PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The No. 14/14 Providence College men's ice hockey team opened the season with a 5-1 win over the No. 11/11 Minnesota State Mavericks, 5-1, on Friday, Oct. 11 at Schneider Arena. The Friars recorded a win in their season opener for the fifth consecutive season as well as the first win in the newly renovated Schneider Arena.
After trailing going into the second period, the Friars responded with five goals in the final two periods to seal the win. Junior Ross Mauermann (Janesville, Wis.) evened the game at 1-1 early into the second period with a shorthanded goal. Sophomores Mark Jankowski (Dundas, Ont.) and John Gilmour (Montreal, Quebec) each tallied a pair of goals, with the game winner coming from Gilmour at 12:05 of the second period.
Friar goaltender Jon Gillies (South Portland, Maine) stopped made 25 saves in the game, and was perfect following the lone goal by the Mavericks, scored at 4:41 of the first period.
Following the first period of play, the Mavericks led 1-0. A turnover in the neutral zone allowed Minnesota State sophomore Bryce Gervais to break into the offensive zone. He fired a shot from the left face-off circle that banked into the net after hitting the goal post. The goal, scored at 4:41 of the period, was assisted by Jon Jutzi.
Consecutive goals by Mauermann and Gilmour gave the Friars the lead at the close of the second period. Mauermann evened the score at 1-1 during on a 4-on-3 penalty kill for the Friars. After forcing a turnover while shorthanded, the Providence forward skated in alone eventually putting a backhander past Maverick goaltender Stephon Williams, who made 22 saves in the loss, at 4:01 of the second period. The goal was Mauermann's fourth career shorthanded tally. Gilmour put the Friars ahead for good following a 2-on-1 rush with classmate Steven McParland (Schreiber, Ontario), who registered the lone assist. Gilmour sent a wrist shot over the glove hand of Williams from the right face-off circle at 12:05 of the period.
Jankowski recorded the first of his two goals just after a Friar power play expired after receiving the puck in the slot. Following passing from Gilmour and freshman Niko Rufo (Stoneham,Mass.), Jankowski spun around and fired a backhanded shot that made its way past Williams at 2:46 of the third period. Shortly after Jankowski's goal, Gilmour's notched his second goal of the night when he followed up on a shot on goal by junior Shane Luke (Dauphin, Manitoba) and capitalized on the rebound. The final goal of the meeting came at 7:59 when Jankowski found the puck loose in the crease after a shot by senior Derek Army (North Kingstown R.I.). Sophomore Tom Parisi (Commack, N.Y.) also assisted on the power-play goal.
The Friars and the Mavericks conclude their non-conference series tomorrow, Oct. 12 at Schneider Arena. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. and will be televised live on CoxSports on OSN.
Notes:The Friars have now gone 3-0-0 in season openers under head coach Nate Leaman ... Providence has started the past six seasons on home ice and has posted a 5-1-0 record over the span ... Freshman Niko Rufo recorded his first career point with an assist on Mark Jankowski's first goal ... Junior Ross Mauermann has registered six points in the three season openers he has played in (3 goals, 3 assists)... Sophomore John Gilmour recorded a career high in goals (2) and points (3) ... Mark Jankowski scored two goals in a season opener for the second consecutive year ... The last time the Friars had two players each score twice was 1/11/2013 against Massachusetts (Army and Demopoulos) ... Ross Mauermann now has scored 4 career shorthanded goals.