Joe Welch takes a faceoff for the Gusties. (Photo Courtesy: Pat Hendrick)
Eric Bigham checks a UW-Stout skater. (Photo Courtesy: Pat Hendrick)
Matthew Lopes stops a shot by Joel Gaulrapp. (Photo Courtesy: Pat Hendrick)
Casey Dynan assisted both of brother Patrick Dynan’s goals. (Photo Courtesy: Pat Hendrick)
Patrick Dynan scored two goals including the game-winning goal at 6:31 in overtime to lift the No. 15 Gustavus men’s hockey team over No. 2 UW-Stout by a score of 3-2 in the NCAA Semifinals on Friday in Lake Placid, N.Y. The Gusties, who improved their overall mark to 19-10-0, snapped a 15-game unbeaten streak for the Blue Devils. Gustavus advanced to its first ever NCAA Championship game with the victory. Head Coach Brett Petersen’s squad will face the winner of Hobart/Neumann on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST). The championship contest will be broadcast live on CBS College Sports, which is available on DIRECTV. Live stats will also be available here.
Three minutes into the first period, UW-Stout had the first scoring chance of the game when a Blue Devil forward got behind the Gustavus defense, but Gustie goaltender Matthew Lopes made the save as he narrowly kept the puck from crossing the goal line. Minutes later, David Martinson nearly put Gustavus on the board when he took a backhand that nearly got past UW-Stout goaltender Matt Koenig, but Martinson was unable to convert the rebound. Both teams struggled to create any offensive flow throughout the period due to several penalties called against both squads. The score was tied 0-0 at the first intermission.
The Gusties started the second period on the power play as the Blue Devils were called for cross-checking at the end of the first period. Gustavus was unable to generate any offense during the power play. The Gusties got on the scoreboard when Patrick Dynan snuck the puck between Koenig’s left leg and the right post at 5:32 in the second period. Brothers Casey and Rory were awarded assists on the goal.
UW-Stout evened the game minutes later on a power play as forward Joel Gaulrapp got the puck past Lopes as he was sliding across the crease to make the save at 11:45 in the period. Lopes laid on the ice for several minutes after the play, but stayed in the contest.
The Gusties took a 2-1 lead minutes later on another power play as Eric Bigham flipped a rebound over Koenig’s blocker into the upper left hand corner of the net after an initial shot by Mitch Carlson. Joe Welch was also credited with an assist on the goal as Gustavus skated into the locker room with a 2-1 lead.
Goaltender Josh Swartout started the third period in the net for the Gusties in place of Lopes. Gustavus had a great opportunity to take a two-goal lead at 13:35 when Jamie Leathers put a point blank shot on goal, but was turned away by Koenig, who made a brilliant glove save to keep the puck out of the net.
On the ensuing shift, the Blue Devils tied the score at 2-2 when a shot from Wolgemuth at the point was deflected in by Scott Motz with 5:36 remaining in the game. With under three minutes on the clock, Eric Bigham had a scoring chance as he skated between both defenders to get off a backhand shot as Koenig made the stop. Ross Ring-Jarvi had a similar opportunity in last minute, but was unable to gain control of the puck. UW-Stout put a few shots on net before the end of the contest as Swartout recorded the saves to send the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Casey Dynan banked a pass up the left boards to Patrick Dynan, who skated in on Koenig. Dynan took a shot that deflected off the end of the defenseman’s stick and found its way into the net on the short side between Koenig’s right pad and the right post to send the Gusties into the championship game. It is the first time in NCAA Division III Frozen Four history that brothers have collaborated on two goals in a game.
Gustavus also made history with the victory as it is the first team with double-digit losses to move into the NCAA Division III Championship game.
Gustavus used two goaltenders in the game as Matthew Lopes played the first two periods before suffering a back injury. Josh Swartout played the third period and the overtime. Lopes made 18 saves and allowed one goal, while Swartout recorded 14 stops and allowed one goal. The Blue Devils’ Matt Koenig compiled 35 saves in the loss. The Gusties held a slim 38-34 shot advantage. The officials assessed 17 penalties during the game including 8-for-16 against Gustavus and 9-for-18 against UW-Stout. The Gusties were 2-for-8 with the extra attacker, while the Blue Devils were 1-for-7.
CBS College Sports Network is available on cable systems across the country, including Verizon FiOS, Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Cablevision, Charter, Insight, Bright House Networks, Mediacom, RCN, Advanced Cable, and Bresnan. It is also available on DirecTV’s Total Choice Premier Package Channel 613, Dish Network’s America’s Top 120 Package Channel 152, and Sky Angel IPTV’s Family Package Channel 323.
Additional Game Notes
– The game was the 17th all-time NCAA Division III Frozen Four game since Oswego State defeated Middlebury 4-3 in overtime in the 2007 NCAA Championship game.
-Gustavus leads the all-time series versus UW-Stout with a record of 10-6-1.
-The Gusties are 13-2-0 when Patrick Dynan registers a point this season.
Box Score
Mankato Free Press Story
USCHO.com Game Recap
Adirondack Daily Enterprise