ST. CLOUD -- It seems like every Tech/Apollo hockey game is its own chapter. If that’s the case, last night’s game will be known as the Tanner Skaja chapter.

The Tech senior forward notched four goals and two helpers as the Tigers dominated the cross-town rival Eagles in the Granite City Showcase.

The game which was marred with physical play, started with five penalties in the first seven minutes.  One of those penalties resulted in the first goal of the game on a 5-on-3 power play. Skaja took a cross ice pass from Connor Wendt, took his time and buried the biscuit.

Skaja lit the lamp later in the first with a wrister from the half-board with assist from Davis Reinholtz.

Apollo closed the scoring in the first period and cut the lead in half with a nice goal from Dallas Haugen.

The hat trick for Skaja was completed in the second period on the penalty kill. From there, Tech added to the lead with goals from Joey Mendel, assisted by Logan Raygor and Skaja, and the fourth from Skaja unassisted.

Apollo closed the gap late in the third with goals from Hunter Simonson and Brandon Bissett, but Riley Bates iced the game at the 15:11 mark of the third with the final goal of the game.

Tech won 6-3 before a sizeable crowd at the MAC.

For fourteen seniors, including nine from Tech, this closes the book as their last career game against Apollo.  It also marked the last time brothers Nick and Austin Althaus will be opposite each other in net for Tech and Apollo, something parents Jeff and Karen are likely pleased about.

Game Notes: The American Cancer Society held a Coaches vs. Cancer event where Tech and Apollo JV players passed their helmets through the crowd for cancer research. All told, the fans donated $371.70 to the ACS.

 

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