Audio Highlights

The Central Wisconsin Saints dropped game one of their three game series against red-hot St. Louis 6-4. It was a story of what could have been as Central Wisconsin poured 46 shots on goal, but couldn’t hold a lead. St. Louis now climbs to within one win of catching the Saints in the standings.

The Frontenacs got on the board early as Saints’ goaltender Mitch Hanson mad an initial save on Brett Barczewski but was out of position for the rebound which was picked up by Andrew Jarvis and ripped top-shelf on a perfect backhand. Jordan Stradtman was credited with the secondary assist.

The Saints then took control of the game, controlling the pace and winning all the battles to lose pucks. They could seem to score even though St. Louis goaltender Bryan Lowery looked shaky through much of the opening frame.

The break finally came in the final minute of the first period as Max Culp banged home a rebound to put the Saints on the board. The newly formed first line of Jeremy Ebert and Mike Mitch flanking Culp were the assisting players.

Coming out of the locker room for the second period it was Central Wisconsin that struck early. Culp was credited with his second goal of the game just under one minute into the second period when an attempted centering pass to Mike Mitch deflected off of Lowery an into the net. Ebert was given credit for his second assist of the game on the goal.

The Saints could not hold the lead as Nicholas Busse skated free from behind the net and roofed a laser past the confused and out of position Hanson. The goal, assisted by Reed Link, came just over one minute after the Saint took the lead.

The Frontenacs retook the lead on the power play when Cameron Durham carried the puck into the zone and found Michael Pavolka waiting at the hashmarks. A quick shot trickled through Hanson’s five-hole and into the net. Coach Vichorek immediately pulled Hanson in favor of Steve Salek.

Three minutes later Timothy Livingston was the beneficiary of some puck luck to put St. Louis up by two. With Livingston bearing down Salek came out of his crease to make a save. Saints’ defenseman Brandon Hummel dove to try to stop the shot, but hit Salek and knocked the puck loose. It went to Livingston who had an easy goal. Jarvis and Nicholas Tobey were the assisting players on the marker.

The Saints weren’t done yet. Jeremy Ebert scored off of some good battle on the faceoff at the end of the period. The puck went to the point to Chase Engdahl who moved the puck to captain Kyle Harnish. Harnish put it towards the goal and Ebert buried the chance to bring the Saints within one.

St. Louis was the beneficiary of that all-important “next goal”. After sustaining a scary injury earlier in the third period Andrew Jarvis returned to the ice and notched his second goal and third point of the game. Cameron Durham pick up his second assist on the play.

The Saints fought back on the power play. Ebert stole the puck away from a retreating defenseman and made no mistake putting it past a prone Lowery. The goal was unassisted and it was Ebert’s fourth point of the night.

Central Wisconsin was given every opportunity to win when they were given a two minute 5-on-3 power play with about five minutes remaining. They couldn’t capitalize and rang two shots off posts in the process.

Jordan Stradtman sealed the win for the Frontenacs. He crashed the crease on a Coty Flynn shot and beat Salek to restore the two goal lead with 1:10 remaining in the game. Michael Pavolka had the second apple on the goal.

The two teams meet again on Saturday, January 28 at 3:00 PM at KB Willett Arena in Stevens Point.

Notes: Saints’ All-Star Mikey Tiberi missed the game with “serious flu-like symptoms”…Goaltender Jake Adams is nearing recovery and could return this weekend…Newly signed defenseman AJ Mussfeldt and Lucas Romaine were dressed for Central Wisconsin but did not play a shift.