University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, October 8
Mendota Heights, Minn.
6:07 p.m. Central
1-3-0
3
vs
2
Alaska Fairbanks
2-1-1
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Alas. Fairbanks
0
2
0
0
2
St. Thomas (MN)
1
0
1
1
3
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Rebecca Twite
Photo by: Rebecca Twite
Photo by: Rebecca Twite
Photo by: Rebecca Twite
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Josh turns on the jets, gets game-winning goal for Men's Hockey
10/8/2022 7:39:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Mendota Heights, Minn. -- In college hockey's 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime format, speed kills. Credit Josh Eernisse for recording Saturday night's killer play to send Tommie Men's Hockey to a 3-2 overtime win over Alaska-Fairbanks 3-2 in non-conference play at Saint Thomas Ice Arena.
The freshman made his first collegiate goal especially memorable. Teammate Cameron Recchi dove to block a Nanook shot in front of the net, then pushed a pass toward Eernisse, who beat a Nanook skater to the puck. The freshman stormed down the east sideline and beat the goalie to finish off a slick goal 1:28 into the extra session for the game winner.
St. Thomas (1-3) broke through for its first victory after three competitive losses by a combined eight goals, including a pair last weekend to ranked St. Cloud State and another 4-2 defeat here Friday to Fairbanks. Freshman Aaron Trotter made 34 saves on a night when the Purple were outshot 36-16. Trotter and his teammates killed off six power plays with a man advantage but they did allow two goals on 5-on-3 situations converted by Fairbanks (2-1-1).
Transfer Mack Byers scored his first Tommie goal in period one. Freshman Luc Laylin got his first collegiate goal in period three to tie the score 2-2.
Quoting Coach Rico Blasi:
"I was really happy with our game (Friday) night, the way we played in spurts. I was really happy with the way we played our third period tonight, and how we came back.
"I think we got a little better this weekend. I think we understand a little bit more. We're not quite there yet, I don't think. But we understand a little bit more how to win at this level, and that's an important lesson."
Quoting Josh Eernisse:
"(Overtime) was back and forth, we had a rush there to begin with and they started coming back. (Recchi) does a really good job of getting back there and covering for the D. That play all starts with a huge block from him. He gets down and eats that (puck), those are the little things we talk about all of the time. All of a sudden, (the puck) is going the other way. I was able to beat the guy wide, I kind of knew where I was going the whole time, I had a spot picked out, and I put it right where I wanted... Speed is one of the strengths of my game... its an area I've really worked on and tried to excel at.
"(Goalie Aaron Trotter) has had a great start here. He has been kind of been a backbone of our team. Again tonight he keeps us in that game. You look up at the scoreboard and we're getting out shot pretty heavy there for most of the game. But he keeps standing on his head, and doing what he does best. He's a huge piece for us this year."
Did You Know?
St. Thomas ended an eight-game losing streak dating back to February 2022.
The Tommies' defenseman Nolan Sawchuk played his 99th career game Saturday night.
After an 0-for-12 start this season on the power play, St. Thomas scored its first power-play goal of 2022-23 with Laylin's shot early in period three, part of a 1-for-5 night.
Next Up
St. Thomas is also home next Friday night for an exhibition game against the U.S. 18s National Development Team. They resume non-conference play Oct. 20-21 with Thursday-Friday games at Penn State.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Men's Hockey, follow along on Twitter at @TommieMHockey
The freshman made his first collegiate goal especially memorable. Teammate Cameron Recchi dove to block a Nanook shot in front of the net, then pushed a pass toward Eernisse, who beat a Nanook skater to the puck. The freshman stormed down the east sideline and beat the goalie to finish off a slick goal 1:28 into the extra session for the game winner.
St. Thomas (1-3) broke through for its first victory after three competitive losses by a combined eight goals, including a pair last weekend to ranked St. Cloud State and another 4-2 defeat here Friday to Fairbanks. Freshman Aaron Trotter made 34 saves on a night when the Purple were outshot 36-16. Trotter and his teammates killed off six power plays with a man advantage but they did allow two goals on 5-on-3 situations converted by Fairbanks (2-1-1).
Transfer Mack Byers scored his first Tommie goal in period one. Freshman Luc Laylin got his first collegiate goal in period three to tie the score 2-2.
Quoting Coach Rico Blasi:
"I was really happy with our game (Friday) night, the way we played in spurts. I was really happy with the way we played our third period tonight, and how we came back.
"I think we got a little better this weekend. I think we understand a little bit more. We're not quite there yet, I don't think. But we understand a little bit more how to win at this level, and that's an important lesson."
Quoting Josh Eernisse:
"(Overtime) was back and forth, we had a rush there to begin with and they started coming back. (Recchi) does a really good job of getting back there and covering for the D. That play all starts with a huge block from him. He gets down and eats that (puck), those are the little things we talk about all of the time. All of a sudden, (the puck) is going the other way. I was able to beat the guy wide, I kind of knew where I was going the whole time, I had a spot picked out, and I put it right where I wanted... Speed is one of the strengths of my game... its an area I've really worked on and tried to excel at.
"(Goalie Aaron Trotter) has had a great start here. He has been kind of been a backbone of our team. Again tonight he keeps us in that game. You look up at the scoreboard and we're getting out shot pretty heavy there for most of the game. But he keeps standing on his head, and doing what he does best. He's a huge piece for us this year."
Did You Know?
St. Thomas ended an eight-game losing streak dating back to February 2022.
The Tommies' defenseman Nolan Sawchuk played his 99th career game Saturday night.
After an 0-for-12 start this season on the power play, St. Thomas scored its first power-play goal of 2022-23 with Laylin's shot early in period three, part of a 1-for-5 night.
Next Up
St. Thomas is also home next Friday night for an exhibition game against the U.S. 18s National Development Team. They resume non-conference play Oct. 20-21 with Thursday-Friday games at Penn State.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Men's Hockey, follow along on Twitter at @TommieMHockey
Team Stats
ALA
UST
Shots
36
16
PPG
2
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
8
Penalty Mins
10
16
Faceoffs Won
32
27
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's Hockey
G
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