Men’s Hockey Concludes Season With 6-3 Loss At Hamline

BOX SCORE

ST. PAUL, Minn. – It was a fight to end Saturday night at Oscar Johnson Arena, but the Gustavus men’s hockey team was unable to come out on top, losing 6-3 to Hamline University in its final game of the season. The Gusties conclude their 2015-16 campaign with a 6-14-5 overall record and 5-8-3 mark in the MIAC.

Drew Aspinwall (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) got the scoring going at the 4:32 mark in the first period, tallying his fourth goal of the season on a power play. Jake Bushey (So., Duluth, Minn.) and Sam Majka (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) were credited with the assists. The Pipers took little time to tie the score at 1-1 with a goal nine seconds later. Hamline wasn’t done there as it took a 2-1 lead at the 8:28 mark and then went ahead by two goals with 7:09 remaining in the first period. The Pipers led 3-1 at the first intermission.

Hamline widened its lead to three goals 3:46 into the second frame and looked every bit in control at that point. But with a power play opportunity late in the second, the Gusties cut into their deficit with a goal at the 16:40 mark. Makja tallied his fifth goal of the season with a power play score on an assist from Colin Hernon (So., Bloomington, Minn.). After 40 minutes of play, Hamline led 4-2.

Gustavus made it a one-goal game 3:07 into the final period on a goal from Gavin Tufte (Sr., Blaine, Minn.), assisted by Jake McCann (So., Shoreview, Minn.), and positioned itself to make a comeback. The two squads battled back and forth for the remainder of the contest, but with time dwindling down, the Gusties pulled Chris Amsden (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.) out of goal and the Pipers took advantage of a turnover and scored on an empty net with 56 seconds on the clock. Hamline won the ensuing draw and scored another empty-netter two seconds later to take a 6-3 lead, which stood for a final.

Gustavus outshot Hamline 38-34, but the Pipers won the faceoff battle 49-30. The Gusties went 2-4 on the power play, while Hamline never got a power play opportunity.