ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Trine University men's hockey team came up just short of their hosts, opening the 2026 portion of their schedule with a 3-2 loss at the hands of St. John's University.

The Johnnies scored the first to take a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute of play. It was short lived with the Thunder responding in the 11^th minute. With St. John's playing offense a missed pass when over the blueline as a free puck. Luke deVries scooped it up in the neutral zone and capitalized on the breakaway with a low shot from the high slot.

Trine took a lead of their own in the 19^th minute. The team was working the power play offense in the forward zone. In quick succession, Alexander Babich passed to the near faceoff circle where Brody Simko forwarded it back to the point for Sam Antenucci. The senior passed the puck to the far circle where Logan Furstenau was ready to fire the shot into the back of the net.

The Thunder took the 2-1 lead into the first intermission. St. John's tied the game in the 11^th minute of the second period and then took back the lead in the final minute, giving the game a 3-2 score for the second intermission.

Despite dominating possession and shots in the third period, Trine was unable to find the back of the net and the 3-2 score went final. The Thunder had 19 shots on goal to just one by the Johnnies in the third period, they doubled up the opposition 40-19 overall.

Trine falls to 7-4-2 overall after the loss. They will square off in a rematch with St. John's tomorrow, Saturday, January 3. That game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT.