After going 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, the Gustavus Men’s Hockey team hopes for a shot of vitality before starting the playoffs
As the Gustavus Men’s Hockey team approaches the home stretch of their season, their post-season future remains unclear. After going 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, the Gusties (11-11-1 Overall, 8-6-0 MIAC) sit in the middle of a crowded conference leader board.
Gustavus got back into MIAC action against two of the top teams in the conference. On Friday, January 17 at Don Roberts Ice Rink, the Gusties were defeated 6-3 by the Royals of Bethel. It was a tough loss for the Gusties as they saw a quick two-goal lead slip away from them in the final minutes of the first period. Sophomore Pat Dynan got the Gusties off to a fast start with a pair of even strength goals in the first five minutes of the opening frame. The Royals would answer however, with two power play goals in the final three minutes to knot the score at 2-2 after one period. The second period opened with promise as First-year Defenseman Mitch Carlson scored 3:13 into the period. The lead would hold throughout most of the period before Bethel once again scored a late goal to make the score 3-3 after three periods of play. In a game that could have gone either way, Bethel took control with a goal just 46 seconds into the third period. The Royals would go on to score two more times in the period, earning a 6-3 victory.
The Gusties took their revenge on Saturday night at the Schwan’s Super Rink in Blaine, MN. Sophomore David Martinson got the scoring started for Gustavus in what would be a tight battle that went down to the final minutes of the game.
After skating to a 1-1 first period tie, the Gusties and Royals would exchange second period goals and go to the third period knotted at two. Bethel first got on the board late in the third period and looked poised to sweep the Gusties. However, with only three minutes left in the game, Bethel was whistled for a penalty. That would give Gustavus the edge they needed as Junior Casey Dynan fired a power-play shot past the Bethel goalie to knot the score at 3-3 with 2:29 remaining in the game. The Gusties would take the momentum from that goal to take a 4-3 lead on a goal by Junior James Leathers just a minute later. Martinson slid the puck into an empty net with 34 seconds remaining to record his third goal of the game and seal a 5-3 win for the Gusties.
The next weekend, January 25 and 26, Gustavus faced off against the sixth-ranked team in the nation and the top team in the MIAC, the St. Thomas Tommies. Friday night on the road, the Gusties struggled to get anything going and fell behind early in the game. St. Thomas scored twice in the first period against Gustie goaltender Matt Lopes. The Gusties battled hard in the second and third periods, but were unable to put the puck in the net. The Tommies would score an empty net goal in the final minute of the game to cap off the 3-0 shutout.
On Saturday night at Don Roberts Ice Rink, the Gusties came out with more intensity and were able to flip the score on St. Thomas. Martinson got the Gusties going with his twelfth goal of the season in the first period. Gustavus mounted two more goals in the second period on scores from First-year defenseman Jay Fifield and Senior forward Ben Ollila and led 3-0 after two periods. First-year goalie Josh Swartout played strong in nets and held off the Tommies in the third period to record a 3-0 shutout.
After a disappointing split with the last place Augsburg Auggies February 1 and 2, Gustavus faced St. John’s two weekends ago in a crucial series. Sitting only two points in front of the Johnnies, Gustavus needed to win at least one of the two games in order to stay in position for a playoff spot. The Gusties wasted no time as they came from behind in the opening game of the series to earn a 7-3 victory.
St. John’s dominated the pace of play in the first period, and although Swartout played well in goal, the Johnnies managed to put the puck past him with 15 seconds left in the first period. Gustavus answered with a second period goal by Sophomore Rory Dynan to tie the score at 1-1.
After the Johnnies recaptured the lead midway through the second period, the Gusties exploded for four goals in two and a half minutes to take a 5-2 lead. Martinson, T.J. Ridley, Niko Suoraniemi and Cody Mosbeck all scored goals in that quick span. Mosbeck scored again in the third period and Leathers added a late goal for the Gusties to finish the scoring.
The game Saturday night was cancelled due to bad weather, so the Gusties were forced to play an unusual Sunday afternoon game. The road game did not turn out as well for the Gusties as St. John’s skated to a 7-3 win. Gustavus received goals from Junior Matthew Andres, his first of the year, Ollila and Martinson. Swartout was pulled in favor of Junior Joel Rindelaub after giving up five goals in just over two periods of hockey.
After a bye last weekend, Gustavus will play two home games against last-place Concordia (0-13-1) this weekend. The puck drops Friday night at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. The Gusties can guarantee one of the five spots in the upcoming MIAC playoffs with a victory this weekend.