SAINT PETER, Minn. - In a fast-paced and thrilling game throughout, the Gustavus men's hockey team earned a series split against St. Olaf on Saturday night in the home opener, winning 6-5. The victory marks the first career win for Head Coach
Tyler Walsh.
It didn't take long for the Gusties to score as
Nate Stone tallied his first of the season at the 2:41 mark of the first. Just over a minute later,
Jack Wineman found
Jack Suchy for a 2-0 lead. The Oles tallied their first goal at the 13:26 mark and the score remained 2-1 at the end of the first.
Nearly four minutes into the second frame,
Hunter Newhouse and Wineman assisted on Suchy's second goal of the game for a 3-1 advantage, but the Oles answered just over a minute later making the score 3-2. Again, in the fast-paced nature of the game, the Gusties regained a two-goal lead 47 seconds later as
Grant Ellings connected with
Drew Holt for his first goal of the season.
Midway through the second, the Gusties went up 5-2 as Wineman tallied his first goal of the season, assisted by Suchy. One minute later, the Oles took advantage of a power play and scored, but again, the Gusties immediately answered as Suchy completed the hat trick just 15 seconds later, with Wineman earning his third assist of the night. Gustavus led 6-3 at the second intermission.
St. Olaf made things interesting in the third period, scoring at the 6:23 mark and then making it a one-goal difference in the final minute with an extra-attacker goal, but the Gusties held on for the win.
Gustavus out-shot St. Olaf 25-23 as
Marko Belak made 18 saves for his first win. There were just two penalties called all game with the Oles going 1-for-1 on the advantage and the Gusties 0-for-1.
Gustavus next has an away-away series at Concordia next weekend.
