ST PETER — Rory Dynan thought his season was over last Wednesday after the Gustavus Adolphus men’s hockey team lost to St. Thomas in overtime in the MIAC Championship game at Don Roberts Ice Arena.
“You never know how the NCAA is going to draw (the tournament field)” said the senior forward. “We thought our season was done but we felt a sigh of relief when we came to our meeting on Sunday.”
That’s because on Sunday, the NCAA selection committee granted the Gusties a spot in the first round of the national tournament one week later in the same building against the Tommies.
“They took something away from us: the MIAC playoff championship, which we wanted very badly,” said Dynan. “Everyone did their job tonight and we were successful.”
GAC got its redemption Wednesday, beating St. Thomas 3-1 to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals and face St. Norbert at 7 p.m. in De Pere, Wis. The Green Knights topped Adrian (Mich.) 4-3 Wednesday.
“I’m very proud of our team,” said GAC coach Brett Peterson. “To get to the national quarterfinals two years in a row is a big deal.”
The Gusties got on the board first when Dynan centered the puck to the crease and Brad Wieck was the last GAC player to touch as it rolled slowly past Tommies’ goaltender Joe Schraeder at 7:04 of the first period.
Like they did in the MIAC title game, the Gusties opened the game with more intensity and controlled the first period, outshooting the Tommies 14-5.
GAC had a 17-7 shots-on-goal advantage and a one-goal lead after one period last week, but ran out of gas in the last two periods.
“We looked a little faster tonight than we were last Wednesday,” said GAC goalie Josh Swartout, who finished with 18 saves. “I don’t think they were able to skate with us tonight.”
The Gusties continued to control the tempo the rest of the way as GAC outshot St. Thomas 40-19 for the game.
“We played better later in the game tonight than we did last week,” Peterson said.
GAC went up 2-0 when James Leathers found Joe Welch standing on the top of the crease from behind the goal line at Schraeder’s left and Welch knocked it home just 2:20 into the second period. T.J. Ridley got the second assist.
Swartout lost the shutout when the Tommies’ Parker Burgess brought the puck around the net, turned around and fired a shot past the goalie with 6:17 left in the third.
The goal could have given the Tommies the momentum — St. Thomas went on a power play just 10 seconds later when GAC forward Eric Bigham was called for interference.
Instead, the power play worked in GAC’s favor.
Joe Welch, one of three football players on the Gusties penalty kill, delivered a big hit to a St. Thomas player right off the first draw of the power play. GAC finished the kill without allowing a shot and managed to get two shorthanded shots.
“The key was after they scored we took a penalty and had a great kill,” Peterson said. “It all started with a big hit and they didn’t get a shot on goal.”
The Gusties put the game away with 2:49 remaining when the puck came free in the slot and Ross Ring-Jarvi slapped a rolling puck past Schrader to give GAC a 3-1 lead.
“We let them hang around last week and we weren’t really there mentally,” Swartout said. “We got our motivation from last week.”
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Related Photos
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Gustavus Adolphus College's Joe Welch (right) celebrates a second period goal with teammate James Leathers during their NCAA Division III men's hockey tournament game with St. Thomas Wednesday in St. Peter Pat Christman
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St. Thomas' Phil Johnson defends Gustavus Adolphus College's Ross Ring-Jarvi as he shoots during the second period of their NCAA Division III men's hockey tournament first round game Wednesday. Pat Christman
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Gustavus Adolphus College's Brad Wieck (19) is pursued by St. Thomas' Andrew Kappers during the second period of their NCAA Division III men's hockey tournament game Wednesday in St. Peter. Pat Christman
Gustavus Adolphus reaches national quarterfinals
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