The Gustavus men’s hockey team fell to 3-2-0 overall on the season Wednesday night with a 3-2 loss to Saint John’s at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. Junior Jon Keseley (St. Louis Park, Minn.) and sophomore Tim Ornell (Lino Lakes, Minn.) scored goals for the Gusties, which allowed three Johnnie power play goals in seven attempts.
The Johnnies opened the scoring at the 8:04 mark of the first period, taking advantage of a 5-on-3 situation created by a high sticking penalty and a holding penalty on the the Gusties. Bille Luger netted his first of the season off assists by Dustin Mercado and Tom Freeman. Saint John’s stretched the lead to 2-0 with 3:46 left in the period as Aaron Getchell fired another power play goal past Gustie goalie Erik Kraska (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.). Darryl Smoleroff and Pat Eagles were credited with assists on the play.
Keseley scored an even strength goal with 1:23 left in the period to draw Gustavus within a goal at 2-1. The goal, Keseley’s third of the season, was assisted by Steven Jensen (Jr., Kentwood, Mich.) and Sami Idris (So., Gothenburg, Sweden).
Eagles, Getchell and Smoleroff teamed up again at the 5:40 mark of the second period to give the Johnnies a 3-1 lead. This time, it was Eagles with the power play goal and Getchell and Smoleroff with the assists. Saint John’s had the extra skater due to a kneeing minor by the Gusties.
An infraction of the rules by Getchell in the third period would lead the the Gusties second, and final, goal of the evening. A slashing minor sent the Johnnie left winger to the penalty box. Gustavus quickly took advantage of the extra skater, as Ornell put a shot past Saint John’s goalie Adam Hanna just 10 seconds after play resumed to make the score 3-2. Ben Ollila (So., Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Idris each tallied an assist on the play.
For the game, the Johnnies converted on 3-of-7 power play opportunities, while holding the Gusties to only 1-of-5 with the man advantage.
Kraska picked up 42 saves in the loss, while Hanna put the pads to 19 Gustie shots and took the win.
Gustavus will open its MIAC slate with a pair of home games versus Concordia next weekend, December 2-3.