Box Score Byron Center, Mich. — The Aquinas men's hockey team returned to the ice this Friday (Jan. 5th) for the first game of the 2024 year. The Saints faced off against the Wolverines of UM-Dearborn. AQ was level with UMD for the first two periods of play, but then managed to run away with the contest in the final period. The Saints interrupt their holiday break with a 6-3 win over the conference leading Wolverines.
Aquinas improves to 12-12, with a 9-6-0 conference record. While UMD falters to 14-4, with a 11-4 conference record.
Aquinas 6, UM-Dearborn 3
The Saints managed to pierce first just under five minutes into the first period due to a capitalization on a power play.
Christian Look followed through on a combination pass from
Brandon Rozema, and
Dylan Rumpke. AQ was riding high but the Wolverines went on to even the contest just two minutes later. Both teams continued to chip at one others goal, but neither team managed to break through till just over five minutes remaining. UMD found the back of the net, giving them a 2-1 advantage and the first period closed as such.
The two teams were locked in a stalemate for the first half of the second period. After a pileup at the Aquinas net, the Wolverines collected the puck and tucked it in to go up 3-1 with 13:47 remaining in the second. Aquinas slowly approached the post goal face off knowing they were down by two to the top team of the conference. But the Saints have shown to be comfortable with adversity and went on to take over the game. AQ bounced back two minutes after the Wolverines netted in their last goal, this time
Austin Gilmore managed to beat the keeper with assists from
Nicola Vogel, and
Alex Johnson.
Aquinas kept hounding UMD's net like a dog after a bone, but the Wolverines held the Saints at bay to kept their 3-2 advantage.
The third period is where the tide turned and Aquinas rode the wave. AQ scored four goals in the final period. B. Rozema found the back of the net with assists from Look, and
Gavin Rozema at 17:02. Ten minutes later
Alex Johnson tallied another for the Saints with help from
Austin Gilmore. Just about three minutes later Aquinas tapped one in from the trio of B. Rozema, Rumpke, and G. Rozema on another power play.
With under three minutes remaining the Wolverines moved to drastic measures and pull their goalie. With the extra man UMD kept the Saints on their side of the ice. AQ managed a breakaway as Johnson and Gilmore went on to get seconds the evening, as Johnson lobbed the puck from half ice. This was Aquinas's six goal on the evening, and the dagger in the heart of the Wolverines of Dearborn.
Tonight freshman G. Rozema put on a show in his collegiate debut, as he went on to record two assists and played a healthy amount of the contest.
By the Numbers
In total the Saints narrowly out shot the Wolverines, 45-42.
Up Next
AQ is back in action Saturday (Jan. 6) as they travel to Dearborn to complete their two game series with the Wolverines. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the UMD Campus Arena.
