A somewhat normal hockey game through the first period turned into penalty filled chaos with over 30 separate infractions called in the final two frames. When the dust had settled, the Lions scored six power play goals in a 9-3 victory over Sault College Friday night at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
The Lions jumped in front of the Cougars with three scores in the first eight minutes.
Nick Jones and
Austin Meers set up
Jack Louko for the first tally at 3:56. Two minutes later,
Brett Robinson sounded the horn on a play set up by Gabe Vijuk and
Easton Portner at 5:52, then Louko netted his second of the contest at 7:31, assisted by Meers and
Finnigan Greeley. From that point, well over 200 minutes worth of penalties were called. The second cross-checking minor against Lindenwood came at 16:36 and that led to the first Sault College goal at 17:01 to make it 3-1 Lions heading into the first intermission.
The second period began with three penalty calls in the first 70 seconds. After Lindenwood was called for interference at the seven-second mark, the Cougars were called for tripping just 11 seconds later and the teams played four-on-four until another penalty was called on Sault College at 1:10. With a four-on-three advantage, the Lions scored their first power play goal at 1:27 off the blade of
Brock Hart, assisted by Jones and Robinson, to lead 4-1. After another Cougars penalty at 1:57 and an interference call against Lindenwood at 2:27, the Lions still had the advantage and Portner found the back of the net at 3:00 with help from Greeley and Maupin for a 5-1 lead.
Things settled down for a moment and it was in that span that Sault College scored twice to get back into the game. An unassisted effort at 6:28 was followed by an even-strength goal at 8:36 to make it 5-3. That would be the final Cougars goal and last even-strength goal of the contest. Portner lit the lamp for Lindenwood at 15:27 with help from Greeley and
Chase McClellan, then Greeley followed with a power play goal at 16:33 on a play set up by McClellan and Maupin. A close game had suddenly turned into a 7-3 lead for the Lions and that score remained through the end of the period, but not before four Sault College players and one Lindenwood skater were disqualified for fighting.
Those tempers carried into the final period, but mainly just for the Cougars. In a span of 6:12, they were called for 83 minutes worth of infractions. The Lions took advantage with two additional power play goals. Greeley found the back of the net for his second of the game at 2:32 with help from
Gage Vierzba and Meers, then Vijuk connected at 4:01, assisted by Zach Maupin and McClellan. Shortly after that ninth goal for Lindenwood, the Sault College goaltender was involved in a major dust-up, leading to a change by the Cougars at 4:47. There were four more Sault College penalties in the following two minutes, but none after that. Lindenwood played keep-away and preserved the 9-3 win.
Justin Grenon earned the victory in goal as the Lions improved to 19-0 on the season. A second game in the series was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but it ended up being canceled.
Men's ACHA DII ice hockey gets a four-week break before starting 2026 with a two-game series against Miami (Ohio) January 9-10 at home. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. that Friday and 3:30 p.m. that Saturday at the Centene Community Ice Center.
