Byron Center, Mich. -- Hockey has a funny way of reminding you that cloud nine is a temporary address. One weekend, the bounces go your way and the ride home feels a little shorter; the next, you're wondering who moved the finish line. For the Aquinas men's Division I hockey team, last week's joy gave way to a gut-wrenching Friday shootout and a Saturday trip that, at times, felt like a real-life version of Slap Shot. Now comes the challenge of a long season: catch your breath, learn from the bruises and keep one tough weekend from steering the whole bus.

SVSU 4, Aquinas 3 — Shootout (Friday in Byron Center, Mich.)

The Saints had the lead, the opportunities and a chance to keep last weekend's momentum rolling at Southside Ice Arena. Instead, a third-period equalizer and a scoreless overtime sent the opener to a shootout, where Saginaw Valley State claimed a frustrating 4-3 decision.

Aquinas fell behind with 8:46 remaining in the first period. The Saints entered the first intermission trailing 1-0, but their response arrived early in the second.

Parker Burns brought AQ even with a power-play goal at the 17:43 mark. Gavin Rozema and Arseniy Malyutin supplied the assists, giving the Maroon and White the breakthrough they needed.

The Cardinals answered with a power-play goal with 9:35 left in the period. That lead lasted less than three minutes before Rozema delivered the Saints' second equalizer.

Parker Burns and Zachary Burns assisted on Rozema's goal with 7:08 remaining. Just 1:58 later, Ben Cesario put Aquinas in front for the first time.

Logan Boettcher earned the assist as Cesario's finish completed a three-goal second period and sent AQ into the intermission ahead 3-2. The Saints carried that advantage deep into the third before SVSU tied the game with 6:56 remaining.

Jean Berthaudin finished with 34 saves across 65 minutes, helping Aquinas reach the shootout with the contest still up for grabs. The Saints generated 43 shots on goal, forcing Cardinals goaltender Brendan Cobb to make 40 saves.

A physical evening included roughing penalties involving Easton Pratt, Malyutin, Tyler Hilliker and Braylen Outwater, along with a holding penalty against Luke McNabnay. Neither team scored in overtime, despite another AQ power-play opportunity following a Cardinals hooking penalty.

SVSU ultimately prevailed in the shootout, leaving Aquinas one final finish short of a different ending. Parker Burns and Rozema each recorded a goal and an assist, but the Saints were left with the sting of a game that had been within their reach.

SVSU 7, Aquinas 4 (Saturday in Saginaw, Mich.)

Saturday's rematch asked Aquinas to turn Friday's frustration into a road response. The Saints twice pulled even, but Saginaw Valley State's answers prevented AQ from taking control.

The Cardinals opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the first period. Cesario answered with 53 seconds remaining, finishing a setup from Owen Gohm to tie the game 1-1.

SVSU reclaimed the lead with just one second left before intermission. Another Cardinals goal only 1:31 into the second period extended the margin to 3-1.

Aquinas pushed back through the same Cesario-Gohm connection that had produced its first goal. Cesario's second finish, with 13:06 remaining in the period, trimmed the deficit to one.

Only 80 seconds later, Parker Burns scored off an assist from Gavin Rozema to bring the Saints level at 3-3. For the second straight night, AQ had erased a deficit and put the outcome back in play.

SVSU's Pierce Ashcroft interrupted that momentum with a shorthanded goal before adding another second-period finish to complete his hat trick. Boettcher also scored an unassisted goal in the second, helping Aquinas enter the final intermission within one at 5-4.

The Saints had 20 minutes to find another answer, but the Cardinals scored the only two goals of the third period. Aquinas was held scoreless over the final frame as SVSU secured the 7-4 result.

Liam Donnelly made 30 saves in goal, while the Saints recorded 34 shots. Cesario led AQ with two goals, Gohm supplied two assists, and Parker Burns, Rozema and Boettcher again contributed to the attack.

The increasingly contentious finish included penalties against Pratt, Gohm and Aiden Middendorf, followed by a major slashing penalty and disqualification against Cesario at a stoppage that also brought a major penalty and game misconduct against the Cardinals. Aquinas finished with 31 penalty minutes to SVSU's 23, closing a weekend in which its offensive responses could not overcome the Cardinals' timely goals.

Following the weekend, Aquinas stands at 2-3-0-1, while Saginaw Valley State improved to 5-3-0-0. In ACHA recordkeeping, a shootout loss is listed separately from a regulation or overtime loss, so Friday's result accounts for the final "1" in the Saints' record.

Saints Snapshots

• Pushback is part of the identity. The Saints erased deficits in both games, including a two-goal hole Saturday. AQ showed it could climb back into the fight; turning those responses into complete-game results is the next step.
• Cesario answered the bell. Three goals across the weekend put Cesario at the center of the Saints' comeback efforts. His Friday finish gave AQ the lead, while his two Saturday goals helped keep the road rematch within reach.
• The offense had company. Parker Burns scored in both games, Rozema contributed throughout the series, and Boettcher added an assist Friday and a goal Saturday. Gohm, Zachary Burns and Malyutin also helped create the Saints' scoring opportunities.
• Close games demand clean details. A third-period lead Friday and a one-goal deficit entering Saturday's final frame gave AQ a chance each night. Protecting those opportunities and keeping composure when the temperature rises will matter as the season unfolds.
• A reset with a purpose. The upcoming weekend off gives the Saints time to regroup before another home-and-home series. The assignment is straightforward: carry the fight forward, sharpen the execution and return ready to finish.

Coach's Comments

Hockey's fickle bounces left Aquinas with a much different feeling than it carried out of last weekend. A break here or a finish there could have changed the conversation, but the Saints now have two difficult results to absorb and a long season still ahead. Head coach Brandon Rozema offered an honest reflection on the weekend, emphasizing the importance of keeping perspective while addressing the details that can turn competitive stretches into victories.

"Last week, we were enjoying the highs, and this week, we're dealing with the disappointment. We can't let either one define us or pull us away from the work. We're a good team, and we also have issues we need to address. We showed that we can respond when we're down, but we have to do a better job of managing games, staying disciplined and finishing opportunities. This season is a marathon, not a sprint. Our focus has to stay on getting better, staying together and being willing to battle for the long haul."

Up Next

The Saints will have a weekend off to catch their breath, address the details and prepare for their next home-and-home series. Aquinas will face Rochester Christian on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, with Saturday's matchup at Southside Ice Arena. Both games are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

Saturday's game will be streamed on the AQSaints YouTube Network, with Joey Sutherlin on the call.

Visit AQSaints.com regularly for updates, stories, features and statistics covering Aquinas men's hockey and all other Saints sports.

It's a great day to be a Saint.