University of St. Thomas Athletics
Hamline
Men's Hockey wins 4-1, on to NCAA playoffs
3/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
The No. 6-ranked St. Thomas men's hockey team got goals from four different players and beat host and top-seed Hamline 4-1 in Wednesday night's MIAC men's hockey playoff championship match at Drake Arena in St. Paul.
A standing-room only crowd of 600 watched Coach Terry Skrypek's Tommies (19-6-2) take the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs.
It's the third time in five seasons the Tommies won the MIAC playoff crown on the road in the finals as the No. 2 seed. UST outscored foes 11-2 in two conference playoff victories. Wednesday was the 16th time in 27 games the Toms had allowed two or less goals.
It's St. Thomas' eighth conference playoff title and its 13th trip to the NCAA playoffs, including six NCAA berths in the last 10 seasons. It avenged a 5-4 loss and 3-3 tie with the Pipers four weeks ago that cost UST the regular-season MIAC title.
The 12th-ranked Pipers (16-7-4) were denied in their bid for their first NCAA playoff berth. They were outshot 34-20 and had a seven-game unbetaen streak end with the season-ending defeat. Hamline went 0-for-8 on the power play, and UST goalie Tyler Chestnut had 19 saves. UST outshot the Pipers 17-6 in the pivotal second period.
Alex Arnason's unassisted goal in the first period put the Toms ahead 1-0. Nate Ryan's goal early in the second made it 2-0. Luke Chilson scored moments later for HU to trim the deficit to 2-1. UST's Ryan Hoehn scored a key power-play goal with 2:51 left in the second period to rebuild a two-goal cushion.
The Toms closed the scoring late with Nick Nelson's empty-net goal with 80 seconds left.
St. Thomas will learn its NCAA playoff pairing next Sunday.
St. Thomas has now won three of the five MIAC playoff titles thus far this school year -- volleyball, men's basketball and men's hockey. UST also lost in the finals this week in both women's hockey (1-0 to Gustavus) and women's basketball (53-50 in OT to Carleton).
Click here for final box score:
http://www.collegehockeystats.net/boxes/mhmlstt1.m05
Click here to view or purchase Greg Smith action photos:
Tyler Chestnut stopped 19 of 20 shots. (Greg Smith photo)
The Tommies outscored MIAC playoff foes 11-2. (Greg Smith photo)
Senior Garrett Gruenke savors the playoff win over Hamline. (Greg Smith photo)
Alex Arnason scored the game's first goal. (Greg Smith photo)
Ryan Hoehn (above) acored a pivotal power-play goal. (Greg Smith photo)
John Jacques battles along the boards. (Greg Smith photo)
St. Thomas fans will wait to see if UST gets a home NCAA playoff game. (Greg Smith photo)
Nate Ryan had of the Tommies' four goals. (Greg Smith photo)
St. Thomas has won three of the last five MIAC playoff titles on the road as a No. 2 seed. (Greg Smith photo)
Tommie fans packed Drake Arena to cheer on their team (Greg Smith photo)
