From AQSaints.com
By Cam Harper
The men’s hockey team played against the Western Michigan University Broncos ACHA D1 team this afternoon (Dec. 11) at 2:30 PM. AQ jumped out to an early lead in the first period and carried that lead until the final buzzer. Aquinas picked up a 5-2 win off the back of another huge game from Alex Klekotka, who scored a goal while picking up three assists.
Klekotka opened up the scoring in the first period by tucking the puck away at 9:26 in the first period. The goal was assisted by Mike Curran and David Elford. That assist gives Curran 11 on the season, adding to his team-leading 18 points on the year. At 3:11 in the period, Dylan Rumpke scored his fourth goal of the year. Assisting the goal was Klekotka and senior forward Russell Shengulette. Offsetting penalties just a minute later would lead to four-on-four hockey, and Elford capitalized, putting the Saints up 3-0 at 1:34 in the period. Klekotka was the lone assist on the goal as he contributed to all three goals in the first period.
The Broncos attempted to start a comeback halfway through the second period. Western Michigan brought the score back to 3-1 with a goal at 11:24 in the second period. However, Aquinas would stop any chance of a comeback just a minute later, as Daniel Nelson would put the Saints up by three goals again. That goal was assisted by Nick Long and Shengulette. AQ would outshoot WMU 14-7 in the period, and the extra opportunities would result in yet another goal for AQ, making the score 5-1. The powerplay goal was scored by Shengulette and assisted by Curran and Klekotka. The teams would enter the second intermission with the Saints holding a commanding four goal lead.
Aquinas kept the pressure on Western Michigan, putting 22 shots on target in the third period. However, WMU’s goalie would not concede another goal, shutting the Saints out in the third period. The final goal of the game was a consolation goal for Western Michigan, bringing the score to 5-2 at 10:09 in the third period. That score would be the final score as Aquinas picked up an impressive win.
Tyler Szturm picked up his second win of the season in net, saving 16 of 18 shots on target. Aquinas held a commanding 59-18 shot advantage over Western Michigan.
This result bumps AQ to 12-5 on the season with a 9-4 WHAC record.
This game will be the last game of the calendar year for the Saints. AQ won’t return to the ice until January 13th for a road game against Adrian.
(Originally published at https://aqsaints.com/news/2021/12/11/mens-ice-hockey-klekotka-and-shengulette-dominate-scoresheet-in-5-2-win-over-western-michigan.aspx)
