Men’s Hockey Wins Another Overtime Thriller, 2-1 Against Saint John’s

BOX SCORE

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – For the second time in three games, the Gustavus men’s hockey team skated away with an overtime victory as it defeated Saint John’s University 2-1 on Saturday afternoon to improve to 3-5-2 overall and 2-4 in the MIAC. The game-winner came 3:20 into the overtime period as a close shot from the right side by Drew Aspinwall (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) was turned away behind the goal. Van Sullivan (Fy., Brentwood, Tenn.) then gathered the puck and found Alex Koopmeiners (Jr., St. Cloud, Minn.) in front of the crease as he took a quick slap-shot that went past the blocker side of the Johnnie goalie for the sudden death win.

It didn’t take long for the Gusties to light the lamp in the first period as Will Holtan (Fy., Rochester, Minn.) scored his first collegiate goal 20 seconds in. Evan Erickson (Fy., Woodbury, Minn.) and Colin Hernon (So., Bloomington, Minn.) were credited with the assists, and neither team was able to score in the remaining 19:40 of the first period. Gustavus outshot Saint John’s 9-4 in the first period and led 1-0 at the first intermission.

With 7:26 remaining in the second period, the Johnnies scored the equalizer on a power play goal from Tyler Dunagan. Saint John’s put the on the pressure in the second frame with 12 shots on goal compared to Gustavus’s six.

Nearly four minutes into the third period, Saint John’s was called for slashing and put Gustavus on the power play. Moments later, Aspinwall fired a shot on an odd-man rush that appeared to hit the back bar for a goal and the Gusties began celebrating, but no goal was called and play resumed. The Johnnies outshot the Gusties 15-9 in the third period, but neither team found the net and the game headed to overtime where the Gusties came away with the win.

In his first appearance since Nov. 13, Erik Johnson (Jr., Sauk Rapids, Minn.) earned the win between the pipes after making 30 saves. Johnson is now 2-2 on the season with a .904 save percentage.

Gustavus wraps up the calendar year next Friday at 7 p.m. with a non-conference game in Duluth, Minn. at the College of St. Scholastica.