Byron Center, Mich. — "Mama said there'd be days like this," and she must have been talking about Friday, January 31, 2025. What was supposed to be a 7:40 p.m. puck drop between Aquinas and Rochester Christian turned into a nearly three-hour delay due to the Warriors' travel issues. Whether it was the late start, pre-game jitters, or the excitement of the Teddy Bear Toss after the first goal, one thing was clear—Rochester Christian couldn't keep up with an amped-up AQ squad, as the Saints cruised to a dominant 14-3 victory in a game that wrapped up well after midnight.

Aquinas 14, Rochester Christian 3

The Saints broke a scoreless tie late in the first period, lighting the lamp three times with goals from Xavier Erickson, Brendan Bourne, and Ben Cesario to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

The second period was a flurry of action, with 34 combined shots on goal. Aquinas added five more tallies, while Rochester Christian managed to sneak in two. Alex Johnson (two of his three for the night), Matt Denhartigh, Evan Doan, and Erickson all found the back of the net, giving AQ a commanding 8-2 lead heading into the final frame.

The third period saw an offensive explosion for the Saints, as they poured in six more goals. Xavier Erickson completed his hat trick (one goal in each period), Johnson buried his third of the night, and Nicholas Refine and Gavin Phillips added to the onslaught.

Beyond the scoring fireworks, the standout performance of the night belonged to freshman goaltender Jean Berthaudin, who was a brick wall between the pipes, stopping 26 of 29 shots.

Coach's Take

Head Coach Brandon Rozema praised his team's all-around effort, "It was a good showing for all four of our forward lines, as they all contributed. Jean Berthaudin played his best game in net of his young collegiate career."

By the Numbers

• Jean Berthaudin: 26 saves on 29 shots.
• Hat Tricks & Teddy Toss: Xavier Erickson & Alex Johnson each netted three goals on a night when teddy bears were tossed onto the ice for sick children.
• Scoring Barrage: Eight different Saints scored, with four players recording at least two goals.

Up Next

The Saints wrap up the home-and-home series with Rochester Christian at Big Boy Arena, where they'll look to sweep the weekend series. Puck drops at 2:30 p.m.