Athletics

Men’s Hockey Wraps Up Non-Conference Schedule At UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls

The Gustavus men’s hockey team is set to kick off the new year with its final non-conference games of the season, taking on two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents in the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. 

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by

tjackso2

Gustavus at UW-Eau Claire
Date: Friday, Jan. 5
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Eau Claire, Wis. | Hobbs Ice Center
Live Coverage: Stats | Video

Gustavus at UW-River Falls
Date: Saturday, Jan. 6
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: River Falls, Wis. | Hunt Arena
Live Coverage: Stats | Video

GAME NOTES

ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team is set to kick off the new year with its final non-conference games of the season, taking on two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents in the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Series Snapshot

Friday’s game will mark 17th all-time meeting between the Gustavus and UW-Eau Claire men’s ice hockey programs, with the Blugolds holding an 8-7-1 advantage in the series. Head Coach Matt Loen is unbeaten against the Gusties in the 10th season at the helm with a 3-0-1 record. Last season, the two teams skated to a 2-2 draw at Don Roberts Ice Rink. 

Saturday’s game will mark the 42nd all-time meeting between the Gustavus and UW-River Falls men’s ice hockey programs, with the Falcons holding a 21-17-3 series advantage. The Gusties are 2-2-1 during the last five meetings against UWRF, including a 4-1 loss last season.

Last Time Out

The Gusties wrapped up the 2017 calendar year with back-to-back 3-3 draws at Aurora University Dec. 29-30. On Friday, Gustavus came back from a two-goal deficit to tie the game. On Saturday, the Gusties never trailed in the contest, but an Aurora goal midway through the third period proved to be the equalizer and neither team was able to find the back of the net the rest of the way.

Scouting UW-Eau Claire

The Blugolds average 3.5 goals per game and have an 8-6 overall record, despite being swept most recently against Northland College. A trio of senior forwards lead the Blugold offense. Jake Hopfner, Mac Jansen, and Jesse Tredinnick has 13, 12, and 12 points each, respectively. Hopfner leads the WIAC with four power play goals, while Jansen ranks second with nine goals. First-year goaltender Camden Haugenoe has played the most in net, starting in 10 games and owning a 2.47 goals against average along with an .882 save percentage.

Scouting UW-River Falls

The Falcons closed out the 2017 calendar year with three non-conference games, splitting with Lawrence University and losing to the College of St. Scholastica, dropping their record to 4-9- 1 overall. Junior forward Eddie Matsushima leads the team with 12 points (6g-6a), while a pair of forwards also pace the offense, ranking as the top-two scoring freshman in the WIAC in Cayden Cahill (6g-5a) and Peter Karavos (4g-7a). Sophomore goaltender Zach Quinn has started in 12 of 14 games for UWRF and has registered an .899 save percentage and a 3.13 goals against average.

Gustavus Notables

  • First-year forward Caleb Anderson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) leads the MIAC in freshman scoring and is tied for the team-lead with nine points (4g-5a).
  • Anderson is tied for the lead in Division III with two shorthanded goals. The Gusties scored one shorthanded goal all of last season.
  • Anderson is tied for the lead in the conference with two game-winning goals.
  • Evan Erickson (Jr., Woodbury, Minn.) leads the Gusties with five goals (7th/MIAC).
  • After two consecutive series sweeps over Hamline and Bethel, the Gusties surpassed their win total from the 2016-17 season.
  • The last time Gustavus strung together two-straight series sweeps was during the 2013-14 season, while the back-to-back shutouts is the first time since 2008.
  • 17 different Gusties have found their way into the goal-scoring column through the first 13 games this season.
  • The Gusties have outscored their opponents 22-10 in the second period.
  • Chris Amsden (Jr., St. Peter, Minn.) ranks among the top-five goaltenders in the MIAC, owning the fifth best goals against average (2.09) and fourth best save percentage (.928).
  • Van Sullivan (Jr., Brentwood, Tenn.) scored back-to-back goals Friday and Saturday in the Aurora series Dec. 29-30, both on the power play.
  • Mason Etter (Fy., Grafton, Wis.) scored his first collegiate goal in game two of the Aurora series.