Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. – Saint John's hockey cruised to a 5-1 non-conference win over Bethel in the 2017-18 season opener as part of the MIAC Showcase on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine.

The Johnnies' fourth line of forwards scored all four of the team's even-strength goals and combined for 13 points (4g/9a) on the night.

Sophomore Kyle Wagner (St. Francis, Minn.) led the way with five points (1g/4a), including what proved to be the game-winning goal, while sophomore Brady Heppner (2g/2a; Crookston, Minn.) and junior Joe Chitwood (1g/3a; Carmel, Ind.) added four points apiece.

SJU was whistled for 13 penalties, but Bethel was only 1-for-9 on the power play. The Johnnies averaged the third-fewest penalty minutes per game (9.6) in the MIAC last season.

The Johnnies found the scoreboard early when sophomore defenseman Cole Souto (Yorba Linda, Calif.) scored a power-play goal 42 seconds into the game and Wagner made it 2-0 with a one-timer from Heppner with 12:20 left in the opening frame. 

Chitwood extended the Johnnies' lead to 3-0 with a top-shelf goal at the 15:27 mark of the second period before Bethel erased the shutout on a power-play goal with 2:19 to play in the period.

Heppner ended the night with a pair of goals in the third period. He gave SJU a 4-1 lead with a strong wrister 9:13 into the final frame and created a four-goal cushion following a scrum in front of the net with 2:47 remaining.

Sophomore goaltender Andrew Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) made 23 saves to earn his fifth career win.

SJU out-shot BU 35-24 in the win, its 13th in the series' last 16 meetings and sixth consecutive. Fourteen of the Royals' 24 shots on goal came on the man advantage.

The Johnnies take on Saint Mary's for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference game on Saturday, Oct. 28, in Blaine.