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St. Norbert begins Harris Cup Playoffs with win

By Josh Staloch
Correspondent


ASHWAUBENON – The St. Norbert College men’s hockey team opened its Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup Playoffs quarterfinal series with an 8-2 victory Feb. 21 against Lawrence University at the Cornerstone Community Center in Ashwaubenon.

The win was St. Norbert’s 40th consecutive home win in the NCHA Playoffs, dating back to the start of the 2007 playoffs.

The Green Knights (15-9-2) need at least a tie in Saturday’s second game to advance to the semifinal round.

Lawrence (6-18-2) needs to win the second game as well as win the ensuing 20-minute mini-game to keep its season alive.

Only the winner of the Harris Cup title gets an automation bid into the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

The Green Knights scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.

St. Norbert’s Kurt Black scored a hat trick in the victory.

The Green Knights opened the contest with a flurry of activity in the Vikings’ zone, getting off two shots in the first 30 seconds of play.

Fifty seconds into the action, Keegan Milligan scored the first goal of the game.

“That was our third rotation in the first 50 seconds of the game,” said assistant head coach Andy Brandt of his team’s first score. “We built good momentum on our first two lines, and it was great to see Keegan get rewarded early, especially in the postseason.”

Peyton Frantti made it 2-0 after he put a shot over Lawrence goalie Evan Cline with less than five minutes of action in the books.

Frantti’s 12th goal of the season was followed by his 13th.

He was in the right place at the right time and made the most of a rebound opportunity to net another for a commanding 3-0 lead.

“Early in the game, our defensive core did a good job of managing the blue line, managing the neutral zone and getting the outs when we needed them,” Brandt said.

Around the midway mark in the second period, a frenzy of offense in the Lawrence zone resulted in a 4-0 advantage after Brendan Aird notched a goal.

After Lawrence made it 4-1 late in the second period, Kurt Black scored on the power play to make it 5-1.

Black scored two more goals in the third, while Evan Cholak added another for the final margin.

St. Norbert goalie Colby Entz was forced to see only 22 shots on goal, saving 20 to pick up the win.

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