Breck at St. Paul Academy
7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22

A young St. Paul Academy team signaled it would be a force in the Class 1A ranks this year with a few key victories but perhaps none as important as a 3-1 win over No. 6-1A Breck (12-6-0) on Jan. 6 in the new Independent Metro Athletic Conference.

Jack Johnston (15-11-26) and Matt Dahlseide (14-21-35) scored in the third period to erase a 1-1 tie and give the No. 7-1A Spartans (14-2-0) the win in a game they were outshot 37-21. Andy Beran (8-90-0, 1.38, .930) played huge in goal with 36 saves for coach Bill Owens’ team. Beran, just a freshman, has allowed only four goals in his last five starts, stopping 103 of 107 shots. From a freshman? It’s not a surprise at St. Paul Academy, which is anchored by a host of youngsters. Leading goal scorers Dahlseide and Johnston are just sophomores, while assists leader Dev McCabe (8-22-30) is a freshman.

Breck is also led by underclassmen, as juniors Chase Ellingson (15-12-27) and Tyler Scott (12-10-22) are 1-2 in scoring for coach Les Larson.