MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — After a 4-2 loss against Trine University Friday night, the St. Thomas men’s hockey team could not rebound and lost its second game in a row 2-0 against Aurora University Saturday at Saint Thomas Ice Arena.
St. Thomas (6-5-1) took 21 shots on goal, but remained scoreless.
“I think right now we’re just struggling,” coach Jeff Boeser said. “It’s not time to yell and scream at them, I think we’re just having a little trouble finding our way.”
The first period was filled with penalties from both sides.
Aurora (9-5-1) first-year forward Adam Keyes scored nine minutes into the first period, getting the Spartans up on a 5-on-3 power play while St. Thomas junior forward Gavin Payne spent two minutes in the penalty box for tripping.
Tommie first-year forward Andrew Kangas received a five minute major penalty and was ejected from the game for checking from behind. Kangas’ teammate and first-year forward Jack Vincent served the penalty.
“It was a pretty good pace and then the penalties kind of slowed it down, especially for us,” Boeser said.
After Keyes’ goal, Aurora had two players in the box, one was a five minute major penalty for boarding. Sophomore defender Shayne Monahan received another penalty for the Tommies and spent two minutes in the box for interference.
Penalties subsided in the second and third periods. St. Thomas received six penalties overall, clocking 25 minutes in the box and Aurora received three totaling nine minutes.
First-year forward Jack Jaunich scored one more goal for the Spartans with a minute left in the game.
The Spartans outshot the Tommies 37-21. First-year goalie Henry Baribeau guarded the net for the Tommies letting in only two shots, while junior goalie Josh Boyko took Aurora’s net.
The Tommies have a 27-day break from games, and resume play Jan. 10 at St. Mary’s.
Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.