Casey Dynan fights for position in front of the net.
Matt Lopes made 20 saves in the shutout.
Ross Ring-Jarvi is tied for 13th in Division III with 1.17 assists per game.
Mitch Carlson collides with a Saint Mary’s player in a physical contest.
The 14th-ranked Gustavus men’s hockey team improved to 5-1-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the MIAC after a 3-0 decision over Saint Mary’s at All Seasons Arena on Sunday night. Jared Ackmann, David Martinson, and Rory Dynan scored for the Gusties, while Matt Lopes posted the second consecutive shutout for the squad. The victory was the 750th in the history of the men’s hockey program. The Gusties have compiled a 750-569-52 record for a .569 winning percentage in 67 seasons.
Gustavus jumped out to an early 1-0 lead three minutes into the game when Jared Ackmann (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.) scored his first goal of the season. Ackmann got the puck from Rory Dynan (Jr., Maple Plain, Minn.) and Matt Schugel (So., Roseville, Minn.) to find the left side of the net open and finished the play for the goal. The Gusties extended their lead to 2-0 with three minutes remaining before the first intermission. Ross Ring-Jarvi (Fy., Anoka, Minn.) passed the puck across the rink to David Martinson (Jr., St. Louis Park, Minn.), who gained control in front of the crease long enough to snap a wrist shot past Saint Mary’s goaltender Greg Moore for his tenth goal of the season. Brad Wieck (So., Shoreview, Minn.) was also credited with an assist.
Martinson had the first quality scoring chance for either team in the second period as he got past a Saint Mary’s defender for a one-on-one shot against Moore as a penalty was called against the Cardinals. Twenty seconds into the resulting power play, Rory Dynan snuck the puck between Moore’s leg and the pipe to give Gustavus a 3-0 lead at the 8:16 mark. Casey Dynan (Jr., Maple Plain, Minn.) and Ryan Noonan (So., Andover, Minn.) were awarded the assists.
Gustie goaltender Matt Lopes (Sr., East Falmouth, Mass.) preserved the shutout late in the second period despite two good scoring chances for Saint Mary’s. The Cardinals had a two-on-one breakaway, but Lopes read the play and went from the left pipe to the right pipe in time to deflect a one-timer from Matt Staehely to prevent a goal. With three minutes remaining, Sean Geiger got behind the Gustavus defense with Saint Mary’s short-handed, but again Lopes was ready for the test as he stopped Geiger’s initial shot and subsequent rebound.
The third period featured both squads trying to generate scoring opportunities, but neither was able to capitalize as both goaltenders frustrated the opposing offenses.
Cardinal goaltender Greg Moore made 33 saves to keep Saint Mary’s in the game, while allowing three goals in the loss. Matt Lopes compiled 20 saves to record his second career shutout and remain perfect at 3-0-0 this season. David Martinson, who leads Division III with ten goals this season, has tallied a goal in 12 straight games dating back to February 2, 2008.
Gustavus will travel to Northfield on Friday to face St. Olaf before hosting the Oles on Saturday. Saturday’s game will be played at All Seasons Arena in Mankato, Minn. at 2:30 p.m. Don Roberts Ice Rink at Gustavus is currently being repaired and will not be available until sometime in late November or early December.