Hamline University
December 31, 2011

Piper Pucksters End Skid With Tie

It was, to say the least, an unusual way to end the calendar year. Hamline's men hockey team roared from behind to score three goals in the third period to take the lead over Connecticut College. An untimely penalty, however, had severe consequences and the Pipers were forced to settled for a 3-3 overtime tie with the Camels in the third place game of the Pathfinder Bank Classic in Oswego, NY.

 
Technically, Hamline finished in fourth place when they lost a shootout. But the NCAA doesn't recognize the results of this type of extracurricular activity. So it goes in the books as the game that ended HU's five-game losing streak. Overall, Hamline is 5-8-1 for the 2011 portion of their schedule.
 
Credit for the deadlock has to be divided among several players. Goalie Matt Hemingway recorded 22 saves and was particularly sharp near the end when Hamline was forced to play shorthanded for eight of the game's final eight and half minutes. All three of CC's goals came on power plays.
 
Co-starring honors go to Cam Stowers, who had a goal and an assist in a 12-minute segment in the third period. Zach Johnson and Jordan Van Gilder also deserve note for their goals in that same time frame.
 
The Camels grabbed a 1-0 lead late in the first period and held onto it for the game's first 42:05. That's when Stowers fed Johnson for the first HU goal to tie the game. Van Gilder broke the tie at 6:58. When Stowers made it 3-1 at 14:21, it looked like HU was headed to victory.
 
But Ryan McElhone was whistled for hooking at 16:30. A minute later, Brian Arrigoni was tagged with a minor and a major on the same play, leaving HU two players short for 54 seconds. The Camels took advantage to score at 17:49 and the Pipers were still a man short. With the goalie out, CC scored with 14 seconds left to tie the game at 3.
 
HU was short a player for the first 4:36 of overtime but they shut the Camels down cold, holding them shotless for the extra session. Hamline's Danny Muck was named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
The Pipers finally get to see friendly faces when they return home January 7 to host Wisconsin-Stout in a non-conference game at Vadnais Heights Sports Complex. Game time is 2:00 p.m.