St. Peter, Minn. – Thanks in part to a red-hot goaltender who is seeing the puck now better than anytime this season, the Gustavus men’s hockey team is in first place in the conference standings with 32 points at 13-4-3 overall and 10-1-1 in the MIAC. During one of the most grueling months of the season, netminder John McLean (So., Eagan, Minn.) was at his best. He helped the Gusties go 5-1-1 in January and for his efforts, has been named the Gustavus Male Athlete-of-the-Month for January.
Playing in all seven games and logging 423 minutes between the pipes, McLean was a key factor in the Gustavus men’s hockey team’s second half surge. After playing Lake Forest College to a 2-2 tie to begin the month, Gustavus fell to No. 1-ranked Adrian College 2-0 the following night. After the loss to Adrian, the Gusties earned 30 points in the conference standings after posting a 5-0-0 record against MIAC competition. McLean let in a total of 10 goals and never more than two in one game for a goals against average of 1.43. He turned away 173 shots to finish January with a .945 save percentage.
Following the first half of the season, McLean carried an .898 save percentage and a 2.52 goals against average. Since then, he has raised his save percentage to .921 (3rd/MIAC) and lowered his goals against average to 2.02 (2nd/MIAC). The Eagan native is now 12-3-3 overall and is unbeaten over his last 11 starts against league opponents.
The Gustavus men’s hockey team will take its six-game winning-streak on the road into non-conference action this weekend when it travels to River Falls, Wis. to face UW-River Falls at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7.
Congratulations Big John. Despite the fact that John is a Packer fan, he is a fantastic kid. Great hockey player, even better person. Well deserved honor. Congrats, again.