ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team skated to a 2-2 tie Saturday against Saint John’s and won the shootout 1-0, moving to 1-7-2 overall and 0-5-1 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Van Sullivan (So., Brentwood, Tenn.) put the Gusties in front 1-0 at the 4:45 mark in the first period. A pass down low from Tim Donohue (Jr., Bloomington, Minn.) found Sullivan open in the high slot for the score. Nearly nine minutes later, the Johnnies netter the equalizer on a goal from Sean Lang and after the first period the score was tied 1-1.
After a scoreless second period, the Johnnies took a 2-1 lead at the 4:45 mark of the third on a goal by Evan Okeley. As the sense of urgency started to pick up for the Gusties later in the game, Drew Aspinwall (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) fired a one-timer from the point and found the top right corner of the net to tie the score.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the overtime period, forcing a shootout. Both teams missed their shots in the first round of the shootout before Evan Erickson (So., Woodbury, Minn.) found the bottom left corner of the net to put the Gusties ahead 1-0. Chris Amsden (So., St. Peter, Minn.) was up to the challenge and denied all three shots, giving the Gusties the extra point in the league standings.
Amsden totaled 21 saves on the night, 10 of which came in the third period. Both teams were unsuccessful in three power play tries each.
Gustavus hosts Parents Weekend next Friday and Saturday as it takes on St. Scholastica and UW-Eau Claire in a pair of non-conference games.