With the team’s MIAC Semifinal victory in four overtimes over Augsburg, the Gusties set the record for the longest game in the history of Division III men’s hockey by 39 minutes and 56 seconds.

The Men’s Hockey team will have to wait to see if it gets a bid into the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season after losing to St. Thomas for the MIAC Tournament title.

Coming off a magical season  last year that carried the team all the way to the national championship game, this year’s squad captured the school’s fourteenth regular season MIAC title, the first since 1993.

“Our regular season went almost perfect. We had a couple of hiccups but were able to bounce back,”Junior goalie Josh Swartout said. “We definitely played hard, and it shows because we finished the season on top.”

The Gusties—who rank sixth nationally in the latest USCHO.com poll—finished the regular season with an overall record of 18-5-2, which was enough to hold off Hamline by two points in the standings.

“I am very proud of what our team has accomplished up to this point,” Senior defenseman Cody Mosbeck said. “With the group of people [who] are on our team, we want to drag out our season as long as possible.”

Last season, the Gusties got hot at the right time and went on a streak that saw them win the MIAC Tournament and two NCAA Tournament games. With only three graduating seniors, the team knew that another successful season could be on the horizon.

“Heading into this season there was more excitement knowing that we had a good team coming back,” Senior forward and MIAC Player of the Year award winner David Martinson said. “All season long we’ve been a team that everyone wants to beat.”

Despite playing the entire season with last season’s success providing a target for opponents, the Gusties have lost only once in their last 12 games.

“Every team we play wants to beat us because of our trip to the Frozen Four [last season], and they come out and play their best hockey against us,” Senior forward Patrick Dynan said. “This has forced us to step up our game and continue improving and playing consistent hockey.”

The explosive Gustie offense is led by the Conference’s three highest point scorers in Martinson, Dynan and sophomore Ross Ring-Jarvi. In the net, Swartout led the conference with a 2.10 goals against average.

“We have lots of heart and determination,” Swartout said. “A deep [NCAA Tournament] run is definitely feasible, and we know we can do it. We just need to keep everything in front of us and not get overconfident.”

The team’s playoff experience will undoubtedly come in handy if the team is to get a bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Gusties will find out if they will play more hockey on Monday.

“Our strength is our team’s leadership. We have 11 seniors, and everyone plays a vital role,” Dynan said. “We are a mature group, and we know what it takes to win games, especially in the playoffs.”

The talent-rich Gusties feature 13 different players on their roster with at least one goal to their name and boast 11 players with double-digit point totals.

“Our strength is definitely our depth,” Martinson said. “None of the other teams can play four lines for 60 minutes [like we can], which allows us more rest and keeps us in better condition at the end of the game.”

Gustavus’ knack for winning games in recent years has led to a renaissance for the school’s hockey program, with its recent success likely to draw top recruits in the coming years.

“I think our team’s success has brought some needed attention back to our program,” Mosbeck said. “We have a rich history and tradition here, and it feels good to know that we were able to contribute to it.”

Consistently raucous crowds and plenty of supporting fans have made Don Roberts Ice Rink a safe haven for the Gusties this year, with their 8-2-1 home record perhaps due in part to home ice advantage.

“We have the best fans in the MIAC,” Dynan said. “Every team that comes into our rink will have a tough time trying to play because of the noise and great atmosphere.”

Last Saturday’s four-overtime victory over Augsburg in the MIAC Semifinals helped the Gusties prepare mentally for possible postseason hockey. The game lasted 138 minutes and 38 seconds, setting a Division III record and narrowly missing the national collegiate record.

“One bad shift or a bad bounce could mean the end of our season,” Martinson said. “The Augsburg game helped us a lot because we had to play four periods where one goal meant the end of our season.”

“Playing in the NCAA title game was an unbelievable feeling,” Dynan said.

“Unfortunately we were one win away from winning it all, which has fueled us to strive [to make it] back to Lake Placid and have another opportunity at winning it all.”

After getting a taste of the Frozen Four, the Gusties are seeking to relive the experience once more if they receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

“There’s nothing like it, being there as one unit knowing that we made it to the biggest stage,” Swartout said.“No words can describe the feeling. Nothing beats playoff hockey.”