February 28, 2008

Feature: The Top Stopper

The following article featuring former St. Lawrence goaltender Derek Gustafson appeared in the February 28 issue of the Anchorage Daily News.

BY DOYLE WOODY 

Neither of the Alaska Aces goaltenders -- Derek Gustafson and Mike Brown -- has been a happy hockey player of late, and they've had good reason to be riled.

Gustafson spent the past two weeks with Peoria of the American Hockey League. Normally, that's a promotion for a player in the ECHL. But the former NHLer, in his last season of pro hockey before retirement and with no desire to have a meaningless cup of coffee in the 'A,' was sent up so struggling St. Louis Blues prospect Marek Schwarz could regroup and find his game with the Aces.

That meant Gustafson spent two weeks practicing, but not playing games, for Peoria. And he spent two weeks away from his wife and their three children. He has not played in a game since Feb. 8.

Complete article can be accessed via the Daily News Web site by clicking here.