The mission this week for the Saint Louis University hockey team this weekend is simple: win.
“We know what we have to do,” said coach John Bosch.
SLU faces No. 8 Arizona State tonight in Phoenix at 8:30. The Billikens then take on No. 6 ranked Arizona for a pair of games this weekend. With SLU ranked No. 17, this will be a golden chance for SLU to move into the top 12 teams in the American College Hockey Association. Those 12 squads make the playoffs at the end of the season.
If the Bills win two games this weekend, Bosch said, “It’d be a tough decision, for me, to not put us in the top 12.”
SLU had a chance to get closer to the top 12 this past weekend when they took on No. 15 Kent State for two games in Cleveland.
In the first game, SLU grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals by Tim Carbery and Tim Niedbalski. Late in the period, Kent State netted two goals. At the end of the second period, the score was tied 3-3.
Near the end of the period, an altercation broke out. A Kent State player blind-sided captain Adam Brouk. Brouk didn’t retaliate, but all of the players matched up to fight, including the goalies. All 12 players were ejected.
Freshman goalie Casey Martin replaced Justin Stiehr in the nets. Martin played well except for one mistake. With six minutes to play in the third period, a Kent State skater glided in on Martin. He attempted to poke check the puck. But the player sidestepped Martin and put the puck in the net to give KSU a 5-4 win.
In the second contest, Stiehr returned to the goal to stop 26 of 28 shots in a 5-2 victory.
“He’s playing under control,” Bosch said. “He’s playing his game.”
The Bills also received a solid effort from Dan Chadakhtzian. He notched two goals, breaking out of a little slump.
“He’s been a little quiet since the beginning of the second semester,” Bosch said. “We look for him to get back on track.”
Tom Arenos and Niedbalski each had two goals, one in each game.
Bosch didn’t mind the split on the road against Kent State.
“A split on the road against a team that’s ranked two spots higher than us is good.” Bosch said. “Guys stepped up.”
But the Bills need the wins if they are to make the playoffs. Arizona and Arizona State are two of the more respected teams in the ACHA. Because of travel, the squads mostly play West Coast, Division II schools. Bosch thinks that SLU can challenge them.
“It’s good for us to go down there and give them a test,” Bosch said.
The Billikens return home next weekend to face Lake Superior State for a two game set. The first game will be played at US Ice Sports in Fairview Heights, Illinois. The second game will be played at the St. Charles Family Arena at 3 p.m.
