A year ago, Derek Gustafson was part of a three-man goaltending rotation at St. Lawrence University. Fast-forward 12 months, and the 21-year-old is one of the hottest netminders in minor-league hockey, with his eyes on an NHL job.

The Gresham, Oregon, native first gained prominence by leading the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League to the prestigious Canadian National Championship in 1999. But he went undrafted, so Gustafson decided that college would be a logical next step.

"I remember his recruiting trip; the kids loved him," recalls St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh. "It (St. Lawrence) is a small school in a close-knit town, and he felt right at home."

The first half of his freshman season, Gustafson shared duties with juniors Jeremy Symington and Sean Coakley. If the two elder statesmen were bitter when Gustafson was anointed the starter in mid-January, they certainly didn't show it. Symington and Coakley not only supported Marsh's decision, but the two goalies will be ushers in Gustafson's wedding this summer.

Gustafson went on to post a 17-4-2 record as the team compiled the third-best mark (27-8-2) in school history. Gustafson set school goaltending records with a 2.09 GAA and a .936 save percentage as St. Lawrence won both the ECAC regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in school history.

Of all the terrific performances Gustafson turned in during his freshman season, a 3-2, quadruple-overtime win over Boston University in last spring's NCAA Regional final proves the most memorable. The win catapulted St. Lawrence to the school's first Frozen Four since 1988 and ended up serving as Gustafson's coming-out party. Gustafson and BU's freshman sensation, Rick DiPietro, combined to make 149 saves. Gustafson ended up with 72 stops. DiPietro, who would go on to become the first pick in the 2000 NHL draft, finished with an tournament-record 77 saves.

"It was a tremendous hockey game," said Marsh. "Both goalies were unbelievable; it was absolutely incredible. The thing that really impressed me about Derek was how he maintained his presence throughout the game."

Though the Saints fell to Boston College, 4-2, in the Frozen Four a week later, Gustafson realized how far he had come in just one collegiate season. His dream of tending an NHL goal had become a lot more realistic.

"The time was right (to go pro)," said Gustafson. "I had a great year, and it was time for a new challenge. Coach (Marsh) was really good about it. He basically said that whatever I decided to do, I would always be a Saint."

The expansion Minnesota Wild won a bidding war for Gustafson's services over the summer, as Gustafson became just the third ever St. Lawrence player to leave school early for the professional ranks.

"Minnesota was an expansion team," said Gustafson. "I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to make it to the NHL. The team (a respectable 12-17-8-2 through Jan. 3) is really turning a lot of heads. I just need to keep working hard and go from there."

After beginning the year with the Jackson Bandits (4-3, 2.33 GAA) in the ECHL, Gustafson was promoted to Cleveland of the IHL when goaltender David Brumby twisted his ankle. Gustafson has made the most of his opportunity by going 5-1-1 with a 2.13 GAA.

"He has won everywhere he has been," said Cleveland GM Mike Mudd, coincidentally, a former St. Lawrence goaltender himself. "He just needs to make sure that he doesn't rush things. Very seldom does a 21-year-old goalie jump into the NHL."

Steve Kournianos and Josh Goldfine write for Sportsticker.