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Breck uses late goal to beat St. Paul Johnson

By Loren Nelson, SportsEngine, 03/02/21, 5:45PM CST

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The Mustangs broke the 1-1 tie late in the third to take their first lead of the game and beat the Governors 2-1.


Senior defenseman Griffin Olness is congratulated by teammates after scoring in the third period to lift Breck to a 2-1 victory over St. Paul Johnson. The goal was the first for Olness in his three-year varsity career. Photo by Loren Nelson, SportsEngine

Griffin Olness wasn’t necessarily trying to score. Get the puck on net, yes. Get it in the net, well …

“I’m not really the scoring, finesse type,” said Olness, a Breck senior defenseman who scored the winning goal late in the third period on Tuesday night as the Mustangs slipped past St. Paul Johnson 2-1. “I’m no Beau Courneya.”

Olness was standing next to his buddy and fellow senior Courneya, the Mustangs’ leading scorer each of the past three seasons, as he replayed his shot from the point that deflected into the net with 4:27 remaining. 

“I was trying to find the guy low, like in the slot for the backdoor, but it kind of got tipped,” Olness, a three-year varsity member, said about his shot/pass that resulted in his first career goal. “I think it got part of the D-man’s stick, I don’t know.”

“A goal is a goal,” Courneya interjected.

“I’ll take it, yeah,” Olness said. “I’ll take it all day.”


Breck senior Beau Courneya points toward the blue line and Griffin Olness after Olness scored the winning goal in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over St. Paul Johnson. Photo by Loren Nelson, SportsEngine

First Report

Senior defenseman Griffin Olness’ first goal of his varsity career proved to be the game winner on Tuesday as Breck, ranked No. 10 in the Class 1A coaches' poll, slipped past St. Paul Johnson 2-1 at Gustafson-Phalen Ice Arena in St. Paul.

Olness fired a shot from the point that deflected off at least one St. Paul Johnson player and into the net. The goal came with 4:27 remaining and boosted the Mustangs (9-4-0) to their fourth straight victory.

St. Paul Johnson (5-6-0) outshot Breck 42-29. The Governors repeatedly fired into the brick wall that was Mustangs' goaltender Jack Thomson, a junior who was quick to smother rebounds, snuffing out any potential second-chance opportunities as he finished with 41 saves.

St. Paul Johnson’s Joey Moberg opened the scoring 4:18 into the first period. Breck’s Beau Courneya answered with a breakaway goal with 3:35 left in the opening period. Courneya also assisted on Olness’ goal.

Governors goaltender Damian VanDanacker finished with 27 saves. 

St. Paul Johnson's Hunter Fischbach tries unsuccessfully to slide the puck under Breck goaltender Jack Thomson Tuesday night. Photo by Loren Nelson, SportsEngine

St. Paul Johnson's Hunter Fischbach tries unsuccessfully to slide the puck under Breck goaltender Jack Thomson Tuesday night. Photo by Loren Nelson, SportsEngine

The MN Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.

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