DE PERE - St. Norbert College opened its 2021-22 men's hockey season with a 4-3 loss to UW-Stevens Point in a non-conference game featuring the last two NCAA Division III national champions at Cornerstone Community Center. It was the season opener for both teams.

The Green Knights and Pointers will tangle in Game 2 of their home-and-home series at 7 p.m. Saturday at K.B. Willett Arena in Stevens Point.

St. Norbert had two power-play chances in the first 6:47 of the game but couldn't convert. Stevens Point took control shortly thereafter with a pair of first-period goals 23 seconds apart. Jake Theis scored at 7:04 and Nicholas Aromatario registered a goal at 7:27 for a 2-0 lead. The Green Knights would get back into the game when Tim Nicksic converted a turnover into an unassisted goal at 18:52 to halve the deficit to 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

The Pointers would retake a two-goal lead on a goal by Brett Humberstone at 3:42 of the second period. St. Norbert would quickly respond when Peter Bates finished a power-play goal at 5:21. Stevens Point would get the next goal, with Jordan Fader scoring unassisted at 9:29 of the second period.

Stevens Point's 4-2 lead would hold up until Michael Spethmann's goal at 18:23 of the third period brought the Green Knights to within one. St. Norbert called a timeout and was able to get an extra attacker on the ice with 1:06 remaining, but couldn't register the equalizer.

Stevens Point outshot St. Norbert 32-24. Johnny Roberts made 28 saves for the Green Knights, while Ryan Wagner made 21 stops for Stevens Point.

The game marked the first time in school history that St. Norbert did not commit a penalty. The Green Knights were 1-for-5 on power-play opportunities.