SAINT PAUL, Minn. – After a season filled with adversities, the Gustavus men’s hockey team won the first round of MIAC Championship Playoffs at Hamline on Wednesday. The 4-3 win ended the Pipers season as the Gusties move onto MIAC Championship Quarterfinals.
“I am really proud of our team,” said Head Coach Brett Petersen. “It would have been easy for them to throw in the towel in the third period but instead, they showed a lot of heart and perseverance.”
Both teams struggled to gain any offensive momentum until the Pipers found the back of the net with a shorthanded goal at 16:18. The Gusties couldn’t cut through the Hamline defense as they were outshot 12-3
Three minutes into the second period, the Pipers added on another goal. A minute and a half later, Kyle Heffron (Fy., Rosemount) responded for the Gusties, going one-one-one with the Hamline net-minder before a deke move to get the Gusties on the board.
Just 29 seconds later Heffron continued to lead the Gustavus offense, carrying the puck up the ice before a final pass to Jack Suchy (Fy., Medina) who poked an equalizer behind the goal line with an additional assist credited to Nick Klishko (Sr., San Diego).
With two minutes left in the second period, the Pipers tacked on their third goal for a 3-2 lead before the second intermission. Gustavus picked up the momentum outshooting Hamline 10-7 in the middle frame.
Seven minutes into the third period, Dylan Gast (Sr., Dellwood) connected on a pass to Patrick Gazich (Sr., Minnetonka) to reset the game at 3-3 on a powerplay.
In a relentless effort to make the post-season push, at 16:23 Jack Westlund (Fy., Alexandria) made a cross ice pass to an open Brandon McNamara (Fy., Andover) to score the game-winning goal.
Grant Boldt (Fy., Frazee) was credited with the win, making 19 saves in the victory.
The Gusties will next travel to No. 1 Augsburg on Saturday night for the Quarterfinal game at 7:00.