trying to march themselves back into the game. But the Blue Streaks kept their demeanor and mustered a goal at the 12 minute mark, bringing them 4-1 over AQ.

But the Saints found an answer five minutes later as Matt Denhartigh beat the keeper with a pass from Dylan Rumpke, lifting the Saints to a 4-2 difference. The remainder of the period saw the Saints gain an edge, having 17 shots while the Blue Streaks had 15.

The third period is where the Saints became alive and took hold of the match. Being down starting the final period, the Saints dug their claws into the ice and bulldozed their way into John Carrolls half of the ice. 

Gavin Rozema pocketed a goal with a second assist from Rumpke. With 15:15 remaining AQ was looking to score again to take the game into overtime. This period saw the Saints pelter the Blue Streaks goal looking for the equalizer. Xavier Erickson went on to find it with a combination pass from Look and Alex Johnson evened the score at 4-4. 

The remaining time after the tying goal was 3:39. Both teams made break away efforts but both keepers thwarted all attempts. In total John Carroll had nine shots in this period, while Aquinas had 24.

The final horn sounded, not only was it the end of regulation but the start of the intermission before overtime.

There was a 60 second intermission and then overtime commenced.

To the un-introduced, overtime is a single five minute period in which it is three against three. 

John Carroll reversed the game and took back the reigns from the Saints. The Blue Streaks called the shots all of overtime, making multiple runs and breakaways to the Aquinas net. But Randon Striplin was a goalkeeping mastermind and saved the game on every single attempt.

John Carroll collected the puck with one minute remaining and decided to play slow for a last second attempt. But the last drive came up short and the Blue Streaks took it to a shootout.

John Carroll went on to shoot first, and they were denied.The Saints rebuttal would also be stopped.

The Blue Streaks second shooter came and went, as Striplin read their attempt like a book.

The Saints second shot was G. Rozema, the same young man that secured their last shoot out win. G. Rozema is no foreigner to shootouts but he certainly was cold as ice as he pulled a move and beat the keeper.

G. Rozema's goal solidified the Saints coming back from a 4-1 deficit to win it all 4 (1) - 4 (0).

By the Numbers

Aquinas Goalie Striplin proved to be a man to mess with under pressure as he kept the Saints dream alive throughout all means of the contest. Striplin faced 45 shots of full play and two shootout attempts.

Rumpke, Look, and A. Johnson all tallied two points. 

Up Next

AQ is back at it Saturday (Jan. 20)  once again hosting John Carroll at Southside Ice Arena. The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. as Aquinas looks to take another close victory over the Blue Streaks.