The 2008-09 Gustavus men’s hockey team looks to use the experience gained from last season’s fourth place league finish and strong off-ice leadership to qualify for its ninth consecutive MIAC Post-Season Tournament and advance deeper in post-season play. Coach Petersen will count on junior captains Cody Mosbeck (Jr, Emo, Ontario), David Martinson (Jr., St. Louis Park, Minn.), and Joe Welch (Jr., Hastings, Minn.) to lead the young team. The success of the upcoming season will depend on how well the squad plays defense with a group of inexperienced defensemen and how much offensive production will be generated from returning players.
Lone returning all-conference forward David Martinson will be be looked to for help with offensive production early in the season as newcomers adjust to play at the collegiate level. Last season, Martinson led the team in scoring with 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points and was the second-leading scorer in the MIAC. Other forwards expected to provide contributions throughout the year are Patrick Dynan (Jr., Maple Plain, Minn.) and Joe Welch. Dynan finished second on the team in scoring last year registering 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points, while Welch compiled seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, which was fifth highest. Coach Petersen also expects newcomer Ross Ring-Jarvi (Fy., Anoka, Minn./Anoka) to make an immediate impact offensively.
Fellow juniors Tony Palma (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Spencer Campion (Plymouth, Minn.) join Cody Mosbeck as the veterans along the blue line for the Gusties as there are no seniors on defense. First-year Justin Lee (Excelsior, Minn.) is expected provide defensive depth as well. In the nets, Coach Petersen returns two of the top goaltenders in the MIAC, Josh Swartout (So., St. Louis Park, Minn.) and Matt Lopes (Sr., East Falmouth, Mass.), to help the youthful defensive unit keep goals off the scoreboard. Swartout ended last season with a 7-2-0 league record and led the conference with a 2.29 goals against average. Lopes ranked third in the conference with a goals against average of 2.44 and finished at 3-4-0 in MIAC play. Both players will share the duties between the pipes until one emerges as the primary goaltender.
Gustavus starts the season Friday, October 31 against defending NCAA Division III Champion St. Norbert College at All Seasons Arena in Mankato with the drop of the puck at 7:05 p.m. An added feature to this year’s coverage will be the availability of live statistics during home contests. Statistics can be accessed here or on the schedule page.