MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — First-year defender Kimball Johnson’s goal in the middle of the third period tied up the St. Thomas and St. John’s men’s hockey teams, but neither team was able to get another biscuit in the basket in the overtime period, leaving the game at a 2-2 tie at Saint Thomas Ice Arena Friday night.
Johnson’s goal, his first career collegiate goal, was assisted by junior forward Grant Loven and sophomore forward Jack Vincent.
“It was nice to have it,” Johnson said. “Second college game, so got adrenaline pumping still through every game, every shift, but it’s nice to have that happen to take some pressure off.”
Tensions were high across the board for the Tommies (4-2-1) and the Johnnies (2-0-1) with five and four penalties respectively, all in the first and second periods.
“We have to clean that up,” coach Jeff Boeser said. “When you’re tired, your brain’s not working properly and it was just one of those nights you just got to fight through it. It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take the tie.”
Sophomore forward Andrew Kangas scored the Tommies’ other goal in a rally in the third period with assists from sophomore forwards Sam Huff and Justin Kelley.
Kangas believed “the refs got too involved” in the game in the first and second periods.
“They were calling a lot of ticky tack penalties,” Kangas said. “In the third, they let us play, and it was definitely a more fun game to play in the third when they put the whistles away.”
Boeser’s strategy to get those two goals in the third to tie it up after a slow first two periods was simple.
“I went in and I said, ‘well, my two year old grandbaby always says, grandpa, I got your back,’ and I said ‘you guys got my back?’ and they said yeah and we went out and played,” Boeser said. “That was it.”
This was the first overtime hockey game for both teams and under a new 3-on-3 overtime period implemented in the MIAC this season.
“I love it,” Boeser said. “I love puck control and I just as soon have the puck the whole time.”
A new face, first-year forward Lucas McGregor, made his first collegiate debut tonight after a two-year hiatus from hockey and an initial commitment to play at the University of Minnesota.
“I had some things happen and I ended up hanging up the skates,” McGregor said. “I kind of got the itch back, and I’m grateful for the opportunity the coaches have given me here and I’m loving it.”
St. John’s two goals came in the first period by senior forward Tanner Dufault unassisted and another in the second period by sophomore forward Auggie Moore with assists from sophomore forwards Jack Johnson and Dan Wieber.
The Tommies travel to St. Mary’s in Winona Saturday night at 7 p.m. before playing three games next week.
Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.