Wisconsin came into Friday night’s game at St. Thomas Ice Arena as the No. 1 team in women’s college hockey and left with a 5-3 victory. But the Tommies might have gained something valuable, too — a sense that their program is starting to turn the corner.

After being swept by No. 2 Ohio State and the Gophers the past two weeks, including one-sided losses in the two series openers, Friday night’s competitive showing against the Badgers was an impressive performance by the home team.

“This is a different space for us,” St. Thomas coach Joel Johnson said. “I will be curious to see how our team shows up tomorrow night. I just got done sharing with them, we kind of did what we wanted to do, we just got outplayed.”

While the Tommies are not celebrating after falling to 0-5 in the WCHA, there is something to be said for coming out of a game against the nation’s best and feeling like you belong.

“I would say we played our best,” said St. Thomas defenseman Nicole Vallario, who scored the Tommies’ first goal. “We maybe deserved a little bit more, but that’s the way it goes in hockey sometimes. We’ll learn from what happened today and be better tomorrow.”

Vallario said the Tommies entered Friday’s game with a little more confidence than they had had in recent weeks.

“We’ve been working on a lot of things, and I think we’ve gotten better as a team,” she said. “I think we’re growing really well and playing together.”

While the Badgers have a clear advantage over the Tommies in the skill department, the difference in the game proved to be special teams, with Wisconsin scoring three power play goals.

“Part of the message is that we have to stay out of the box,” Johnson said. “If we’re going to win, we can’t give them a chance to score on the power play with their skill.”

A pair of first-period goals by Wisconsin’s Kirsten Simms — giving her 12 in 10 games — gave the Badgers the early lead. The complexion of the game then changed drastically due to a late scoring spurt by the Tommies.

The teams were playing four on four late in the period when Tommies center Ella Boerger found Vallario with a pass on the back door, and Vallario buried it or her third goal of the season. There were only nine seconds to play in the period when Ellah Hause batted a rebound out of the air and into the net to tie the game 2-2.

“Let’s be honest, they’re the No. 1 team in the country and we’re not,” Johnson said. “For us to score, it’s a big deal. It was a fun locker room  (after the first period), not because we’re going to upset the world, but because our players were like, ‘OK, we can play.’ So I was really excited.”

After the Badgers took a 3-2 lead at 8:05 on a power play goal, the Tommies needed only 31 seconds to pull even again. Abby Promersberger scored her fourth of the season on the wrist shot from between the circles.

The Tommies had a great opportunity to take the lead less than a minute later when Wisconsin’s Lacey Eden received a major penalty for boarding. But the Tommies’ advantage lasted only 42 seconds before Cara Sajevic was sent off for holding.

It then appeared that the Tommies would be down two skaters when Haley Maxwell took a slashing penalty when Simms moved in on a partial breakaway, but the Badgers opted for a penalty shot instead.

Simms hit the post on her attempt, and the game remained tied.

The Badgers went on a five-minute power play of their own with just over five minutes to play in the second period when Brieja Parent was sent off for boarding. There were 30 seconds away from killing off the penalty when Anna Wilgren scored to give the Badgers a 4-3 lead.

Wisconsin added its third power play goal of the game at 8:17 of the third period, with Britta Curl beating St. Thomas goaltender Maggie Malecha on a rebound. But the Tommies kept pushing, and Badgers goaltender Jane Gervais made a pair of key stops with seven minutes to play to keep the Tommies from cutting their deficit to one.

The Tommies pulled their goaltender with two minutes to play and created scoring opportunities to the game’s end.

“I really felt that was my proudest moment,” Johnson said. “A different moment that we’ve seen in the past. We were desperate in a way that felt like we belonged in the game. That’s a huge step for us, especially against a quality opponent like Wisconsin.”

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WASHINGTON —

WASHINGTON — Well, that was more like it.

After allowing an average of 5.2 goals in their previous four games, the Wild held the Capitals to two regulation goals and assured themselves of a point in a 3-2 overtime loss at Capital One Arena.

Marc-Andre Fleury gave the Wild a chance to win it with one shootout goal, stopping the first six shots he faced, but Darcy Keumper silenced a phalanx of Wild forwards on the other end and defenseman John Carlson finally won it for the Capitals.

Marco Rossi gave Minnesota its first first-period lead since Oct. 19, and Ryan Hartman tied the game with an unassisted goal just over a minute into the third period, and Fleury stopped 30 shots in regulation and overtime, including all 17 he faced in the third period.

Making his first start since giving up seven goals in a 7-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 19, Fleury stopped shots from Evgeny Kuznetskov, T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Dylan Strome, Alex Ovechkin and Sonny Milano in the shootout before Carlson scored with a wrist shot to the far corner.

Still, it was an improvement over Thursday’s game at Philadelphia, which Minnesota lost, 6-2, to start a three-game road trip that ends Sunday in New Jersey.

Rossi slapped in a rebound on a Marcus Foligno charge in the three-on-three overtime, but Foligno knocked over goaltender Darcy Keumper and the goal was waved off. Marcus Johansson then had a breakaway with under 4 seconds remaining but Darcy Keumper got his right pad on it to send the game to a shootout.

Minnesota was 0 for 6 on the power play.

Pat Maroon found the puck on his stick off a ricochet but his one-timer went wide with under 2 minutes to play.

 

Ryan Hartman tied the game early in the third period, tying it after stealing the puck from Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary at the blue line and racing at Darcy Keumper all alone.

Hartman started from the right circle, skated left and scored on a backhand to make it 3-3 at 1:16 of the period.

Minnesota had some Grade A chances on a power play midway through the period, but Kuemper, who started his career with the Wild in 2012, turned them all away.

Next it was Marc-Andre Fleury’s turn for a big save, stopping Evgeny Kluznetsov at the post after the center skated behind the net and tried to stuff the puck in at the corner at 8:33.

Maroon hooking at 8:09. Fleury stops Oshie one-timer point blank on PK. Oshie redirect.

The Wild jumped on the Capitals from the start, establishing a forecheck and getting the puck quickly out their end — something they didn’t do in Thursday’s 6-2 loss at Philadelphia.

Marco Rossi gave the Wild a 1-0 lead when he sniped a shot from the slot past Darcy Kuemper just 2 minutes, 17 seconds into the game. Marcus Foligno one-timed a pass from above the blue line to give Rossi a straight look at the goal.

It was Minnesota’s first first-period lead since they were up, 2-1, on Los Angeles in a 7-3 loss to the Kings on Oct. 19.

It was relatively short-lived.

The Wild were all over the Capitals through 10 minutes and went on their second power play after Vinni Lettieri drew a tripping penalty in his own end at 8:16. But the Capitals started a rush the other way when Tom Wilson dug a puck out of his own corner, then caused a turnover at the wall.

The puck wound up on the stick of defenseman Trevor Van Riemsdyk, who pushed north with a pass to Connor McMichael — who found Wilson streaking down the left side. Fleury came out of the crease, and Wilson hit the far corned with a wrist shot at 9:49 to tie the game 1-1.

Washington took its first lead after Jake Middleton was called for interference at 16:12 and the Capitals went on their first power play. Roughly a minute later, Alex Ovechkin fired a cross-crease pass to Dylan Strome, who was alone at the far corner of the crease.

Strome slammed it home and the Capitals led 2-1 at 17:14.

The Capitals appeared to take a 3-1 lead midway through the second period when Alex Ovechkin, behind the defense at the crease, corralled a rebound and stuffed it into the corner of the net. But the Wild called for an offside challenge, and referees determined Ovechkin had lost possession of the puck and preceded it into the offensive zone.

LEWISTON, Maine — A man suspected of fatally shooting 18 people and wounding 13 in Maine has been found dead, authorities said Friday.

Robert Card, who was wanted in connection with the shootings at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston, is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a law enforcement official tells The Associated Press.

The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. A 10 p.m. news conference was scheduled by police.

Card, 40, of Bowdoin, Maine, was a U.S. Army reservist who underwent a mental health evaluation in mid-July after he began acting erratically during training, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

Card had been sought since the Wednesday night shootings, and murder warrants were issued against him.

A bulletin sent to police across the country shortly after the attack said Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this past summer after “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” a military base.

A U.S. official said Card was training with the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment in West Point, New York, when commanders became concerned about him.

State police took Card to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for evaluation, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the information and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity

Authorities had scoured the woods and hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sent dive teams with sonar to the bottom of a river and scrutinized a possible suicide note Friday in the second day of their intensive search for Card.

Authorities lifted their shelter in place order Friday evening, nearly 48 hours after the shootings.

The names and pictures of the 16 males and 2 females who died were released as State Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck asked for a moment of silence at a news conference. Their ages ranged from 14 to 76.

Law enforcement officials had said they hadn’t not seen suspect Card since his vehicle was left at a boat ramp Wednesday shortly after the shootings.

Authorities say Card, who has firearms training, opened fire at the bar and a bowling alley Wednesday in Lewiston, Maine’s second-largest city.

The city held an online vigil Friday night with local clergy members, prayer and music. Residents expressed their shock and pain in chat postings, describing themselves as angry, grieving, tired and heartbroken. Those watching at home were urged to light candles.

One poster, Victoria, wrote: “I lost 2 people that I cared truly about and a close family friend that is currently fighting for his life in ICU. My heart’s shattered.”

Police and other law enforcement officers were spotted in several areas around the region on Friday. Divers searched the water near a boat launch in Lisbon, and a farming business in the same town. At points throughout the day, police vehicles were seen speeding through several towns, lights flashing and sirens blaring.

A gun was found in Card’s car, which was discovered at a boat ramp, and federal agents were testing it to determine if it was used in the shooting, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. Authorities have said publicly that the shooter used at least one rifle. They have not released any other details, including how the suspect obtained the firearm.

Authorities found a suicide note at a home associated with Card on Thursday that was addressed to his son, the law enforcement officials said. They said it didn’t provide any specific motive for the shooting. Authorities also recovered Card’s cellphone in the home, making a search more complicated because authorities routinely use phones to track suspects, the officials said.

Federal agents conducted several searches of properties associated with Card on Thursday, collecting a number of items, including electronics, the officials said. Investigators are also analyzing Card’s financial information and reviewing his social media posts, writings and his mental health history, they said.

The Cards have lived in Bowdoin for generations, neighbors said, and various members of the family own hundreds of acres in the area. The family owned the local sawmill and years ago donated the land for a local church.

“This is his stomping ground,” Richard Goddard, who lives on the road where a search took place on Thursday, said of the suspect. “He knows every ledge to hide behind, every thicket.”

Family members of Card told federal investigators that he had recently discussed hearing voices and became more focused on the bowling alley and bar, according to the law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. When he was hospitalized in July in New York, Card had told military officials he had been hearing voices and said he wanted to harm other soldiers, the officials said.

Police said Thursday that Card would be charged with 18 counts of murder.

The victims of the shootings include Bob Violette, 76, a retiree who was coaching a youth bowling league and was described as devoted, approachable and kind. Auburn City Councilor Leroy Walker told news outlets that his son, Joe, a manager at the bar and grill, died going after the shooter with a butcher knife. Peyton Brewer-Ross was a dedicated pipefitter at Bath Iron Works whose death leaves a gaping void in the lives of his partner, young daughter and friends, members of his union said.

The manager of the youth bowling league vowed that the league would survive despite the devastating grief members were feeling.

The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf said the shootings killed at least four members of their community, many of whom were ardent advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The attacks stunned a state of only 1.3 million people that has one of the country’s lowest homicide rates: 29 killings in all of 2022. Gov. Janet Mills said Friday that many Maine residents will know someone who died.

“It is often said that our state is ‘one big, small town’ because Maine is such a close-knit community. As a result, many of us know the victims personally, including me,” she said in a statement. “Tonight, I ask Maine people to join me in reading their stories, learning who they were, celebrating them as beloved people, and mourning them as irreplaceable.”

Schools, public buildings and many businesses remained closed Friday. Bates College in Lewiston canceled classes and postponed the inauguration of the school’s first Black president.

The shootings mark the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

‘Them’

In the early 2010s, toward the end of my 30+ year career working in local public health, I was invited to take part in a meeting that I have never forgotten, all the more memorable given the dark events of recent weeks and the days to come.

The meeting, part of a nationwide tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department, was with a group of public health officials from the Israeli and Palestinian Health Services. The topic of the gathering was to compare and learn from one another about effective approaches to promote individual and community health, focusing on healthy nutrition, physical activity, and avoiding tobacco and misuse of alcohol and other drugs.

The first thing I remember about that day was watching out the front window as the delegations got off the van they were traveling in together; my colleague and I both remarked on how we had no idea who was Palestinian and who was Israeli. This remained true throughout most of our conversation together.

The next thing I remember is the similarity and symmetry of the ideas that were shared that day – the commonality we shared around the challenges for addressing health problems for individuals and communities, as well opportunities and strategies for promoting health and well-being, whether in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, or the Twin Cities.

The final thing I remember, which has come to mind even more in recent days, was when our conversation turned to the topic of violence prevention, a field that was and remains foremost in my own work. Again, I would have guessed that beliefs and strategies would have varied greatly among us all, yet what we found was that we shared remarkably similar ideas and hope, despite all of the obstacles to people being able to live together in Peace, again whether in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, or the Twin Cities.

While I do not recall other details from this part of our conversation, what has stuck with me all these years, and haunts me in these dark days, was the agreement among all sitting around that table that the starting point to preventing violence, and to living in Peace, might be as simple as eliminating one word, one concept, that tears us apart from seeing one another as brothers and sisters in this life: the word “Them.”  While it can come to be seen as easy, and even expected and righteous, to commit atrocities against Them, these same actions are far more difficult, if not impossible, to commit against fellow humans regarded as Us.

As we continue on through this terribly trying time, I dedicate this remembrance to the remarkable people I met that day.  As the son of Jewish immigrants to this country who fled pogroms and the Holocaust, I send my hopes for peace and health to all of us who met that day, to all my fellow humans in this life, and especially in these days to Israelis and Palestinians.

Donald Gault, Roseville

 

As individual human beings

Even as a Jewish American, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Islam or its followers. I’ve had wonderful experiences in predominantly Muslim countries. I felt genuinely welcomed by most of the people I encountered in Iran and Afghanistan, and I absolutely fell in love with the Turks. Thus, in college, I chose to study Turkish to fulfill my foreign language requirement.

I also chose to study “Islam” and “Sufism,” to better understand Middle Eastern culture. Caesar Farah, my wonderful instructor of Islamic studies, taught me and my fellow students that both Islam and Christianity were born out of Judaism. He taught us that Jews, Muslims and Christians have far more in common than not in common.

Then, with so much in common, in the words of Rodney King, “Why can’t we get along?” Why can’t we get along with the Russians? With the Chinese? With the North Koreans? And, yes, with the Iranis and Palestinians? I believe, wholeheartedly, that it is our governments — and fanatical religious extremists — who are the primary culprits.

We need to stop looking at one another through the lens of broad racial and religious groups. We need to integrate our societies, so we get to know each other as individual human beings. We need to stop reflexively discriminating against and hating “the other,” and start reflexively listening to and loving one another.

Of course, all of this is much easier said than done. Personally, I am not nearly as open-hearted and open-minded as I was half a century ago, way, way back in my college days. But I am trying. Are you?

John Fineberg, St. Paul

 

Registering?

It states on the Selective Service website that all men between 18 and 26 years of age must register for the military draft. This includes both legal American citizens and undocumented immigrants. I wonder how many of those men crossing the Mexican border are bothering to stop at the local Selective Service office to get registered. America is not only about freedom and benefits, but also about responsibilities.

Keith Thomas, Farmington

 

Not the incumbents

The Press tries to publish information on the candidates for the city council seats, and that is a good thing. But, even with that, a good deal of votes are cast by folks who have little knowledge of which candidate is the best one for the job. Given the way St. Paul is now governed and has been governed for quite a few years now, the first rule has to be to not vote for any incumbent. Beyond that, I think the best rule to follow is to vote for the candidate who appears to least need the job. A majority of politicians today, at all levels of government, claim a devotion to “public service” but have derived their sustenance, virtually their entire lives, from taxpayers.

T. J. Sexton, St. Paul

Scores and holidays

Minnesota Department of Education released data in 2023 related to students test scores in reading, math and science. Results show a 1% increase in math scores but 1% decrease in reading and 2% decrease in science. Scores remain at almost 10 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels. Yet this year MEA had a four-day holiday for students. Who is looking out for our kids?

Rae Jwanouskos, White Bear Lake

 

No releases, no money

What in the world is President Biden thinking when he gives millions to Gaza before the hostages are released? No hostage releases, no money. The terrorist group Hamas runs Gaza. So any money going to Gaza goes right into the pockets of murdering terrorists. That makes no sense at all.

No cease fire either. Why would you have a cease fire with a group that threatens to kill all Jews? What really shocks me is the intense hatred against Israel and Jews in general. With the Nazi killing of Jews in the l930s and l940s still fairly recent memory, it is hard to believe how Western politicians, college campuses and Hollywood (to name a few) have come after a small nation, Israel, which is just trying to survive as it is surrounded by terrorists of the Islamic faith. Where did this intense hatred come from? I thought the world learned some lessons after the Nazis were defeated in World War II. Apparently not.

Tom R. Kovach, Nevis

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