WINONA, Minn. — As the Saint Mary's hockey programs head into a well-earned holiday break, both teams are riding plenty of momentum.
The Cardinal men's hockey team closed out its final game of 2025 in style, powering past Dubuque 4–1 on a night full of celebration. Following the win, the Cardinals honored their seniors, and earlier in the game, the crowd delivered an impressive turnout for the annual Teddy Bear Toss. After Saint Mary's scored its opening goal, fans flooded the ice with stuffed animals with each one donated to a local charity.
The Cardinals enter the break with an impressive 6-3-1 overall record, including a 3-1 mark in conference play. Their lone tie came in a shootout victory over Lake Forest earlier this season.
Sophomore standout Joona Juntunen continues to light up the conference, leading the league with 19 points—six more than any other player. His 10 goals in just nine games also top the conference rankings, averaging 1.1 goals per game.
Of course, strong offense comes with strong support. Juntunen sits among the conference leaders in assists with nine, tied for second overall and first on the team. He shares that mark with junior defenseman Cole Mickel, whose playmaking has been just as impactful. When two teammates sit atop the conference in major statistical categories, good things tend to follow.
Freshman goaltender Adam Prokop has provided a steady anchor between the pipes, recently earning Defensive Player of the Week honors. With 200 saves and a .939 save percentage, second-best in the conference, Prokop has quickly established himself as a major presence in net.
Saint Mary's returns to the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 6, for a 7 p.m. matchup at UW-Stout, a team the Cardinals topped 4–1 earlier this season, before resuming conference play.
On the women's side, the Saint Mary's Cardinals recently hosted their Rally for Riley game in support of teammate Riley Vander Esch, who is courageously battling brain cancer. The event was a powerful display of community and compassion, featuring Riley's honorary puck drop and raising over $25,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The women enter the break 3-5-0 and are led offensively by juniors Sophia Paduano (three goals, four points) and Reese Heitzman (five points, two goals). In net, sophomore Magali Fillion continues to shine, ranking fourth in the conference with 125 saves and a .919 save percentage.
The second half of the season will be a test, as the Cardinals prepare for matchups with top-ranked opponents including UW–Eau Claire, Augsburg, Gustavus Adolphus, and defending national champion UW–River Falls.
Saint Mary's returns to action on Friday, Jan. 2, with a 2 p.m. road game at UW–Stevens Point before hosting the Pointers the following afternoon.
