Box Score ST. PETER, Minn. – The Bethel University men's hockey team went on the road Saturday night and completed the sweep of the #5 ranked Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties with a 2-0 victory at the Don Roberts Ice Rink. After an emotional and physical, and at times dominating, 3-2 win Friday night the Royals proved it was no fluke with another solid performance and a convincing victory. Bethel outshot Gustavus 24-20 and freshman Matt Rowe recorded his first career win and shutout in the net.

“We started a little slow but managed to come out of a slow start first period at 0-0,” Royals coach Charlie Burggraf said. “The guys stuck with it and started to play 'Royals Hockey' as the game went on. All of our players did a super job of maintaining discipline and Matt Rowe stopped all the shots.”

Junior Colin Mayer (Mound, Minn.) got the eventual game winner at 9:24 in the second period on a power play goal, his first of the season. Jack Paul (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Tyler Swanson (So., West Fargo, N.D.) assisted on the play. Just 16 seconds after Mayer's goal the Royals were called for a hooking penalty giving the Gusties a power play and a great opportunity to even the score up. The Royals turned the tide on the Gusties however, when Josh Shingler (Jr., Shawano, Wis.) scored a short-handed goal just 24 seconds into the Gustavus power play and 50 seconds after Mayer's goal. Corey Grandner (Sr., Champlin Park, Minn.) recorded the assist. Bethel killed off the rest of the power play, with Rowe making three saves, and a fourth Gusties shot going wide. The Royals had a great opportunity late in the second period when Gustavus was called for a 5 minute major penalty for hitting after the whistle, while Bethel was hit with a two minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, eventually giving the Royals three minutes of a power play. The Royals first shot of the power play, by Brock Raffaele, hit the pipe and the Royals got off five more shots during the three minute span, but were unable to build on their lead. Bethel continued to lock down Gustavus the rest of the way, even into the final minute of the game when the Royals where called for a hooking and checking penalty and the Gusties pulled their goalie. Even with the three man advantage Gustavus was unable to get a shot on goal and the Royals emerged with the shutout victory.

The Royals sweep was the first in the series since the 2005-06 season when Bethel swept Gustavus. The last six years saw the two teams split the series each time. Bethel improved to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in MIAC play while Gustavus falls to 3-3 and 0-2. The Royals will host Concordia next Friday and Saturday evenings in the Bethel University Arena at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.

“Monday we are going back to work,” coach Burggraf said.