SLU fan here.  Well, I must say that I was very disappointed to see Derek Gustafson leave.  I can
understand him doing it and I hope only the best for him, but I will miss him and I think the team
will too.  I hope he does well in the pros.  I will find myself cheering on his team if he is in
goal.
  As far as back-ups.........  I have been reading on various message boards that I shouldn't be
worried.  SLU did play 3 goalies for a good portion of the season and then went with just
Gustafson.  Jeremy Symington and Sean Coakley both played quite well too.  I think that it will most
likely be Symington as first string and Coakley as back-up.  I do think that Symington can play very
well and I hope he doesn't let me down.  The rumors are that SLU is out looking for another goalie
even though it is rather late.  I for one am very much infavor of this and hope that they find
someone.  Both Symington and Coakley are going to be seniors and I don't like the idea of having all
your goaltenders graduating at the same time.  I'd like to see a freshmen who can join the team,
maybe play a few games before being thrown into the demands of playing every game.  (But I am not a
player so perhaps this isn't what they would like best.)
  Another concern is if this loss will lead to more losses.  If some players decided to stay for
next year in the hopes of returning to the Frozen Four, will they change their minds and leave
early?  Only time will tell.  Oh, please stay.

Sara
SLU '77
Let's go SAINTS!!!!!!!!

Mark Lewin wrote:

> I don't know whether this was posted earlier and I missed it:
>
> According to a story on USCHO,  SLU freshman goaltender
> Derek Gustafson has signed a contract with the Minnesota Wild
> and given up the remaining years of his college eligibility.
>
> This is outstanding news for RPI and the rest of the ECAC ;-)
> but it must be a devastating loss for the Saints given that
> Gustafson was one of the key players to carry them to the
> Phinal Phour last year and promised to be the backbone of their team for the next several years.
>
> Aside from that, leaving school at this stage of the off season
> probably has SLU scrambling to recruit a replacement goalie and
> not much time to recruit someone.
>
> Any SLU fans out there? Can you comment on the Saint's goalie
> situation? Who do they have as Gustafson's backup?