Brett Gravelle netted a hat trick to lead North Iowa over Minnesota, 11-1.
Gravelle\’s first goal came 18:03 into the second period. He then added goals at 18:38 into the second and at 16:26 into the third.
Minnesota trailed by one after the first period, but North Iowa went into the second intermission with a 5-1 lead and never looked back.
North Iowa was led by goalie Zack St. John, who finished with 27 saves while allowing one goal. Despite the solid performance, St. John will actually see his goals against average rise, as it stood at 0.92 entering the contest.
North Iowa forced its penalty killing units to work especially hard during the game, picking up five minors and four majors for 70 minutes in penalty time. North Iowa surpassed its season average of 16.0 penalty minutes per game. North Iowa\’s offense rang up 47 shots on Minnesota\’s net. North Iowa surpassed its usual scoring output this season. This season, North Iowa averages 6.3 goals per contest.
North Iowa also got points from Joe Burgmeier, who also racked up two goals and three assists, Austin Jackson, who also registered two goals and one assist, and Jack Stang, who also had one goal and one assist. Sean Mallonee also scored for North Iowa. In addition, North Iowa received assists from Eric Piatt, Alec Nichols, and Riley Meyer, who each chipped in one and Mitch Parsons, Connor Bump, and Carmen Dalesandro, who contributed two each.
Minnesota\’s penalty box was a popular destination as the team totaled four minors and four majors for 68 minutes in penalty time. Minnesota had been averaging 18.0 minutes in penalties per game.
Minnesota was led by Jacob Aberwald, who scored the team\’s only goal. Aberwald scored on the power play 14:38 into the second period to make the score 2-1 North Iowa. Minnesota had taken the advantage when North Iowa\’s Burgmeier got sent off for high sticking. Alec Skar picked up the assist.
North Iowa registered one goal on three power play opportunities. Dakota McDonald recorded 36 saves for Minnesota. Minnesota registered one goal on four power play opportunities.