First-year Johnny Panvica moves in on St. Olaf defense. Panvica had two goals in the game on Friday night. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
Sophomore Ben Vikich makes a play on an offensive transition. Vikich had two shots on goal against St. Olaf on Friday night. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
Senior Johnny Roisum followed by Vikich close in on St. Olaf defense. St. Thomas clenched the win against the Lions on Friday night 4-3. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas Men’s Hockey celebrates their second goal of the night. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
Senior Thomas Williams challenges the St. Olaf defense. Williams had two shots on goal against the Lions on Friday night. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
Senior Chris Benson muscles his opponent in a face-off in Friday night’s game. Benson had one assist against St. Olaf on Friday night. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
Senior D.J. Jones defends against the St. Olaf offense. Jones had six shots on goal on Friday night. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
First-year Broydon Stufko pushes against St. Olaf’s defense in a breakaway on Friday night. Stufko had one goal towards St. Thomas’s victory. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
First-year Brett Gravelle faces-off against St. Olaf. Gravelle had one assist in Friday night’s game. (Madison Ordner/TommieMedia)
First-year forward Johnny Panvica scored one second left in overtime Friday night to give St. Thomas a 4-3 men’s hockey victory at home over St. Olaf.
It was Panvica’s second goal of the game, coming off a pass from Jack Christensen. Brett Gravelle got the first assist.
It lifted St. Thomas to a 10-3-2 record in the MIAC, 12-7-5 overall.
Forward Michael Dockry scored the first goal, with assists from Tanner Barnes and Thomas Williams, to give the Tommies a 1-0 at 10:32 of the first period. Back to back penalties forced the Tommies to play strong defense for the remainder of the first period.
The energy picked up in the second period when both teams came out flying. St. Thomas received a penalty for slashing that led to St. Olaf’s first goal scored by forward Steven Sherman.
Two power play goals were scored in the second period. The first by Panvica put the Tommies on top until St. Olaf forward Will Dittrich returned the favor once again forcing a tie.
The third period also supplied a pair of goals, the first by St. Thomas forward Broydon Stufko, and the second by St. Olaf defensemen Tuukka Totro, which took the game into overtime.
St. Thomas goaltender Andrew Rohkohl played an aggressive game and made multiple critical saves. With one second left in overtime Panvica got a hold of the puck just in time to score the game winning goal for the Tommies.
“I was surprised, I kind of thought time was winding down and didn’t know if I made it before the buzzer or not,” Panvica said.
Senior forward Thomas Williams was surprised by the last second goal and happy to see the team’s effort pay off.
“That doesn’t happen too often there in the last second, we stuck with it the whole game and it was good to get rewarded,” Williams said.
St. Thomas concluded senior night with a quick ceremony that honored the nine seniors on the team and a 4-3 win over St. Olaf.
“They are a pretty special group, they are good kids and good students and they work really hard,” said head coach Jeff Boeser. “They are all ready to get out in the world and will be successful so I’m proud of them.”
Lauren Knisley can be reached at knis1243@stthomas.edu