2024-25 SJU Hockey Program by CSB+SJU

2024-25

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SEASON PREVIEW

The Saint John’s University hockey team has its sights set on improving this season.

A year ago, the Johnnies finished 6-9-1 in MIAC play, 9-12-3 overall and tied for fifth in the MIAC regularseason standings – seeing their streak of five-straight conference playoff appearances come to an end.

But two of those losses last season came during 3-on-3 overtime, and the team returns 83.8 percent (52 of 62 goals scored) of its scoring from a year ago.

Here is a more detailed look at the 2024-25 Johnnies:

Goaltender Duo

The Johnnies return both goaltenders who split time in 2023-24. Junior Jon Howe (Chanhassen, Minn.) led the way last season with a 6-4-2 record, 2.32 GAA and a .922 save percentage (343 saves) in 13 games (12 starts). Senior Bailey Huber (Mahtomedi, Minn.), meanwhile, looks to bounce back from a losing record – 3-8-2 – a year ago. He posted a 2.78 GAA and .911 save percentage in 13 games, though the Johnnies’ offense supplied him with only 2.1 goals per game in support. Huber led the conference with a 2.15 GAA and was third in save percentage (.918) while posting an 11-5-3 record with two shutouts in 2022-23.

The Captain from Georgia

Senior forward Matt DeRosa (Alpharetta, Ga.) was elected by the Johnnies as their team captain in 2024-25 after being named All-MIAC honorable mention last season. He played 13 of the 16 league games and led SJU in goals (6), tied for the team lead in points (9) and tied for second in plus/minus rating (+5) in conference play. Overall, DeRosa suited up for 22 games and led the team in goals (8), tied for first in plus/ minus (+6) and was second in points (13). He begins his senior season with 29 points (15g/14a) and a +18 in 67 career games.

Assistant Trio

DeRosa will be joined by three assistant captains this season: senior forwards Jackson Sabo (Rosemount, Minn.) and Garrett Smith (Eden Prairie, Minn.), and junior defenseman Mason Campbell (Rosemount, Minn.). Sabo begins his senior season with 22 points (9g/13a), including four game-winning goals, in 48 career games. Smith, meanwhile, totaled a career-high seven points (4g/3a) last season and has 16 points (5g/11a) and a +14 in 52 career games. A member of the All-USCHO Rookie first team as a freshman in 2022-23, Campbell has 23 points (10g/13a) in 50 career games from the blue line.

Seasoned Contributors

The Johnnies return seven upperclassmen – three forwards and four defensemen – who have contributed to the program’s past success. Senior forward Spencer Rudrud (Eden Prairie, Minn.) played all 25 games and finished second on the team in assists (8) and tied for third in points (12) last season. He has 42 points (10g/32a) in 66 career games. Senior forward Cody Carlson (Buffalo, Minn.) totaled six assists

in 16 games a year ago and has 18 points (4g/14a) in 46 career contests.

On the blue line, senior Cooper Anderson (White Bear Lake, Minn.) posted five assists in 20 games and tied for the team lead with a plus/ minus rating of +6 last season. He has nine points (1g/8a) and a +13 in 37 career games. Senior Danny Eckerline (Orono, Minn.), SJU’s mostexperienced defenseman with five points (2g/3a) in 74 career games, is back alongside a pair of juniors in Zach Enebak (Lakeville, Minn.) and Michael Spinner (Prior Lake, Minn.). Enebak touts five assists in 17 career games, while Spinner has nine points (3g/6a) and a +9 in 32 career games.

Instant Impact

A pair of transfers saw significant ice time for the Johnnies last season. Junior defenseman Conner Couet (St. Michael, Minn.) collected six points (1g/5a) and a +5 in 22 games, while senior forward Justin Thompson (Woodbury, Minn.) registered six points (3g/3a) in 10 games after joining the team during the holiday break.

Ready for Year 2

Seven sophomore forwards made immediate contributions as freshmen for the Johnnie hockey team in 202324. Jack Wandmacher (St. Louis Park, Minn.) played all 25 games and led the team in points with 14 (7g/7a) and two game-winning goals. Jackson Bisson (Edina, Minn.) was the sixth Johnnie in double digits last season with 10 points (3g/7a) in 24 games, while Cam Boche (Lakeville, Minn.) added nine points (2g/7a) in 24 contests. Logan Lyke (Medina, Minn.) totaled eight points (3g/5a) in 22 games and the tandem of Jackson Borst (Edina, Minn.) and Jacob McPartland (Victoria, Minn.) posted

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Huber Howe

SEASON PREVIEW

six points apiece. Borst tied for the team lead with a +6 and collected his six points (3g/3a) in 16 games, while McPartland registered his six points (4g/2a) in 22 games. Chris Kernan (Maple Grove, Minn.) added five points (1g/4a) in 15 contests.

New Assistant Coaches

Former Bethel assistant coach Travis Tollette joined the Johnnies’ coaching staff in July. He served as an assistant coach for the Royals for five seasons from 2018-23. The Andover native coached at the youth, high school – as an assistant coach at Providence Academy for two seasons (2016-18) – and elite league levels for five years. In 202122, Tollette helped lead Bethel to its first MIAC playoff appearance in 14 years and the Royals became just the second team defeat U.S. National Under-18 Team in the last 20 years on Oct. 15, 2022 (4-2).

Tollette replaces Cory Thorson, who left SJU to become the St. Cloud Youth Hockey Association’s director in June and serve as an advisor for InsideEdge Hockey. The Johnnies totaled a 94-71-28 (.560) record, including a 63-36-16 (.617) mark in MIAC play, with five MIAC Playoff appearances and the 2019-20 MIAC regular-season championship during his eight seasons (2015-17, 2018-24) on staff. Thorson, however, will still

assist SJU in a limited, volunteer capacity in 2024-25.

Noora Räty has also joined SJU as its goaltender coach. Raty is in her first season as an assistant coach for the Division I St. Cloud State women’s team and will also work with the Johnnies’ goalies. Räty represented Finland in four Olympic Games and nine IIHF World Championships, winning two Olympic bronze medals and five IIHF medals (one silver and four bronze). Collegiately, Räty was a two-time All-American and won two national championships at Division I Minnesota. She owns the NCAA record for winning percentage in a season (1.000/38-0 in 2013), is second in career goalie shutouts (43), tied for second in career goalie wins (114) and is fifth in career save percentage (.946).

Another new face within SJU’s coaching staff this season is Dave Laliberte. A 2000 graduate of SJU, Laliberte served as head hockey coach at Saint Benedict from 200305 and will serve the Johnnies in a volunteer role.

The 2024-25 Schedule

The Johnnies’ 2024-25 schedule includes 12 home games at St. Cloud State’s Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (HBNHC), with six on Thursday night, as well as two neutral-site games at the Municipal Athletic Complex (MAC) in St. Cloud.

The Johnnies open the 2024-25 season Nov. 2 at Wisconsin-River Falls and start the conference schedule Nov. 7 vs. St. Scholastica at the HBNHC. SJU begins a threegame homestand at the HBNHC by hosting River Falls Nov. 14 for the return game, Wisconsin-Stout for Senior Night on Nov. 16 and the

series opener vs. St. Olaf on Nov. 22. The team wraps the 2024 portion of its schedule against Bethel (home on Dec. 5).

SJU kicks off the New Year with six-straight non-conference games, starting with home games against Skidmore (N.Y.) and Lake Forest (Ill.) Jan. 3-4. Skidmore finished 19-7-2 and fell to Hobart (N.Y.), the two-time defending Division III champions, in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) title game. The Johnnies travel into northern Wisconsin to face Northland (Jan. 10) and Wisconsin-Superior (Jan. 11), and completes the non-conference ledger against Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Jan. 17) and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Jan. 18) at the MAC. UWEC posted a 17-9-2 record and fell to the Pointers, who won both the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s (WIAC) regularseason and playoff titles for a trip to the NCAA Tournament, in the league’s championship game. UWSP registered a 21-6-2 record in 2023-24.

The Johnnies complete the regularseason schedule by hosting the opener in each of the final five series: Saint Mary’s (home on Jan. 23), Hamline (home on Jan. 30), Gustavus Adolphus (home on Feb. 7), Augsburg (home on Feb. 14) and Concordia (home on Feb. 20).

The MIAC Playoffs start with the quarterfinal game (No. 4 vs. No. 5) on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the high seed. The MIAC semifinals follow on Saturday, March 1 and the MIAC championship game, which determines the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs, is Saturday, March 8.

Sports coverage to yo u . J o h n n i e s

ANDY RENNECKE Sports Editor

2024-25 ROSTER

Johnnie Captains

DOUG SCHUELLER

Doug Schueller returns for his 17th season as the head hockey coach at Saint John’s University in 2024-25.

The White Bear Lake (Minnesota) High School graduate boasts a record of 189-162-48 (126-91-26 in MIAC play) since taking the helm of the Johnnies’ program prior to the 2008-09 season.

During his tenure, he has twice led his teams to MIAC championships, in 2012-13 and 2019-20, and was named MIAC Coach of the Year following both of those seasons.

After helping lead White Bear Lake to two berths in the state tournament as player, Schueller played two seasons of junior hockey with the Twin Cities Vulcans.

He went on to be a three-time team captain at Division I Bowling Green, appearing in 138 career games and recording 16 goals and 30 assists as a defenseman. A 1997 draft pick of the NHL’s Florida Panthers, he played three years of minor hockey in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the East Coast Hockey League after college, then later played two seasons overseas in England.

A sports management major at Bowling Green, he maintained a 3.59 GPA and later went on to earn a Master’s degree in business administration and sports management from the University of Coventry (England) Business School in 2005.

Following his playing career, Schueller was an assistant coach with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL). During the 2005-06 season, he helped coach the team to a 43-13-4 (.750) record and the Anderson Cup

COACHING STAFF

championship. He also helped six defensemen secure NCAA Division I scholarships.

He then returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach where he was responsible for Bowling Green’s defensemen and recruiting efforts.

Schueller and his wife Carrie live in nearby Sartell with their daughter Aubree and sons Dawson and Luca.

Coaching Records

THE JOHNNIE HOCKEY EXPERIENCE

There have been many big moments over the course of Jackson Sabo’s four seasons at Saint John’s.

But if the senior forward had to pick one that stands out most, it would probably be scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Johnnies past Augsburg 5-4 outdoors under the lights in White Bear Township as part of Hockey Day in Minnesota Weekend in January of 2023.

“That’s probably the coolest goal I’ve ever scored,” said Sabo, who immediately skated over to celebrate with a throng of SJU faithful behind the glass. “The game was so fun, and the atmosphere was so cool to be part of.”

But being part of marquee events like Hockey Day in Minnesota is just one of the things that has made the hockey experience at SJU so special for this year’s senior class.

There was also the 11-day trip the Johnnies took to Australia in May of 2023, visiting Sydney and Newcastle, playing three games against Australian professional teams and seeing places like the Sydney Opera House.

“That’s probably the coolest goal I’ve ever scored”

“We went to a petting zoo on a farm, and we got the chance to hang out with kangaroos,” Sabo recalls. “They’re quick. They can really get moving.”

“I remember we went to a beach at sunrise,” added senior forward Matt DeRosa. “We had coffee and just sat around talking. It was nice just to chill a little with your teammates and take in this beautiful scenery.”

The study-abroad experience is an important part of campus life at SJU and the College of Saint Benedict. But winter sports athletes’ seasons span both semesters, making it difficult for them to participate.

That’s why Johnnies coach Doug Schueller has made a commitment that his team will take an international trip at least once during the four years a player spends on campus.

In recent years, the team has also been to Japan and Germany and Northern Italy. Along the way, SJU has played some hockey. But Schueller said that’s not really what these trips are about.

“It’s more about giving our players the opportunity to experience different countries and cultures,” he said.

“It’s a chance to visit places most of our guys have never been to before. And when we do our senior exit surveys, it’s always those trips that our players cite as their most memorable experiences during their time here.”

The commitment to travel extends into the season itself. Schueller also tries to schedule one trip to play out east during a player’s four-year career at SJU. Last season, that

Sabo

HOCKEY

meant the Johnnies journeyed to Utica, New York where they tied host Utica, which was ranked No. 3 in the nation in Division III, and beat No. 8 Oswego State 4-2.

But the final scores are not what Sabo looks back on most fondly.

“We got to stay in a hotel and just hang out as a team,” Sabo

said. “Making a trip like that helps everyone get to know each other better and grow closer. It was a real team-building experience.”

DeRosa – an Alpharetta, Georgia native – said the close-knit nature of the Johnnie hockey program may be the biggest selling point of all. Each year, for example, the team routinely

pitches in to help its freshmen and transfer players move in on campus.

“From Day 1, I’ve felt welcomed here with open arms,” he said. “It felt like I had 27 built-in best friends from the moment I set foot on this campus. That’s something that really means a lot when you’re coming into a new situation.”

SENIORS

16 COOPER ANDERSON D - Sr. - 6-0 - 185 - St. Paul, Minn./El Paso (NA3HL)

2023-24: Appeared in 20 games...totaled five assists…tied for first on the team with a plus/minus rating of +6… Academic All-MIAC.

2022-23: Suited up for the Johnnies in four games…recorded an assist…Academic All-MIAC.

2021-22: Played 13 games…recorded three points (1g/2a)…AHCA All-American Scholar.

Personal: A 2019 graduate of White Bear Lake High School…collected 27 points (5g/22a) in 39 games for the NA3HL’s El Paso Rhinos in 2020-21…scored a goal in 30 games with the NAHL’s New Mexico Ice Wolves in 201920…is also a member of the SJU tennis team…shoots left…son of Will and Christine Anderson of White Bear Lake, Minn….father played hockey at Division I Minnesota…older brother, Austin, played tennis at Division I Kennesaw State…Global Business Leadership and Mathematics double-major.

15 CODY CARLSON F - Sr. - 5-11 - 185 - Buffalo, Minn./Minnesota Moose (USPHL)

2023-24: Suited up for 16 games…collected six assists…Academic All-MIAC…AHCA All-American Scholar. 2022-23: Appeared in 16 games…totaled six points (2g/4a) for the second-straight season.

2021-22: Played 14 games for the Johnnies…recorded six points (2g/4a) …collected two assists Feb. 12 vs. St. Olaf.

Personal: A 2018 graduate of Buffalo High School…played 102 games over two seasons (2019-21) for the USPHL’s Minnesota Moose…served as the team’s captain in 2020-21…totaled 156 points (47g/109a) …shoots left…son of Bob and Shannon Carlson of Buffalo, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

14 MATT DEROSA F - Sr. - 6-1 - 195 - Alpharetta, Ga./Rochester (NA3HL)

2023-24: Played 22 games…led the team with eight goals and was second with 13 points (8g/5a)… tied for first on the team with a plus/minus rating of +6…All-MIAC honorable mention…Academic All-MIAC…CSC Academic All-District at-large honoree.

2022-23: Appeared in 24 games for SJU…registered 10 points (3g/7a) …Academic All-MIAC.

2021-22: Played 23 games for the Johnnies…recorded six points (4g/2a) …AHCA All-American Scholar.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Chattahoochee (Ga.) High School…played 135 games over three seasons (2018-21) with the NA3HL’s Rochester Grizzlies…collected 140 points (76g/64a) …also played eight games for the NAHL’s Austin Bruins over the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons…shoots left…son of Don and Lori DeRosa of Alpharetta, Ga… Computer Science major.

5 DANNY ECKERLINE D - Sr. - 6-0 - 170 - Orono, Minn./Minnesota Magicians (NAHL)

2023-24: Played all 25 games…recorded a goal and an assist…Academic All-MIAC…AHCA All-American Scholar… CSC Academic All-District at-large honoree.

2022-23: Suited up for 25 games…posted two points (1g/1a) …AHCA All-American Scholar…Academic All-MIAC. 2021-22: Played 26 games for the Johnnies…recorded one assist…AHCA All-American Scholar.

Personal: A 2019 graduate of Orono High School…played 47 games for the NAHL’s Minnesota Magicians from 2019-21…totaled three assists and scored a postseason goal…. also recorded an assist in two games for the North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL) in 2020-21…shoots right…son of Pete and Martha Eckerline of Wayzata, Minn…Economics and Global Business Leadership double-major.

29 BAILEY HUBER G - Sr. - 5-9 - 175 - Mahtomedi, Minn./Granite City (NA3HL)

2023-24: Made 13 starts in net…went 3-8-2 with a 2.78 GAA and a .911 save percentage (349 saves)…Academic All-MIAC.

2022-23: Suited up for 19 games…posted an 11-5-3 record (8-3-2 in the MIAC) …made 457 saves…led the MIAC with a 2.15 GAA and was third in save percentage (.918) …named the MIAC Men’s Hockey Defensive Player of the Week twice, on Oct. 31 and Jan. 16.

Personal: A 2019 graduate of Holy Family Catholic High School…appeared in 49 games over two seasons with the NA3HL’s Granite City Lumberjacks…posted a 30-15-2 record with six shutouts, a 2.33 GAA, .920 save percentage and 1,295 saves…glove left…son of Shellynne Huber of Mahtomedi, Minn…Exercise and Health Science major.

21 SPENCER RUDRUD F - Sr. - 6-1 - 195 - Eden Prairie, Minn./New Mexico (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 24 games...second on the team with eight assists and third with 12 points (4g/8a).

2022-23: Appeared in 20 games…collected 10 points (1g/9a).

2021-22: Played 21 games for the Johnnies…led the team in assists with 15…third on the team in points with 20 (5g/15a) …collected four consecutive multi-point games…named to the six-man MIAC All-Rookie team.

Personal: A 2019 graduate of Eden Prairie High School…collected 67 points (29g/38a) over two seasons (201921) for the NAHL’s New Mexico Ice Wolves…shoots right…son of Dean Rudrud and Kim Rudrud of Eden Prairie, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

SENIORS & JUNIORS

JACKSON SABO F- Sr. - 6-3 - 180- Rosemount, Minn./St. Cloud (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 17 games for SJU…recorded two points (1g/1a) …Academic All-MIAC…AHCA All-American Scholar…CSC Academic All-District at-large honoree.

2022-23: Suited up for 18 games…totaled 12 points (4g/8a) …AHCA All-American Scholar…Academic All-MIAC. 2021-22: Joined the team for spring semester…played 13 games for the Johnnies…recorded eight points (4g/4a).

Personal: A 2019 graduate of Rosemount High School…tallied 78 points (31g/47a) in 74 games over three seasons…served as assistant captain in 2018 and captain as a senior in 2019…posted 19 points (5g/14a) in 42 games with the NAHL’s Janesville Jets in 2019-20…totaled four points (1g/3a) in 22 games between the Jets and the league’s St. Cloud Norsemen in 2020-21…shoots left…son of Kevin and Kelly Sabo of Rosemount, Minn… Accounting (Finance) major.

26 GARRETT SMITH F - Sr. - 5-10 - 180 - Eden Prairie, Minn./Rochester (NA3HL)

2023-24: Appeared in 15 games…recorded seven points (4g/3a).

2022-23: Suited up for 23 games…totaled four points, all assists. 2021-22: Played 14 games for the Johnnies…recorded five points (1g/4a).

Personal: A 2019 graduate of Eden Prairie High School…tallied 92 points (18g/74a) in 89 games over two seasons (2019-21) for the NA3HL’s Rochester Grizzlies…served as the Grizzlies’ captain in 2020-21…shoots left…son of Lee Smith and Kathy Smith of Eden Prairie, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

28 JUSTIN THOMPSON F – Sr. - 5-11 – 185 – Woodbury, Minn./Long Island (NCAA)

2023-24: Appeared in 10 games…totaled six points (3g/3a).

Personal: Transferred to SJU from Division I Long Island…a 2018 graduate of Tartan High School…amassed 70 points (32g/38a) in 54 games over two seasons (2016-18) for the Titans…served as the team captain as a senior… spent the 2018-19 season as the team captain for the Iowa Wild 18U AAA squad and put up 74 points (23g/51a) in 90 games…split the 2019-20 season with the NAHL’s Corpus Christi Ice Rays (2g/5a in 27 games) and Janesville Jets (4g/7a in 19 games)…served as team captain in 2020-21 with the Jets and racked up 25 points (5g/20a) through 37 games…appeared in 10 games for Long Island in 2021-22…shoots left…son of Dean Thompson and Tammy Thompson of Oakdale, Minn…Finance major.

Seniors Juniors

10 MASON CAMPBELL D - Jr. - 5-11 - 175 - Rosemount, Minn./Minnesota Magicians (NAHL) 2023-24: Played all 25 games…totaled seven points (4g/3a)…led SJU with 68 shots. 2022-23: Played 25 games for the Johnnies…totaled 16 points (6g/10a)…led SJU’s defensemen in the three major offensive categories, as well as a plus/minus ratio of +7…All-MIAC first team…All-USCHO Rookie first team.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Rosemount High School…recorded 66 points (22g/44a) in 81 games over three seasons with the Irish…served as the assistant captain in 2019-20…played two full seasons in the NAHL…posted 12 points (2g/10a) in 39 games for the Minot Minotaur’s in 2020-21…totaled five points (2g/3a) in 10 games for Minot in the first part of the 2021-22 season, but finished with 22 points (5g/17a) in 46 games with the Minnesota Magicians…shoots right…son of Troy and Jayna Campbell of Rosemount, Minn…Accounting (Finance) major.

JUNIORS

17 ROB CHRISTY F - Jr. - 6-0 - 195 - St. Paul, Minn./Minnesota Magicians (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 10 games…did not record a point.

2022-23: Saw action in 15 games for the Johnnies…posted three points (2g/1a).

Personal: A 2019 graduate of St. Thomas Academy…totaled 132 points (64g/68a) in 111 games over four seasons with the Cadets…served as the team’s captain as a senior in 2018-19…started his junior-hockey career with six points (3g/3a) in 19 games with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors before moving on to the NAHL’s Minnesota Magicians…totaled 49 points (27g/22a) in 126 games over two-and-a-half seasons with the Magicians…served as the team’s captain in 2021-22…shoots left…son of Ray Christy of St. Paul, Minn…older brother, Ray, plays hockey at Division I Colorado College…Global Business Leadership major.

4 CONNER COUET D – Jr. - 6-2 – 200 - St. Michael, Minn./UW-Eau Claire (NCAA)

2023-24: Played 22 games for the Johnnies…recorded six points (1g/5a).

Personal: Transferred to SJU from Wisconsin-Eau Claire…a 2020 graduate of St. Michael-Albertville High School…posted four points (1g/3a) in 13 games for the Blugolds…totaled 46 points (9g/37a) in 53 games over two seasons (2018-20) at STMA…ended the 2019-20 season with the NAHL’s St. Cloud Blizzard (two assists in 14 games) and Jamestown Rebels (one assist in four games)…split the 2020-21 season between the NAHL’s St. Cloud Norsemen (one assist in 10 games) and Odessa Jackalopes (1g/4a in 31 games)…posted 11 points (2g/9a) in 57 games for Odessa, while serving as an assistant captain, in 2021-22…shoots right…son of Bryan and Keri Couet of St. Michael, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

3 ZACH ENEBAK D- Jr. - 6-0 - 165 - Lakeville, Minn./North (H.S.)

2023-24: Appeared in 10 games for the Johnnies…tallied two assists.

2022-23: Played seven games for SJU as a freshman…recorded three points, all assists.

Personal: A 2022 graduate of Lakeville North High School…totaled 49 points (8g/41a) in 69 games over three seasons…shoots right…son of Jake and Becky Enebak of Lakeville, Minn…older brother, Henry ’23, played hockey at SJU…Global Business Leadership major.

30 JON HOWE G - Jr. - 6-3 - 190 - Chanhassen, Minn./Jamestown (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 13 games and started 12 for the Johnnies…went 6-4-2 with a 2.32 GAA and a .922 save percentage (343 saves) …Academic All-MIAC…AHCA All-American Scholar. 2022-23: Suited up for seven games for the Johnnies…went 2-5 with a 3.18 GAA and a .888 save percentage (174 saves) …AHCA All-American Scholar.

Personal: A 2019 graduate of Totino-Grace High School…posted a 19-8 record for the Eagles as a senior…went 6-7-2 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.37 GAA in 17 games for the NAHL’s Jamestown Rebels in 2019-20… appeared in three games for the NAHL’s Amarillo Wranglers to start the 2021-22 season, before returning to Jamestown for a 9-8-0 record, .906 save percentage and 3.03 GAA in 18 games…glove left…son of Angie and Doug Howe of Chanhassen, Minn…Accounting major.

1 TOM KURISCAK G - Jr. - 6-3 - 215 - Stillwater, Minn./Sheridan (NA3HL)

2023-24: Appeared in one game for the Johnnies and made eight saves.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of St. Paul Academy…appeared in 23 games over two seasons with the NA3HL’s Sheridan Hawks…glove left…son of Ron and Kim Kuriscak of Marine on St. Croix, Minn…Biochemistry major.

24 MICHAEL SPINNER D - Jr. - 6-0 - 200 - Prior Lake, Minn./Amarillo (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 18 games for the Johnnies…recorded six points (1g/5a)…Academic All-MIAC…AHCA AllAmerican Scholar.

2022-23: Suited up for 14 games…totaled three points (2g/1a).

Personal: A 2019 graduate of Holy Family Catholic High School…posted 40 points (9g/31a) in 55 games for the Fire…served as the team’s captain as a senior…played three seasons in the NAHL…collected 11 points (4g/7a) in 38 games for the Kenai River Brown Bears and five assists in 12 games with the Springfield Jr. Blues in 2019-20… collected seven assists in 33 games for the St. Cloud Norsemen in 2020-21 and nine points (1g/8a) in 39 games with the Amarillo Wranglers in 2021-22…shoots left…son of Bob and Senta Spinner of Prior Lake, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

SOPHOMORES

6 SAM BERRY So. – D - 6-0 – 190 – St. Louis Park, Minn./Fairbanks (NAHL)

Personal: A 2021 graduate of St. Louis Park High School…tallied 74 points (15g/59a) in 93 games over four seasons (2017-2020) for the Orioles…played 57 games in 2021-22 for the NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs, where he put up 13 points (3g/10a)…collected 10 assists the following season (2022-23) in 57 games for the Ice Dogs… finished with one goal in just three games through the 2023-24 Ice Dogs season before joining SJU in January 2024…shoots left…son of Christian and Sally Berry of St. Louis Park, Minn…Economics major.

20 JACKSON BISSON So. - F- 6-0 – 190 - Edina, Minn./North Iowa (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 24 games…tied for third on the team with seven assists…registered 10 points (3g/7a).

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School…collected 73 points (28g/45a) in 75 games over three seasons (2018-21) for the Red Knights…served as the team captain as a senior in 2020-21…ended the 202021 season with five games for the NAHL’s St. Cloud Norsemen and tallied five points (2g/3a) in 23 games for the team before finishing the 2021-22 campaign with five points (2g/3a) in 14 games for the Chippewa Steel…split the 2022-23 season with the Steel (6g/4a in 32 games) and the North Iowa Bulls (8g/5a in 26 points)…shoots right… son of Jeff and Amy Bisson of Edina, Minn…Exercise and Health Science major.

7 CAM BOCHE So. – F - 6-1 – 175 - Lakeville, Minn./Minot (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 24 games… tied for third on the team with seven assists…tallied nine points (2g/7a).

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Lakeville South High School…recorded 109 points (45g/64a) in 81 games over three seasons (2018-21) for the Cougars…ended the 2020-21 season with three assists in six games for the NAHL’s Minnesota Magicians and posted 22 points (11g/11a) in 37 games for the team in 2021-22…split the 202223 season between the NAHL’s Wisconsin Windigo (5g/10a in 29 games) and Minot Minotauros (2g/4a in 26 games)…shoots right…son of Laura and John Boche of Lakeville, Minn…older brother, Brendan, played football at Gustavus Adolphus…Finance and Global Business Leadership double-major.

23 JACKSON BORST So. – F - 6-3 – 185 - Edina, Minn./Boston (NCDC)

2023-24: Played 16 games…totaled six points (3g/3a)…tied for first on the team with a plus/minus rating of +6.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Edina High School…totaled 52 points (25g/27a) in 77 games over three seasons (2018-21) for the Hornets…posted two points (1g/1a) in 20 games with the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas in 2021-22… split the 2022-23 season between the NCDC’s Jersey Hitmen (2g/6a in 18 games) and Boston Advantage (8g/3a in 21 games)…shoots right…son of Jeff and Stacie Borst of Edina, Minn…older brother, Max ’24, played hockey at SJU…Global Business Leadership major.

2 PARKER GNOS So. – D - 6-2 – 200 - Excelsior, Minn./Chippewa (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 21 games…collected six points (2g/4a).

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Totino-Grace High School……totaled 38 points (6g/32a) in 46 games over two seasons (2019-21) for the Eagles…collected two assists in 23 games for Holy Family Catholic High School as a sophomore (2018-19)…registered 30 points (7g/23a) in 112 games over two seasons (2021-23) for the NAHL’s Chippewa Steel…served as an assistant captain as a senior at Totino-Grace and in his final season at Chippewa… shoots left…son of Reed and Jill Gnos of Excelsior, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

18 CHRIS KERNAN So. – F - 6-0 - 190 - Maple Grove, Minn./Wisconsin (NAHL)

2023-24: Played 15 games…totaled five points (1g/4a).

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Maple Grove High School…collected 84 points (34g/50a) in 81 games over three seasons (2018-21) for the Crimson…split the 2021-22 season between the NAHL’s Bismarck Bobcats (1g/7a in 24 games) and Minnesota Magicians (6g/5a in 21 games)…totaled 23 points (11g/12a) in 57 games for the NAHL’s Wisconsin Windigo in 2022-23…shoots right…son of Mike and Kelly Kernan of Maple Grove, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

22 LOGAN LYKE So. – F - 6-1 – 190 - Medina, Minn./Anchorage (NAHL) 2023-24: Played 22 games…posted eight points (3g/5a)…AHCA All-American Scholar.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School…tallied 11 points (2g/9a) in 29 games over two seasons for the Red Knights…posted 15 points (4g/11a) in 61 games over two seasons (2021-23) for the NAHL’s Anchorage Wolverines…recorded two assists in eight games for the Sioux Falls Power 18U AAA team in 202021…shoots left...son of Brian and Michelle Lyke of Medina, Minn…Accounting (Finance) major.

SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN

19 JACOB MCPARTLAND So. - F - 5-10 – 175 - Victoria, Minn./Granite City (NA3HL)

2023-24: Played 22 games…totaled six points (4g/2a)…AHCA All-American Scholar.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Holy Family Catholic High School…registered 34 points (19g/15a) in 59 games over three seasons (2018-21) for the Fire…was Holy Family’s team captain as a senior in 2020-21…posted two assists in two games for the NAHL’s Wisconsin Windigo and 46 points (18g/28a) in 51 games, including eight points (4g/4a) in eight playoff games, for the NA3HL’s Granite City Lumberjacks in 2022-23…registered 31 points (10g/21a) in 74 games across three levels of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Elite 18U program in 2021-22…shoots left… son of Pat and Jenny McPartland of Victoria, Minn…mother played Division I soccer at Wisconsin-Green Bay… father played hockey at St. Thomas…sister, Aly, plays lacrosse at Division I Niagara…Global Business Leadership major.

25 KASEN SAUER So. – F - 6-2 – 195 – Maple Grove, Minn./Wayzata (H.S.)

2023-24: Played three games…did not record a point.

Personal: A 2023 graduate of Wayzata High School…totaled 38 points (14g/24a) in 65 games over three seasons (2020-23) for the Trojans…shoots left...son of Kurt and Carmen Sauer of Wayzata, Minn... father was a defenseman in the NHL for seven seasons (2002-04, 2005-10) with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Colorado Avalanche and Phoenix Coyotes...Computer Science major.

13 JACK WANDMACHER So. – F - 5-10 – 180 – St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Cloud (NAHL)

2023-24: Played all 25 games...led SJU with 14 points (7g/7a)…tied for third on the team with seven assists.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of St. Louis Park High School…posted 115 points (47g/68a) in 89 games over four seasons (2017-21) for the Orioles…collected 15 points (3g/12a) in 51 games for the NAHL’s Corpus Christi Ice Rays in 2021-22…added 13 points (6g/7a) in 32 games as an assistant captain for the Ice Rays, and tallied 15 points (5g/10a) in 36 games for the league’s St. Cloud Norsemen, in 2022-23…shoots left...son of Paul and Kris Wandmacher of St. Louis Park, Minn...Global Business Leadership major.

Sophomores

Freshmen

11 GEORGE MOORE III Fr. – D - 6-0 – 200 – Little Falls, Minn./Alexandria (NA3HL)

Personal: A 2022 graduate of Little Falls High School…registered 72 points (21g/51a) in 98 games for the Flyers… collected 40 points (13g/27a) in 27 games as the Flyers’ team captain his senior year…played for the NA3HL’s Granite City Lumberjacks (0g/6a in 16 games), Yellowstone Quake (0g/0a in two games) and the Minnesota Loons (4g/5a in 17 games) in 2022-23…was the Loons’ assistant captain and posted 12 points (5g/7a) in 26 games before ending the 2023-24 season with the Alexandria Blizzard (1g/6a in 17 games)…shoots right…son of George and Jill Moore of Little Falls, Minn…Biochemistry major.

9 JORDAN NEWPOWER Fr. - F- 6-0 – 170 – Lino Lakes, Minn./North Iowa (NAHL)

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Centennial High School…garnered 37 points (25g/12a) in 69 games over three seasons (2018-2021) for the Cougars…spent 2021-22 with the NAHL3’s Mason City Toros and totaled 13 points (5g/8a) in 31 games…put up 30 points (14g/16a) in 26 games in 2022-23…played the 2023-24 season for the North Iowa Bulls and recorded nine points (3g/6a)…shoots left…son of Susanne and John Newpower of Lino Lakes, Minn…Global Business Leadership major.

PROUD

SPONSOR AND CONTRACTOR FOR JOHNNIE

ATHLETICS

All-MIAC

1975-76

Stacy ChristensenF

1977-78 Bob Hanson G

Rick Larson F

Andy Overman F

1978-79 Dick Gunderson D

Bob Hanson G

Jim Vucinovich F

1979-80 John Bazzachini F

Pat Conlin F

1981-82 Pat Conlin F

1982-83 Steve Stenbeck D

1983-84 Eric Olson F

1984-85 Mike Windschitl F

1985-86 Andy Clark D

John Korsmo D

Steve Persian F

1986-87 Andy Clark D

Steve Persian F

1987-88 Dave Charpentier F

Steve Persian F

Mark Stenbeck D

1988-89 Bart Brodt F

Pat Cronin F

1989-90 Pat Cronin F

1990-91 Bart Brodt F

Craig Herr F

Craig Hidde G

1991-92 Jeff Diebel F

Craig Herr F

Kurt Holstrom D

1992-93 Mike Hiniker F

1993-94 Mike Cronkhite D

Mark Ketzner G

Brian Wachtler F

1994-95 Mark Ketzner G

Todd Thul D

1995-96 Mark Ketzner G

1996-97 Jerr Johnson F

Nick Kulenkamp F

Ryan Mitchell D

Mark Rice G

Rob Skiba D

1997-98 Matt Erredge F

Nick Kulenkamp F

Mark Rice G

Tryg Sarsland D*

1998-99 Steve Aldrich F

Matt Erredge F

Bryan Romfo F

HOCKEY

1999-00 Steve Aldrich F

Chad Helmer D

2000-01 Chad Helmer D

John Konrad F

2001-02

Mike Possin F

Chad Schmidt D

Rick Talbot F

2002-03 Scott Bjorklund F

Rick Gregory G

Adam Holmgren D

Ryan Langenbrunner F

Darryl Smoleroff D

2003-04 Scott Bjorklund F

Adam Hanna G

Adam Holmgren D

Ryan Langenbrunne r F

Chad Schmidt D

Darryl Smoleroff D

Kevin Willey# F

2004-05 Scott Bjorklund F

Aaron Getchell F

Adam Hanna* G

Adam Holmgren D

Ryan Langenbrunner F

Darryl Smoleroff D

2005-06 Scott Bjorklund F

Adam Hanna G

Darryl Smoleroff D

Blake Williams F

2006-07 Justin Wild F

2007-08 Pat Eagles F

Jordan Swan D

2008-09 Pat Connelly F

2011-12 John Haeg F

Trent Johnson D

2012-13 John Haeg F

Justin Hochsprung F

Phil Johnson F

Saxton Soley# G

2013-14 John Haeg F

Phil Johnson F

Nick Senta D

2014-15 John Haeg F

2015-16 Andrew Commers F

Huba Sekesi F

Saxton Soley G

2016-17 Cole Souto D

Sam Valerius F

2017-18 Brady Heppner F

Sean Lang D

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Andrew Lindgren G

Sam Valerius F

2018-19 Jake Dittel D

Brady Heppner F

Andrew Lindgren G

Kyle Wagner F

2019-20 Jake Dittel D

Brady Heppner F

Jack Johnson F

Andrew Lindgren G

Auggie Moore F

Kyle Wagner F

2021-22

Mac Berglove G

Lewis Crosby F

Auggie Moore F

Jack Olsen D

Peter Tabor D

2022-23 Mason Campbell D

Lewis Crosby F

Auggie Moore F

Nick Michel F

#Co-MIAC Player of the Year

*MIAC Player of the Year

All-Americans

Academic All-Americans

1983 Steve Stenbeck D (first team)

2000 Steve Aldrich F (third team)

2002 Shawn Knorr F (third team)

2003 Rick Gregory G (second team)

2005 Adam Hanna G (third team)

2006 Adam Hanna G (first team)

2007 Tom Hartman D (second team)

2016 Daniel Tripicchio D (third team)

2017 Daniel Tripicchio D (second team)

1977-78 Bob Hanson G (NAIA)

1978-79 Bob Hanson G (NAIA)

Dick Gunderson D (AHCA)

1981-82 Pat Conlin F (NAIA)

1986-87 Andy Clark D (AHCA second team)

1997-98

Tryg Sarsland D (AHCA first team)

Matt Erredge F (AHCA second team) 1998-99 Matt Erredge F (AHCA second team) 2001-02 Mike Possin F (AHCA first team) 2002-03 Rick Gregory G (AHCA second team)

Ryan Langenbrunner F (AHCA second team) 2003-04

Scott Bjorklund F (AHCA first team)

Darryl Smoleroff D (AHCA first team)

Adam Hanna G (AHCA second team)

Adam Holmgren D (AHCA second team)

Kevin Willey F (AHCA second team) 2004-05

Adam Hanna G (AHCA first team)

Darryl Smoleroff D (AHCA first team)

Scott Bjorklund F (AHCA second team) 2005-06

Adam Hanna G (AHCA first team)

Scott Bjorklund F (AHCA second team)

Darryl Smoleroff D (AHCA second team) 2012-13 Saxton Soley G (AHCA second team) 2021-22 Mac Berglove G (AHCA second team)

RECORD HOLDERS

Saint John’s Individual Records

Most Games Played

Career 114

Most Points

Career 171

Season 60

Game 8

Most Goals

Career 91

Season 33

Mark Swenson (1995-98)

Matt Erredge (1996-99)

Craig Herr (1991-92)

Matt Erredge (1997-98)

Gordy Przybylski (1976) vs. Hamline

Matt Erredge (1996-99)

Craig Herr (1991-92)

Matt Erredge (1997-98)

Game 5 Bart Brodt (1/10/91) vs. St. Norbert, Wis.

Craig Herr (2/8/92) vs. Concordia-Moorhead

Most Assists

HOCKEY

Season 141 Bill Birrenkott (1999-2000)

Game 19 Chris Boelter (1991-92)

Saint John’s Goaltending Records

Most Saves

Career 2,769 Bob Hanson (1976-79)

Season 887 Bob Hanson (1978-79)

Game 86 Andrew Lindgren (3/2/19) vs. Augsburg

Best Goals Against

Career 1.77 Adam Hanna (2004-06)

Season 1.61 Adam Hanna (2003-04)

Most Shutouts by Goalie

Season 6 Adam Hanna (2004-05)

Most Shutouts by Goalie

Career 14 Adam Hanna (2004-06)

Most Wins by Goalie

Season 20 Adam Hanna (2004-05)

Saint John’s Team Records

Most Points

Season 438 (1996-97)

Most Goals

Season 169 (1996-97)

Game 17 vs. Hamline (1976)

Best Goals Per Game Season 5.3 (1991-92)

Best Goals Against Season 2.90 (1996-97)

Most Games Played Season 33 (1996-97)

Best Record (Wins) Season 26-6-1 (1996-97)

Best Record (Winning Pct)

Season 22-4-1 .833 (2003-04)

Most Power Play Goals

Season 52 (1991-92)

Most Shorthanded Goals Season 11 (1990-91)

Attendance

Game 4,410 vs. St. Thomas (2/12/05)

Career 81 Ryan Langenbrunner (2003-06)

Season 37 Tryg Sarsland (1997-98)

Game 6

Gordy Przybylski (1976) vs. Hamline

Most Penalty Minutes

Career 279 Robb Zavitz (1993-97)

Career 51 Adam Hanna (2004-06)

Most Min. Played by Goalie

Season 1,610 Bob Hanson (1978-79)

Career 4,809 Rick Gregory (2000-03)

100-Point Club

Matt Erredge 91/80 1999

Craig Herr 80/77 1992

Steve Persian 65/79 1988

Stacy Christensen 66g/76 1976 140 Nick Kulenkamp 62/78 1998 137 Bart Brodt 65/72 1991 132 Scott Bjorklund 52/80 2006

Ryan Langenbrunner 41/81 2006

Tom Nast 54/66 1997

Pat Conlin 56/60 1982

Rick Larson 52/61 1978

Jerr Johnson 40/72 1997

Jerry Kaehler 54/58 1988

Mike Musty 46/65 1965

Pat Cronin 56/53 1991

Brian Wachtler 54/54 1995

Paul Howe 61/44 1987

Mark Swenson 43/61 1998

Dave Charpentier 31/72 1989 102 Dick Gunderson 34/68 1979

John Haeg 34/67 2015

Herr Langenbrunner

Erredge

Gregory Hanna Hanson

LAST SEASON IN PICTURES

TEAM STAFF HOCKEY

TRAVIS TOLLETTE

Tollette is in his first season as an assistant coach for SJU in 202425. A 2013 graduate of Bethel University, Tollette served as an assistant coach for the Royals for four seasons from 2018-23. The Andover native coached at the youth, high school –as an assistant coach at Providence Academy for two seasons (2016-18) – and elite league levels for five years. In 2021-22, Tollette helped lead Bethel to its first MIAC playoff appearance in 14 years and the Royals became just the second team defeat U.S. National Under-18 Team in the last 20 years on Oct. 15, 2022 (4-2). Tollette and his wife, Gabrielle, have a daughter Harlee and live in South Haven.

CORY THORSON

Cory Thorson is entering his ninth season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2024-25. The 2014 St. Cloud State graduate previously served as a Johnnies assistant from 2015-17 before becoming the head coach and general manager of the NA3HL’s Billings Bulls, returning to SJU prior to the 2018-19 season. Thorson played four seasons of Division I hockey with the Huskies and scored 57 points (28g/29a) in 131 career games. He was a member of the Midwest Regional All-Tournament team when SCSU reached the Frozen Four in 2013. A graduate of Robbinsdale (Minnesota) Armstrong High School, he recorded 110 points (57g/53a) in 129 games over two seasons with the Owatonna Express of the North American Hockey League before enrolling at SCSU, and was a nominee for the NAHL Player of the Year award in 2010.

NOORA RÄTY

Räty is in her first season as the Johnnies’ goaltender coach and is also in her first season as an assistant coach for the Division I St. Cloud State women’s team. Räty represented

Finland in four Olympic Games and nine IIHF World Championships, winning two Olympic bronze medals and five IIHF medals (one silver and four bronze). Collegiately, Räty was a two-time All-American and won two national championships at Division I Minnesota. She owns the NCAA record for winning percentage in a season (1.000/38-0 in 2013), is second in career goalie shutouts (43), tied for second in career goalie wins (114) and is fifth in career save percentage (.946).

JUSTIN ROST

Rost is in his 12th year as an assistant athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach. He received his bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and his master’s degree in exercise science and education from Wayne State, Neb. Rost served as a graduate assistant from 2011-13 at Briar Cliff, Iowa, where he was the head athletic trainer for football and wrestling. Rost earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) licensure to be able to perform his dual position at SJU. Justin and his wife, Corrie, live in Avon with their four children, Nina, Patrick, Parker and Moriah.

TEAM DOCTOR

CHAD HOLIEN, M.D.

Dr. Chad Holien is the team doctor for the SJU hockey team. He received his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. He joined St. Cloud Orthopedics in 2022 and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Medical Association. Dr. Holien is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

MEDICAL STAFF

HOLLY BLENKER

Holly Blenker (formerly Remmenga) is now in her 12th year as an assistant certified athletic trainer at SJU, working with hockey and football. She is the Minnesota Director of Sports Medicine for NovaCare Rehabilitation, as well as the Concussion Care Coordinator for Saint John’s University Athletics. Blenker played college soccer at the University of North Dakota where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in psychology. She earned her master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

MANAGERS

BRINLEY ERBSLAND

Brinley Erbsland is entering her fourth season as the marketing manager for the SJU hockey team in 2024-25. The Firestone, Colorado native is a junior at the College of Saint Benedict with a double major in global business leadership and communication. She also works in marketing for the SJU athletic department and hopes to one day work in the NHL as a digital media coordinator.

MASON WOLD – Freshmen

GRANT LIMKE – Senior

OWEN QUAST - Senior, Student Strength Coach

FANDOM is TRADITION

SID-WATSON AWARD (2006)

About Adam Hanna

A native of Owatonna, Adam Hanna was in the words of John Harrington, “the backbone of three MIAC championships.” Hanna rewrote the record books at Saint John’s holding the career and singleseason records for wins, goals against average, save percentage and shutouts. Hanna had stunning career numbers for the Johnnies with a 1.77 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage while posting a 51-13-5 career record. In addition to his prowess between the pipes, Hanna was a member of Saint John’s MIAC champion and nationally ranked golf team.

Career Highlights

• 2006 NCAA Skills Challenge Participant at Division I Frozen Four in Milwaukee, Wis.

• 2006 & 2005 All-America First Team

• 2006 Academic All-America with a 3.69 GPA

• 2006, 2005 & 2004 All-MIAC

ABOUT THE SID WATSON MEMORIAL AWARD

The Sid Watson Award is the American Hockey Coaches Association’s (AHCA) highest honor for a Division III male hockey player.

Named in honor of the longtime Bowdoin College coach and administrator, Sid Watson, who was a multi-sport star at Northeastern University and played in the National Football League from 1955 to 1958 before becoming athletic director and head ice hockey coach at Bowdoin. He won 326 games from 1959 to 1983 as head coach.

The honor was bestowed on Watson as a result of a vote of Division III men’s head coaches following the 2004 AHCA Convention.

• 2005-06 & 2004-05 USCHO.com Preseason All-American First Team

• 2005 MIAC Player of the Year

• 2004 All-America Second Team

• 291-minute shutout streak from Feb.20-March 7, 2004

SCHOLARSHIP FEATURE

Scholarships help Deutschman thrive at SJU

It was one of his high school coaches who first put Saint John’s University on Jacob Deutschman’s radar.

Ben Sieben – an All-MIAC standout at wide receiver for the Johnnies in the late 1990s – is now an assistant coach at Anoka High School where Deutschman was the starting quarterback before graduating in 2022.

“I didn’t know much about Saint John’s before that,” Deutschman said. “But (Sieben) went here and he talked to me about it. So I took a visit and I really enjoyed the campus. When I discovered more about the quality of education that’s offered here, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

And it was scholarships that helped make that possible. Deutschman – an exercise and health science major who will be a junior this fall –currently receives the Agee Family Scholarship, as well as an academic achievement scholarship.

“It takes away so much stress when you know you have scholarships in place to help make everything work financially,” said Deutschman, who hopes to one day pursue a chiropractic career. “It allows you to focus your energy on academic success.”

Deutschman is doing just that while continuing as a member of the SJU football team.

“Jacob is a testament to the kind of young men that we have here at Saint John’s,” Johnnies head coach Gary Fasching said. “As a

member of our football team, Jacob has battled through a couple of injuries but has persevered. He had a very good spring for us, and we hope that he can carry that into the coming season”.

Deutschman is the oldest in a family of four children – two of whom are cousins whom his parents Brent and Sarah adopted after his aunt died of cancer and his uncle died of complications from ALS within a month of one another in 2016.

“That was a really rough moment to go through as a family,” he recalls. “My cousins lost their mother and father and we lost an aunt and uncle. It was hard, but we got through it, and it drew us even closer together.

“We’re a very tight-knit family.”

Those close familial ties are part of why he values so deeply the sense of

community he’s found at SJU and the College of Saint Benedict.

“If I hadn’t been able to come here, I would have missed out on the bonding experiences I’ve had with my classmates, as well as the oneon-one relationships I’ve formed with my professors and coaches,” he said. “I’ve made such great friends during my time here. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Which is why he’s so appreciative of the assistance scholarships have provided, and so grateful to the donors who’ve helped make that possible.

“I want to say thank you for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “It’s meant so much to me to be here.” Alumni

GROWING COMPANIES ENHANCING COMMUNITIES

Granite Partners is a private investment and long-term holding company founded in 2002 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with a mission to grow companies and create value for all stakeholders. We advance a culture of trust, innovation, and excellence as essential to 100-year sustainability, and we aspire to world-class wellbeing for everyone in the Granite community.

KEEPING UP WITH

Listen to Johnnie hockey all season long on your radio home for Saint John’s Athletics WBHR (The Bear) at 660 AM and 95.7 FM, and streaming at 660wbhr.com.

Veteran sportscaster Kurt Haider begins his third season as the play-by-play voice of SJU hockey. A native of St. Cloud, he has called 25 seasons of Division I hockey and two seasons of professional hockey in the ECHL before returning to Central Minnesota.

He’s also called Division I basketball games in The Great Alaska Shootout, along with summer collegiate baseball.

WBHR is a member of the Tri-County Broadcasting family of radio stations. Saint John’s football and basketball, and select SJU baseball games can all be heard on The Bear, an ESPN Radio affiliate.

With a huge daytime signal (second largest in the state), WBHR has the largest geographical coverage of any all-sports station. The Bear signal covers almost 10 to 15 times the area of any other AM station which covers sports in the local market.

The partnership between the station and SJU athletics began almost 20 years ago.

“We take pride in having The Bear being the voice of Saint John’s athletics,” said Gary Hoppe, operations manager of Tri-County Broadcasting, based in nearby Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

“We believe the alignment of Saint John’s athletics with The Bear, Minnesota’s Sports Station, is a match made in heaven,” added Herb Hoppe, president and general manager of Tri-County Broadcasting. “Saint John’s has an unrivaled tradition in small college athletics. We are thrilled to

HOCKEY

carry Johnnie football, basketball and hockey games on The Bear (now), and hopefully into the future.”

“The bandwidth of The Bear not only helps us reach our great fans in central and northern Minnesota, it also helps us recruit players like Brady Heppner (Crookston, Minn.), Ryan Kero (Hermantown, Minn.) and Brady Dahl (Rochester, Minn.),” SJU hockey coach Doug Schueller said.

“This great partnership helps us reach family, friends, prospects and fans of Saint John’s hockey.”

This season, over 20 Saint John’s hockey games and potential playoff games will be broadcast on The Bear.