By Rich Palzewic
Contributing Writer
DE PERE – Behind solid goaltending and strong special teams play, the St. Norbert College hockey team recorded a 2-0 nonconference victory over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Nov. 24 at the Cornerstone Community Center.
Freshmen goalie Hunter Garvey made 28 saves in net, while the Green Knights scored both of their goals on the power play.
St. Norbert (7-3) was also a perfect 0-for-6 on the penalty kill.
“It was a good win,” St. Norbert Coach Tim Coghlin said. “You’re playing against one of the top 10 teams in the country – we know who they are. We saw them twice here last season, and they’re a very good team.”
The Blugolds (5-2-1) came into the contest ranked No. 7 in the latest USCHO Division III Poll.
After a scoreless first period, the Green Knights killed off three power plays in the first 10-plus minutes of the second period.
St. Norbert made the most of its first power-play opportunity when Dayton Deics slapped home a one-timer at the 11:55 mark of the middle period off assists from Logan Dombrowsky and Carter Hottmann.
Deics’ third goal of the season came just six seconds into the power play.
“Our special teams was the difference,” Coghlin said. “Eau Claire’s power play coming in (to the game) was at 36% – that’s a big number.”
Toward the end of the second period, with the Green Knights nursing a 1-0 lead, Coghlin burned his team’s timeout.
“We had a tired group on the ice,” Coghlin said. “Eau Claire put its top line back on the ice, so I didn’t want our tired group allowing a puck in the back of the net. I decided to use our timeout early.”
Early in the final period, the Blugolds went on the power play for the fourth time in the game before St. Norbert was called for another penalty 1 minute, 44 seconds later.
The Green Knights killed off the short 5-on-3 situation and the subsequent man advantage to keep the momentum.
St. Norbert went up 2-0 when Liam Fraser scored his fourth goal of the season on a 5-on-3 power play at the 11:46 mark.
Adam Stacho and Dombrowsky picked up assists on the play.
Garvey improved to 4-1 on the season.
“He’s been solid all year,” Coghlin said of Garvey. “Every game he’s been in there, he’s given us a chance to win. He’s sticky – there’s not a lot of pucks laying around him, and it makes it tough on the opposition.”
After starting the season 1-2, the Green Knights have won six of their last seven games.
“We’re playing nine freshmen almost every night – we played eight tonight, including a freshman goaltender,” Coghlin said. “It’s been a fun group to be around and a fun group to coach. They have lots of ups and downs in the day-to-day, but they’re staying with it and seeing results.”