Boy how things change.
Just three seasons ago Jameson Lundquist and Jake Nelson helped the St. Scholastica Saints pull off a stunning upset of the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets in their NCHA playoff series.
Spring ahead to the present and the two former Superior Spartan standouts are now students at UWS and will attempt to help the Yellowjackets return the favor to the Saints when the two teams meet in a NCHA quarterfinal series this weekend at Mars Lakeview Arena.
"The series in 2007 was absolutely crazy," Lundquist said. "We were kind of in the situation we're in now. We were the underdogs, and we pulled off a huge upset. It'd be nice to have the same fortunes, just for us this time."
UWS was the huge favorite in 2007 and had not lost to St. Scholastica in 52 straight games. The 'Jackets defeated the Saints again 3-1 in the first game, but the Saints won the next game 4-3 to force a mini-game, which they also won 2-1 to advance to the NCHA finals against UW-River Falls.
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"When we won the mini-game, I just remember going crazy," Lundquist said. "It was in front of a packed house, it was amazing."
UWS jumped out to a 3-0 lead during the series' second game with goals from Joel Gaulrapp, Braden Desmet and Matt Lamirande. But Joey Hughes, Lundquist and Nelson scored for the Saints to tie the game at 3-3, and Kyle Luschinski scored the game-winner with 1:27 remaining in the third period.
St. Scholastica then went on to win the mini-game 2-1 thanks to goals from Jordan Chong and Aaron Spots. Corey Stark scored for UWS.
Lundquist and Nelson eventually left St. Scholastica and last yea r wound up back in Superior at UWS. The two began working for the athletic department and are in charge of game crews (making sure there are enough students to work at various sporting events).
"It just seemed to happen," Lundquist said of his landing at UWS. "It was time to switch things around and get my schooling done. It just worked out that way and now I'm back home."
While working hockey games, Lundquist got the itch to play again, and after a talk with UWS coach Dan Stauber, he began skating with the team before joining during the Christmas break.
"It was a little weird watching hockey and knowing that I had some eligibility remaining," Lundquist said. "It was kind of a no regret thing. I thought I still had it and wanted to give it a shot, again."
While Lundquist is now part of the team, Nelson is one of his biggest fans while filling in for him on the job.
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"It kind of feels a little weird being on this side, but this is home so, it feels good," Lundquist said. "There's a lot of excitement, I feel it every day. I can't wait."
The Saints are easily favored heading into this weekend's series, having already defeated the Yellowjackets three times this season.
After being picked to finish sixth in the preseason, the Saints finished second, just behind St. Norbert. The Yellowjackets, meanwhile, became the first team in NCHA history to win the conference one year and then finish in last place the following season.
The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at Mars Lakeview Arena. The action can be heard live on KUWS 91.3 FM or ESPN Radio 560-WEBC. It can also be seen live on the web at ifan.tv.
The first round of the Peters Cup playoffs will be a two-game series. If both teams have a victory or there are two ties after the two games on Saturday night, then there will be a 20-minute mini-game after the completion of the second game to determine a series winner.
After the first round, the tournament re-seeds with the highest seed playing the lowest seed. The rest of the playoffs are just one game, winner-take-all.
When asked to make a prediction on this weekend, Lundquist would like see something similar to 2007, only with a twist.
"If I could say a repeat of 2007, just in the 'Jackets favor this time, that's what I'm going for," Lundquist said. "I wouldn't mind a little mini-game, again."
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'JACKET JOTTINGS: UWS will play on the road in the first round of the NCHA playoffs for the first time since 1991, the first year the team every qualified for NCHA post-season play. ... UWS and CSS will meet in the first round of the playoffs for the third time in the last five years. In 2005-06 the 'Jackets took the series 1-0-1 and the following season the Saints won the series in a mini-game. Both of those series took place at Wessman Arena. ... The Yellowjackets haven't played well of late in Duluth. They are 1-3-1 in their last five games there, having been outscored 24-16. ... Since joining the Yellowjackets, Lundquist has one goal in nine games. ... Desmet's third-period goal during Saturday's 3-3 tie at UW-Eau Claire was the 100th point of his Yellowjacket career, the 39th player in school history to hit that mark. ... Josh Seifert's goal Saturday was just the second of his career, and the first goal he's scored in 53 games. The first goal for the former Spartan came in the first game of the season last season.
