Thud.  That's the sound you heard resonating from Wessman Arena on Saturday night.  Thud.  The thud you heard was the 2008-09 season for the Yellowjackets, one that had been one of the most special in school history, coming to a screeching halt.

The Yellowjackets were the number one seed in the West Region, playing an NCAA quarterfinal game on home ice, just one win away from advancing to the Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championships.  They would be taking on the number four seed Gusties from Gustavus Adolphus College, a team that entered the game 17-10-0 on the year, and clearly overmatched by the home team heading into the game.  But the home squad came out lacking the fire needed at this time of year, and they came out on the short end.  Ross Ring-Jarvi scored a goal late in the second period to break a scoreless tie.  The goal would hold up and the Gusties defeated the Yellowjackets 2-0 before a near-capacity crowd at Wessman Arena.

Thud.

Perhaps the 'Jackets thought the game was going to be easier than it was.  Perhaps they thought that, as they had all season long, they were going to be able to come-from-behind and get the win.  Perhaps their minds were already on the plane to Lake Placid.  Whatever the case, the special season, one which saw the team reel off two unbeaten streaks of 10-plus games and one which saw them win just the school's third NCHA championship, is over.  Also over are the careers of eight seniors that will be leaving the program.

For large stretches of time throughout the game on Saturday, the 'Jackets controlled the play in the offensive zone.  However, they spent a lot of time on the perimeter and were unable to make anything happen inside.  On the night, they maybe had a handful of quality scoring chances, almost no rebound chances, and only spent two minutes on the power play.

After a scoreless first period, the Gusties broke through in the closing minutes of the second.  Off a face-off to the left of Chad Beiswenger (Sr. Moorhead, Minnesota), the Gusties won the draw and got a shot away.  Beiswenger made the save, but allowed the rebound up the slot where Ring-Jarvi pounced on it and beat him with a shot to the stick side to make it 1-0.

In the third, the game followed much the same script as the first two periods.  The 'Jackets began to build some momentum in the final five minutes, but Gustavus took a timeout and quashed that momentum.  Then with 2:15 to play in regulation, the 'Jackets were put on the power play for the first time in the game.  They put on a relentless attack, but were unable to put anything home.  With Beiswenger out for an extra attacker, a shot missed the net and the rebound careened out to the neutral zone, where David Martinson picked up the puck and skated in alone, scoring the unassisted goal into an empty net with five seconds to go, sealing the 'Jackets fate.

Beiswenger was solid in his final game, making 24 saves.  At the other end, Matthew Lopes was shaky at times, but ended up making 33 saves to earn the shutout and send the Gusties to the Frozen Four.

It was a very cleanly played game, with the 'Jackets taking just two penalties for four minutes, while Gustavus had the one for two minutes.  Both teams went scoreless with the man advantage.

The 'Jackets finished the season 23-4-3 and now have to step into full-blown recruiting mode, with several slots to fill at every position.  The senior class numbers eight, and includes forwards, defense and goaltender, a position that saw just one player hit the ice all season.  There's a lot to do, and little time to do it, as before you know it Wessman Arena will again be buzzing as the new season approaches.

The 2009-10 season is just seven months away.