St. Norbert Outlasts UW-Stevens Point in NCHA Peters Cup Semifinal Win

From Sports Information Director, February 27, 2010 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GREEN BAY - St. Norbert College took advantage of a whopping 15 power-play opportunities to post a dominating 7-1 win over UW-Stevens Point in a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Peters Cup Playoffs semifinal game at the Cornerstone Community Center.

The Green Knights, 20-3-3 overall, will face UW-River Falls for the Peters Cup championship at 7 p.m. Saturday March 6 at the Cornerstone. Stevens Point ends its season 12-15-1.

St. Norbert led 1-0 after one period thanks to Johan Ryd's power-play goal 13 minutes 11 seconds into the game. The Green Knights had five power-play chances in the period but couldn't bolster their lead.

The Green Knights added to their lead on Brandon Longley's ninth goal of the season at 7:39 of the second period. Adam Hammerbeck then finished off a solid play with a goal at 12:21, and Kurt Astle's unassisted power-play goal at 13:08 gave St. Norbert a quick 4-0 lead.

Things fell apart quickly for Stevens Point in the third period, with the Pointers getting whistled for five minors in the first 9:28 of the frame. Astle went far post for a power-play goal at 7:46. Tyler Allen then finished off a breakaway at 9:28, and Cody Keefer's power-play score at 16:08 closed out St. Norbert's scoring.

St. Norbert outshot UW-Stevens Point 52-25 and finished 4-for-15 on the power play. B.J. O'Brien made 23 saves for St. Norbert. Nick Graves made 45 saves for the Pointers, who were 0-for-4 on the power play.