ST. PETER, Minn. – Regulation wasn’t enough time to finish the season at Don Roberts Ice Rink and neither was overtime as the Gustavus men’s hockey team concluded its season with a thrilling eight-round shootout victory over Hamline Saturday on Senior Night. Hamline erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to tie the game 4-4, and neither team scored in the overtime, but the Gusties would have the last laugh as Erik Johnson (Sr., Sauk Rapids, Minn.) ended his career by denying six shots in the shootout, skating off the ice a winner for the final time. Gustavus finishes the season 5-15-5 overall and 4-10-2 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
It didn’t take long for the Gusties to light the lamp as Jake McCann (Jr., Shoreview, Minn.) scored his second goal of the season 3:03 into the game. With just under four minutes remaining in the period, Hamline tied the score and the teams went into the first intermission tied 1-1.
The Pipers took advantage of a power play with a goal at the 7:55 mark in the second period, but the Gusties responded with a power play of their own at the 11:27 mark. Colin Hernon (Jr., Bloomington, Minn.) benefited from a patient pass by Joe Lindberg (Sr., Excelsior, Minn.) to tie the game 2-2. Less than a minute later, Colton Schmidt (Fy., Eden Prairie, Minn.) found the back of the net to put the Gusties up 3-2. And with 3:59 left in the frame, Hernon scored his second goal of the game and seventh of the season, and the Gusties carried a 4-2 lead into the third period.
Hamline was able to make it a one-goal game with a score 1:59 into the third and tied the score with three minutes remaining in regulation. After a scoreless overtime period, the two teams were destined for a shootout. Hamline struck first, but the Gusties made their next two off the sticks of Jake Bushey (Jr., Duluth, Minn.) and McCann. Forced to their final opportunity, the Pipers responded with a make, which was followed by four rounds of misses by each team. Schmidt then put a puck past John Sellie-Hanson and the ensuing try by Hamline was denied by Johnson, giving the Gusties the shootout victory.
Hamline outshot the Gusties 39-34 as Johnson made 35 saves. The Pipers went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Gusties were 1-for-2. The visitors also edged the home team 42-40 on faceoffs.