John McLean holds up the Ed Saugestad Cup after Gustavus defeated St. Olaf 4-2 on Saturday.
For the fourth and final time this season, it was a Gustavus men’s hockey player earning MIAC Athlete-of-the-Week honors, as rookie John Mclean (Eagan, Minn.) garnered the distinction for his performance in Gustavus’ 4-2 victory over St. Olaf in the MIAC Playoff Championship on Saturday, March 3rd in St. Peter, Minn.
After turning away eight shots in the first period, McLean was peppered with 33 shots in the remaining 40-minutes of the contest. Fortunately for the Gusties, McLean was up to the challenge. Using several sprawling saves and the goalies best friend on a couple of occasions, McLean stopped all but two of those 33 shots to allow Gustavus its fifth MIAC Playoff Title.
The 6’ 8” netminder finished with a season-high 39 saves in his second career MIAC Playoff victory. McLean is now 14-4-2 entering Gustavus’ opening game of the NCAA Tournament. He carries a .924 save percentage (13th/NCAA) and a 2.12 goals against average (14th/NCAA) entering the tournament.
It is the second time this season that Big John has earned MIAC Men’s Hockey Athlete-of-the-Week distinction. The freshman won the honor on Jan. 9 after a run in which he made 89 saves and allowed just four goals in victories over UW-River Falls, St. Scholastica, and UW-Superior.
John McLean and the No. 8 Gusties will host No. 6 Milwaukee School of Engineering in the first round NCAA Playoffs on Wednesday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. in Don Roberts Ice Rink.