ACHA Hockey Strikes Twice Shorthanded, Beats Lawrence Tech in the National Semifinals

The Flying Dutchmen face the University of Michigan for the national title

Senior Gabe Gunneson, pictured

A shorthanded Hope College hockey team is still dangerous.

The top-ranked Flying Dutchmen struck for two shorthanded goals while killing off a five-minute major early in the second period on Monday in the American Collegiate Hockey Association national semifinals.

Hope skated to a 4-0 victory against Lawrence Tech University in Marlborough, Massachusetts, near Boston and advanced to its third consecutive national title game.

The Flying Dutchmen will face the University of Michigan's ACHA team on Tuesday, March 21, at 1 p.m. at New England Sports Center. It is a rematch of last year's title game, which Hope won, 2-1, in St. Louis, en route to back-to-back national championships.

On Monday, the game was scoreless late in the second period when the Flying Dutchmen's Nolan Holtrop (Walker, Michigan / Kenowa Hills drew a five-minute major after a hit in front of the Lawrence Tech net. Hope killed off the first 3:11 of the penalty to close the period.

Then, 30 seconds into the third period, senior forward Mason Weiss (Flushing, Michigan / Flushing Connections Academy) took a clearing attempt and nimbly passed the puck between his legs to senior left wing Colin Stecco (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) near center ice.

Stecco sprinted ahead before stopping to the right of the Lawrence Tech goalie, spinning 360 degrees and passing to a charging forward in senor Gabe Gunneson, who was coming up the right wing.

Gunneson (Rockford, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) buried the puck top shelf 45 seconds later to put Hope ahead, 1-0.

Shortly after the faceoff, senior left wing Lucas Barber (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion) stole the puck away from a Lawrence Tech defenseman near the Hope blue line and skated to a breakaway.

Barber beat the Lawrence Tech goalie on the backhand, and it was 2-0 Flying Dutchmen at the 1:15 mark. The Flying Dutchmen killed off the final 30 seconds of the power play.

Hope scored twice more during the second period.

Gunneson set up senior forward Kevin Healy (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) for a goal at the 7:52 mark.

Stecco struck again with 33 seconds remaining in the second period on the power play. Gunneson and junior right wing Jake Adams (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) were credited with assists.

The Flying Dutchmen outshot fourth-seeded Lawrence Tech by a 36-27 margin.

Sophomore goalie Maclane Schick (Kohler, Wisconsin / Kohler) made 27 saves for Hope.

This is Hope's eighth appearance in an ACHA title game, all under head coach Chris VanTimmeren. The Flying Dutchmen previously were national champs in 2022, 2021 and 2018. They were national runner-ups in 2014, 2011, 2010 and 2003.

Gallery: (3-21-2023) 2023 ACHA Semifinals vs. Lawrence Tech

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Players Mentioned

#22 Jake Adams: RW; 6' 2"; Junior

#17 Lucas Barber: LW; 5' 10"; Senior

#15 Gabe Gunneson: C; 6' 1"; Senior

#19 Kevin Healy: F; 6' 2"; Senior

#9 Nolan Holtrop: D; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#30 Maclane Schick: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#10 Colin Stecco: LW; 5' 10"; Senior

#27 Mason Weiss: F; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#22 Jake Adams
: 6' 2"; Junior
: RW

#17 Lucas Barber
: 5' 10"; Senior
: LW

#15 Gabe Gunneson
: 6' 1"; Senior
: C

#19 Kevin Healy
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F

#9 Nolan Holtrop
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: D

#30 Maclane Schick
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#10 Colin Stecco
: 5' 10"; Senior
: LW

#27 Mason Weiss
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F