ACHA Hockey Blanks Michigan State, Skates into Vezina Cup Semifinals

Pictured, senior Gabe Gunneson

The fourth-ranked Hope College ice hockey team used exceptional special teams to advance to the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference Vezina Cup playoff semifinals.

The Flying Dutchmen skated past Michigan State University's American Collegiate Hockey Association team, 2-0, on Saturday night at Patterson Ice Arena in Grand Rapids.

Hope (23-5 overall) beat the 11th-ranked Spartans for the third time in nine days by scoring power-play and shorthanded goals while also killing off five MSU power plays.

The MCHC West Division champions advanced to face 16th-ranked Oakland University in the Vezina Cup finals on Friday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. back at Patterson Ice Arena. Calvin University and Lawrence Tech will meet in the other semifinal at 8:30 p.m.

Friday's winners will meet on Saturday, Feb. 24, in the title game.

Hope split with Oakland earlier this season, winning by a 3-2 margin in overtime on Nov. 4 on home ice after losing, 8-3, at Oakland one day earlier.

Against MSU, Hope received goals from senior center Gabe Gunneson (Rockford, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern HS) and sophomore forward Hunter Maschke (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central).

Junior goalie Maclane Schick (Kohler, Wisconsin / Kohler) shut out Michigan State for the second consecutive game by making 26 saves.

Hope beat fellow division-title contener MSU twice last weekend to become West Division outright champs, including a 4-0 victory on Feb. 10 in East Lansing.

Gunneson converted a power-play goal at the 16-minute, 40-second mark of the first period.

Sophomore defenseman Austin Ieuter (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) and senior defenseman Ashton Bol (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) were credited with assists on Gunneson's sixth goal of the season.

The Flying Dutchmen doubled their lead with a Maschke short-handed goal at the 7:16 mark of the second period.

Senior right wing Jake Adams (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) and senior defenseman Luke McKinch (Plymouth, Wisconsin / Plymouth Comprehensive) were credited with assists.

Michigan State outshot the Flying Dutchmen by a 16-11 margin during the second period, but Schick proved razor-sharp.

Hope limited the Spartans to just shots during the third period.

The Flying Dutchmen also killed off two penalties over the final 20 minutes of play.

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Players Mentioned

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

#18 Austin Ieuter: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#20 Hunter Maschke: F; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#2 Luke McKinch: D; 6' 2"; Senior

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

#65 Ashton Bol: D; 6' 5"; Senior

#13 Gabe Gunneson: C; 6' 1"; Fifth Year

Players Mentioned

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

#18 Austin Ieuter
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: D

#20 Hunter Maschke
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#2 Luke McKinch
: 6' 2"; Senior
: D

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

#65 Ashton Bol
: 6' 5"; Senior
: D

#13 Gabe Gunneson
: 6' 1"; Fifth Year
: C