Senior Schyler Adams scored twice in Gustavus's 4-2 victory over Bethel on Saturday night at the Don. Photo courtesy of Laura Westphal - Sport PiX.
St. Peter, Minn. – In a Senior Day game with not a whole lot to play for but pride and love of the game, it was only fitting that seniors would be the ones doing the majority of the scoring for the Gustavus Adolphus men’s hockey team. After being eliminated from playoff contention with a 6-2 loss on Friday night in Blaine, Gustavus bounced back and finished its 2014-15 campaign with a 4-2 victory over Bethel on Saturday night at Don Roberts Ice Rink.
After senior Nate Paulsen (La Habra, Calif.) got things started with a goal just :14 seconds into the game, fellow senior Schyler Adams (New Prague, Minn.) followed suit later in the period with two goals at 14:02 and 18:20.
Bethel won the game’s opening faceoff and after a mishandling of the puck in its defensive end thanks to the forecheck pressure applied Andy Pearson (Sr., Burnsville, Minn.) and Blake Schammel (Sr., Red Wing, Minn.), gave it away where it happened onto the stick of Nate Paulsen. Paulsen fired a slap shot from just inside the blue line and the low-lining puck made its way through traffic and eventually between the legs of goaltender Matt Rowe.
Saturday night’s game was designated as Senior Night and a special tribute was made to nine Golden Gustie seniors following the game.
Later in the frame, the Bethel defense simply forgot about covering up the trailer as the Gusties entered the zone. Adams was the unchecked trailer who moved his way up the right wing.With possession at the left circle, Schammel recognized the streaking Adams and fed him a cross-ice pass where he was able to tap the one-timer into what was an empty net at the right goalpost.
Adams’s goal with less than two minutes remaining in the frame was not as pretty as his one earlier. With Rowe scrambling to get back into position in front of the net after making a initial save on a Gustavus rush, Adams had the puck on his stick behind the goal with time to survey the scene. He then decided to throw the it in front of the net were it bounced off a Bethel player and into the back of the net.
Although Bethel got two goals back in the second period to cut the lead to 3-2, Gustavus won the third and added an insurance goal to bring the score to a final at 4-2. Conor Deal (Fr., Anchorage, Alaska) scored his team-leading 10th of the season on the power play, tapping in a Sam Majka (So., Wayzata, Minn.) centering pass from just outside the crease.
John McLean (Jr., Eagan, Minn.) earned the victory an improved to 5-5-3 after turning away 22-of 24 shots – 10 of which came in the third period. His counterpart, Matt Rowe, made 31 saves and finishes his season at 3-10-1.
The Gusties held a 35-24 shots advantage, and went 1-for-4 on the power play and killed off both of its penalties.
Ethan:
Our family wanted to thank you for the past four years of excellent broadcasting with regard to the
Men’s hockey program. Every game you strived to know the players of both teams competing and gave a very accurate play-by-play account of what is happening out on the ice. This made each and every home game exciting and enjoyable to listen/watch.
We also wanted to thank you for your shout outs to Jack’s extended family and especially his nephews! They so enjoyed hearing their names announced. We wish you continued success in your future with broadcasting!