Belanger's Overtime Game-Winner Lifts St. Norbert to Seventh Peters Cup Title

From Sports Information Director, March 8, 2008 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GREEN BAY - Marc Belanger scored the overtime game-winner to lift St. Norbert College to a 4-3 overtime triumph over the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the championship game of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Peters Cup Playoffs.

The Green Knights (24-1-4) extended their unbeaten streak to 26 games and captured their seventh Peters Cup title. St. Norbert was tied with UW-Superior for most NCHA Playoff titles with six.

A sprawled Belanger softly deflected the puck over Stout goaltender Mike Stone's leg off an initial Steven Sleep drive for his 22nd marker of the season.

St. Norbert led 2-1 after two periods but found itself trailing 3-2 when Stout scored twice in the first 5 minutes 2 seconds of the third period. Stout got the two goals when the Green Knights were unable to clear the puck from in front of the net, with Robert Carr and Luke Schroeder getting the markers.

Brad Herman scored the equalizer for St. Norbert at 6:51 of the third on an unassisted score.

St. Norbert jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Tyler Allen poked home a rebound at 9:19, followed by a Sam Tikka power-play goal at 16:36. Tikka walked in from the high slot and banged the puck in off the post for the score.

Scott Motz answered for Stout 31 seconds later for the Blue Devils first score. Neither team would score again until the third-period flurry.

Kyle Jones, who led the team in a victory lap around the Cornerstone rink with the Peters Cup in tow, registered his 84th career win with 31 saves, including a 14-save second period when the Blue Devils had three power-play opportunities.

Stone was up to the task for Stout as well, making 35 stops.

Sleep finished with three assists for St. Norbert, while Allen added an assist for two points. Schroeder had an assist with his goal for two points for Stout.