HALLAS POSTS SHUTOUT AS SAINTS TOP UNION, 4-0

Oct. 27: A surprise start in net turned into a shutout and a halt to a three-game losing skid for St. Lawrence University’s men’s hockey team in the third place game of the Governor’s Cup at the Times Union Center in Albany Saturday afternoon.

 

Graduate student John Hallas made just his second career start and was outstanding with a 20-save shutout and the Saints put Union College away with a three-goal third period in a 4-0 win to climb to 3-3-0 on the season.

Hallas, who played only 27 seconds last season, didn’t have to make a lot of saves, but made some big ones to nurse a 1-0 lead into the third period when the Saints finally broke it open after Union freshman goalie Corey Milan denied several Saint chances after the opening minute of the game. Hallas earned ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week honors for his performance.

 

“That was one tremendous performance by John Hallas,” said Saint coach Joe Marsh. “He deserved the start because of all he has done in practice over the last four seasons, and he played with a ton of poise and confidence.”

The Saints scored on the first shot of the game against the Dutchmen as Jordan Hack beat a Union defender to the puck in the corner and tapped it to Alex Curran who snapped a pass to Casey Parenteau, who was all alone at the top of the crease and one-timed it past Milan. Parenteau’s fourth goal of the season came at the 1:09 mark of the first period and was the only goal of the period as both goaltenders turned in some solid saves.

 

Hallas, whose only previous start was in February of 2006, made a big pad save on Jason Walters 3:05 into the game and came up big again on Mario Valery-Trabucco with 7:10 to go as the Union center found himself and the puck all alone in front, but Hallas stuffed the shot.

 

Hallas did not see a lot of shots in the second period, but the saves he made were big ones. He came up big in a five-on-three penalty kill midway through the period and stopped Stephane Boileau point-blank with 4:10 to play.

 

The Saints again had a ton of chances, but couldn’t light the lamp in the second. They opened the period with a flurry of shots and had a great chance to add to the lead when Aaron Bogosian walked in one-on-one with Milan 4:10 into the period, but the Union goalie kicked out the shot. He also stopped Jeremiah Cunningham on a shorthanded breakaway with 9:10 to go in the period as the Saints killed off 1:34 of five-on-three power play for Union.

 

Junior defenseman Dan Coughlin picked up his first collegiate point with a hard shot from the point which was saved, but turned into the second goal of the game when Kevin DeVergilio snapped a shot into the net off the rebound at 8:10 of the third. Freshman defenseman Matt Raley, playing just his second collegiate game, made it a 3-0 game with his first collegiate goal off a nice play by rookie forward Nick Pitsikoulis at 11:47. Pitikoulis worked the puck along the end boards with two defenders on him and then spotted Raley, who cruised into the short slot. Raley took the pass and snapped a shot inside the post to cushion the lead.

 

Zach Miskovic gave the Saints a 4-0 lead at the 16:41 mark as his power play shot from the point beat Milan along the ice with Mike McKenzie and Curran assisting.

 

“It was good to finally see some pucks go in the net,” Marsh added. “We were getting a lot of good looks, but not a lot of luck. The guys just kept working and got some good hard shots which turned into goals.”