The St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey team completed a weekend sweep of NCHC opponent University of Miami Ohio Red Hawks.

Friday night’s scoring began when Miami capitalized on a power-play opportunity 4:04 into the second period. Gordie Green scored the goal for the Red Hawks with assists going to Louie Belpedio and Kiefer Sherwood. At the end of the period St. Cloud capitalized on a power-play opportunity of their own when a point shot from Dennis Cholowski was tipped in the slot by Ryan Poehling to tie the game at 1-1.

The opening few minutes of the third period was where the Huskies separated themselves from the Red Hawks. Just 2:35 into the third Mikey Eyssimont scored in the slot on a toe drag move after being set up by Patrick Newell and Ryan Poehling. A mere 1:11 later Robby Jackson tipped a slapshot from the point by John Lizotte past Red Hawk goalie Ryan Larkin to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead.

 The Red Hawks got on the board late on a power-play goal by Kiefer Sherwood to pull within one. Just 19 seconds later Jimmy Schuldt added an empty net to regain the Huskies two goal lead and seal the deal for the win.

Saturday night the Huskies fell behind on the scoreboard yet again when Josh Melnick scored on a rebound in the crease to put the Red Hawks up 1-0. Just under two minutes later Jimmy Schuldt scored off a slapshot at the top of the face-off circle to tie the game.

The third period had back and forth action filled with scoring chances and big saves from the goaltenders. Late in the third Nick Poehling skated the puck through the neutral zone then broke his way into the Red Hawks’ zone. Poehling curled towards the boards then threaded the needle on a cross ice back door pass that connected with Jake Wahlin. Wahlin angled his stick just enough to get the puck passed Red Hawk goaltender Larkin to give the Huskies the 2-1 lead. Jacob Benson completed the scoring with an empty net goal.

The Huskies swept the weekend and improved to 4^th in the NCHC.

Other notes from the weekend:

Jeff Smith made 39 save on the weekend and has a record of 9-8-0

Mikey Eyssimont continued dominance of Miami extending his scoring streak to 8 games (3 goals and 5 assists)

The Huskies travel to Denver to face the Pioneers February 24^th and 25^th. The Huskies return home March 3^rd and 4^th for their last series of the season to play Colorado College.