MIAC ReleaseWINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's hockey team has been virtually unstoppable of late, as the Cardinals completed a nonconference sweep of Aurora last weekend to push their winning streak to three and their unbeaten run to eight (6-0-2).
And one of the key factors in the Cardinals' early season success has been the play of
Bob Kinne (St. Paul, Minn.).
The junior forward enjoyed his second four-point game of the season last Sunday, scoring three goals and adding an assist in guiding the Cardinals to a 5-3 victory and a sweep of their nonconference series against Aurora.
Monday afternoon, Kinne was recognized for his efforts, as he was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week, the league office announced.
Kinne, who has recorded at least one point in eight of the team's 10 games this season, kicked off his stellar weekend against Aurora by picking up an assist in the Cardinals' 7-4 victory over the Spartans last Saturday.
In the teams' rematch, however, Kinne stepped out of the shadows and into the limelight, assisting on Saint Mary's first goal of the afternoon—before scoring the Cardinals' next three goals to secure the 5-3 Game 2 win.
Fueled by his performances against Aurora, Kinne is currently second on the team in goals with eight, assists with nine, and points with 17. Kinne's hat trick vs. the Spartans last Sunday was his first of the season—and second of his collegiate career—and gives the junior forward 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in the team's last six games.
With Kinne helping spearhead an offensive juggernaut that is leading the country in offensive production (54 goals, 5.4 goals-per-game), the league-leading Cardinals enter their conference showdown with Concordia this weekend riding their longest unbeaten streak—eight games—since Saint Mary's put together an 10-game run (10-0-0) during the 1987-88 season.
