Hockey Preview: Stout hosts Gustavus Adolphus Saturday

Blue Devil home games: Live Stats | Live Video

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (2-1-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) are coming off their first loss of the season, a 6-2 decision at Bethel University (0-2-0, 0-0-0 MIAC), Friday, Nov. 4. The Blue Devils host Gustavus Adolphus (1-1-1, 0-0-0 MIAC), Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 pm. The Gusties surprised defending national champion and top ranked UW-Stevens Point with a 3-3 tie last night in St. Peter, Minn. The Blue Devils received a single vote in the Oct. 31 USCHO.com coaching poll, the first time they got a mention in the poll since midway through the 2015-16 season.

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games are scheduled to be broadcast in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video. Live Stats will also be available for home games.

UW-STOUT: After opening the season with a pair of home wins, the The Blue Devils absorbed their first loss of the season last night, a 6-2 road loss at Bethel University. Stout's Connor Valesono opened the scoring four minutes into the game, but the Royals answered back in a big way, scoring three goals in the final five minutes of the first period for a 3-1 lead into the break. Bethel scored again late in the second period, but Riley Colvard scored 34 seconds later to make it 4-2. Tommi Ahlgren came on in relief of Spencer Viele to start the third and the freshmen did not allow a goal. Ahlgren was pulled late in the game and the Royals scored two empty net goals to pick up their first win of this young season. Viele had 13 saves, while Ahlgren recorded 14. The Royals outshot Stout 33-26.     The Blue Devils got off to a hot start in their first two games, scoring eight goals on 67 shots in their first two games. In his first collegiate game, Trent Olson dished off three assists in a 5-1 win over Finlandia, Oct. 28, then added a fourth the following night in a 3-2 win over St. Scholastica. Olson made quite a splash in his first collegiate game, lending an assist on the first three Stout goals of the game, all three coming in the first period over Finlandia, with his third assist helping Riley Colvard on the power play. Against St. Scholastica, Olson assisted on the first goal of the game, again feeding special teams partner Riley Colvard on the power play

The Blue Devils have a veteran team with nine seniors, but also have a young squad with 12 freshmen. Senior Riley Colvard has a team-high three goals. Fellow senior Justin Moody has two goals and an assist. Freshman Connor Valesano has two goals and two assists and Trent Olson has four assists. Spencer Viele is 2-1-0 with a GAA of 2.62 and a saves percentage of .879. Tommi Ahlgren worked one period and stopped all shots.  | 2016-17 Statistics


A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: Are the Blue Devils a veteran team or are they a young, inexperienced team? The argument can certainly be made both ways. The Blue Devils are heavy in seniors with nine on the roster, and all nine have seen a great deal of time in a UW-Stout uniform. By the same token, 12 freshmen and one junior transfer will be putting on the navy and white for the first time this season. With only one junior returner, the Blue Devils lean more towards the younger side with seven sophomores. Senior Justin Moody was second on the team last year in scoring with nine goals and a team-high 14 assists, and earned all-WIAC honorable mention honors. Sophomore Joe Anderson scored six goals and nine assists. Senior forwards Riley Colvard and Craig Lindegard were among the team leaders in assists. Colvard had 10 assists to goal along with four goals and Lindegard dished off 11 assists along with three goals. Senior Shayne McLaughlin pushed in seven goals and fellow senior Karl Andersen had five goals and five assists. Senior goalie Spencer Viele is Stout's only returning goalie. An injury early in the season slowed Viele down after an initial fiery start. Viele finished the season with a 4-3-2 overall record and an GAA of 2.56. Sophomore defenseman Joe Kleven returns after an all-WIAC honorable mention, season. Kleven was also an offensive threat with six goals and six assists. The Blue Devils will need to more offensive to move up in the WIAC. Stout last year averaged 2.7 goals per contest. The defense allowed only 3.4. | 2015-16 Blue Devil Statistics

Game Stats Tracker (2016-17 Stats)

SCOUTING BETHEL : The Royals are coming off two 5-3 losses against no. 15 ranked Augsburg as well as Hamline, already dipping into their conference schedule. The Royals finished strong last season, as they beat Concordia (Minn.) in their last game of the season, but fell to a 4-19-2 record overall. They return 18 players, but have lost their number one goal scorer Travis Payne, who scored 11 goals and added seven assists in the 2015-16 campaign. | Statistics

WHEN THEY LAST MET: Stout was one of the teams who handed Bethel a loss last season. The Blue Devils took on the Royals in the Fanetti Community Center and proceeded to score four goals and allow two as they took their first win of the season. After allowing Bethel a 2-1 lead, Stout scored three consecutive goals to take the win. Jake Useldinger scored on a 5-4 power play and was followed up by Joe Anderson who scored his first collegiate goal on a 4-4 even strength goal. Steve Doane scored his first collegiate goal in the third period after Bethel was whistled for two simultaneous penalties. Finally, Shayne McLaughlin scored with 13 seconds left on an empty Bethel net. | Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Blue Devils a 9-7-0 lead in the series.


SCOUTING GUSTAVUS:  The Gusties feature 18 returners, three of which are goalies who bring a lot of familiarity with the program, a program that is marking its 75th season this year. Evan Erickson, Colin Hernon and Sam Majka each have two goals this season. Jake Bushey has recorded five assists over the first three games. In the net, Chris Amsden is 0-1-1 with a GAA of 3.84 and save percentage of .879. Erik Johnson is 1-0-0 with a GAA of 1.00 and a saves percentage of .958, recording a 4-1 win over St. Olaf. . The Gusties are sitting at 1-1-1 on the season after splitting their first two games in the MIAC Showcase, but the Gusties are coming off a 3-3 tie last night against defending national champion and top ranked UW-Stevens Point. The Pointers opened the scoring in the 12th minute of the first period, but four minutes later Drew Aspinwall took advantage of the power play to even the score. The Gusties recorded another power play goal, this one in the 14th minute of the second period by Sam Majka. The Pointers scored twice in third, first only 38 seconds in and again at 13 minutes to take a 3-2 lead. Evan Erickson responded less than a minute later for the Gusties to tie the score. Chris Amsden recorded 36 saves, including three in overtime for Gustavus.coming back with a 3-3 . In their first game, they fell to the St. Johns Johnnies 5-2, in which they gave up three goals in the final period, after going into the second intermission in a 2-2 tie. The second game played in their favor, scoring four goals against the St. Olaf Oles. They were ahead 2-0 going into the second period, allowing the only goal in the second, and followed it up with two more unanswered goals. Overall, the Gusties return 18 players, including three goalies. They are tough in the net and on the blue line, but they struggled last season in the MIAC in goal scoring, averaging 2.17 per game. | Statistics

WHEN THEY LAST MET: The two teams met twice last season, first in Menomonie that ended in a 0-0 tie, and then the second time in St. Peter, Minn. where the Blue Devils piled on the goals, winning 5-3. In the second game, Joe Anderson scored his first collegiate hat trick, scoring in the first four minutes of the game. He then charged a comeback and tied the game at 3-3 on an unassisted early in the thrid. His hat trick was complete as he scored on an empty Gustie net to seal the win for the Blue Devils. When the teams played to no score, it was the first time in UW-Stout hockey history that a 0-0 tie was recorded. The Blue Devils hold a 10-8-2 lead in the series, with perhaps their most memorable game coming in the NCAA Division III semi-finals at Lake Placid, NY, where the Gusties took a 3-2 decision during the 2008-09 season.

THE SERIES: The Gusties hold a 10-8-2 lead in the series.


USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL: Blue Devil 2016-17 opponents receiving votes in the latest USHCO.com Division III poll are: UW-Stevens Point, 1st; UW-Eau Claire, 8th;  Augsburg (14th). St. Scholastica, UW-River Falls, MSOE and UW-Superior are receiving votes. | USCHO.com Division III Po

TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2016-17 season are Derek Sand, Justin Moody and Shayne McLaughlin. Sand and Moody are captains for the second consecutive year.

AWARDS AND HONORS: 2016-17: After dishing off three assists in the first period against Finlandia University in the season opener and adding another assist the following night, freshman defenseman Trent Olson was selected as the UW-Stout/Digi-Copy Athlete of the Week, Oct. 31...2015-16: Junior forward Craig Lindegard was named to the D3hockey.com team of the week after scoring two goals in a mini-game win over UW-Superior, Feb. 20, to advance the Blue Devils to the semi-final round of the WIAC playoffs. While those stats will not show up in Lindegard's career stats (mini-game stats do not count), Lindegard did record two assists in a 3-2 win and added another in a 5-3 loss in the series. Lindegard was also named as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week...Senior forward Jake Useldinger was selected as the WIAC and UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week after scoring three goals and two assists over two games against St. Thomas and Saint Mary's University, Jan. 15-16...Freshman forward Joe Anderson was selected as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week after scoring a hat trick and an assist in a 5-3 win at Gustavus Adolphus, Jan. 9. Anderson also scored a goal the night before against Hamline University...Goalie Nick Schmit was selected the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week, Dec. 14, after recording two wins in his first collegiate starts...Forward Tyler Cayemberg was selected as the WIAC athlete of the week after scoring a hat trick against Concordia University Wisconsin, Nov. 21. Cayemberg had two power play goals and completed the hat trick with an empty net goal with three seconds remaining...Goalie Spencer Viele was selected as the WIAC athlete of the week after snagging a win over Bethel and playing to a scoreless tie with Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 6-7. Viele posted a saves percentage of .963 over the two games.


THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Terry Watkins (235-281-35) is in his 21st season as the head coach of the Blue Devils' varsity program. Watkins spent eight years coaching the club team (104-102-16) as Stout prepared to return to varsity status in 1997. Watkins was the 2006-07 NCHA coach of the year when Stout finished in a three-way tie for first. Watkins had a Hall of Fame career at Stout as a defenseman. Stout won a WIAC title in 2010-11, and an NCHA title during the 2006-07 season. Watkins reached 700 games as the head coach of a UW-Stout hockey team (varsity and club) when the Blue Devils played UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 7, 2013.


THE CONFERENCES: UW-Stout is a member of the five-team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The WIAC is made up of Stout, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior and UW-River Falls. Both Finlandia and St. Scholastica are members of the NCHA. .

LENDING AN ASSIST: Two different Stout goalies earned assists during the 2015-16 season. Spencer Viele was awarded an assist Nov. 6 against Bethel University, then added a second assist Jan. 29 at UW-Superior and Chase Hollander earned an assist Nov. 21, 2015, against Concordia. The three helpers mark the first time two UW-Stout goalies have gotten an assist in the same year since the team returned to varsity status 20 years ago...When Spencer Viele was awarded an assist against Bethel University, Nov. 6, 2015, he was not the first Stout goalie, and won't be the last, to get an assist. Since the Blue Devil hockey program returned to varsity play during the 1996-97 season, seven goalies have earned at least one assist. Chase Hollander was awarded an assist for his pass as Danny Ray scored against UW-Superior, Jan. 17, 2015. Corey Koop did it during the 2013-14 season, Jeff Stone during the 2008-09 season, and Jake Schuman during the 2004-05 season each recorded an assist. Jeff Dotson did it in 2000-01 as a freshman, then did it again as a senior in 2003-04. Kelly Elde did it twice during the 1996-97 season.

PREVIOUS BLUE DEVIL HAT TRICKS (since 2008)
Joe Anderson vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Jan. 9, 2016
Tyler Cayemberg vs. Concordia University Wisconsin, Nov. 21, 2015
Austin Nelson vs. Aurora University, Jan. 23, 2015
Branden Gay vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 2, 2011
Branden Gay vs. St. Norbert, Feb. 12, 2011
Scott Motz vs. St. Mary's University, Jan. 13, 2009
Nick Klaren vs. Northland, Nov. 4, 2008
Scott Motz vs. Northland, Nov. 4, 2008
Derek Hanson vs. Augsburg, Oct. 31, 2008
Derek Hanson vs. Concordia, Oct. 24, 2008

The Last Time in a Single Game...
Two Stout players recorded a hat trick: Scott Motz, Nick Klaren vs. Northland College, Nov. 4, 2008
A Stout player recorded two or more power play goals: 2, Tyler Cayemberg vs. Concordia Wisconsin, Nov. 21, 2015
A Stout player recorded a shorthanded goal: Tyler Cayemberg vs. Concordia-Moorhead, Dec. 11, 2015
Stout scored two empty net goals: Jake Useldinger, Nolan Kirley vs. Saint Mary's University, Jan. 16, 2016
A Stout goalie recorded 40-45 saves: 44, Nick Schmit vs. Hamline University, Jan. 8, 2016
A Stout goalie recorded 46-50 saves: 49, Spencer Viele vs. Aurora University, Jan. 24, 2015
A Stout goalie recorded 50-55 saves: 51, Corey Koop vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 20, 2014
A Stout goalie recorded 55-plus saves: 59, Corey Koop vs. UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 7, 2013
A Stout player recorded four goals: 4, Brad Weappa vs. Hamline University, Jan. 18, 2000
A Stout goalie recorded an assist: Spencer Viele vs. UW-Superior, Jan. 29, 2016
A Stout team scored 5-7 goals: 6 vs. Saint Mary's (W 6-3), Jan. 16, 2016
A Stout team scored 8-10 goals: 8 vs. Concordia Wisconsin (W 8-5), Jan. 10, 2015
A Stout team scored 10-plus goals: 11 vs. Northland College (W 11-2), Nov. 4, 2008
Stout posted a shutout: vs. Gustavus Adolphus (0-0), Nov. 7, 2015
Stout was shut out: vs. UW-Stevens Point (0-7), Feb. 3, 2016
Both teams played to a scoreless tie: vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 7, 2015

BLUE DEVIL RECORD BOOK
Individual Records
Goals by Game: 8, Glenn LaChapelle vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 18, 1973
Assists by Game: 9, Chuck Gerber vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 18, 1973
Points by Game: 9, Glenn LaChapelle (8/1) vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 18, 1973; Chuck Gerber (0/9) vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 18, 1973;
Saves by Game: 67, Tom Slupe vs. Wisconsin JV, Feb. 14, 1970
Goals by Season: 43, Glenn LaChappelle, 1972-73
Assists by Season: 28, Derek Hanson, 2008-09
Points by Season: 65, Glenn LaChapelle (43/22), 1972-73
Saves by Season: 850, Tad Larson, 1977-78
Goalie Win/Loss Record by Season: 21-5-2, Matt Koenig, 2008-09
Goals by Career: 80, Glenn LaChapelle, 1970-73
Assists by Career: 80, Derek Hanson, 2006-10; Scott Motz, 2006-10
Points by Career: 140, Derek Hanson (60/80), 2006-10
Saves by Career: 2480, Tad Larson, 1974-78
Goalie Win/Loss Record by Career: 44-16-4, Matt Koenig, 2005-09
Fastest First Period Goal: 10 seconds, Mark Ryder vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 17, 1973
Fastest Second Period Goal: 6 seconds, Mike Kautz vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 20, 2006
Fastest Third Period Goal: 6 seconds, Duane Johnson vs. St. Cloud State, Dec. 2, 1978
Fastest Overtime Goal: 6 seconds, Curt Moore vs. Concordia, Nov. 26, 1976
Team Records
Most Goals in a Period: 11, vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 17, 1973
Most Goals in a Game: 21 vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 17, 1973
Most Goals Allowed in a Game: 18, vs. Wisconsin JV, Feb. 14, 1970
Most Penalty Minutes: 21-54 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Dec. 13, 1997
Most Penalty Minutes, Both Teams: 35-96 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Dec. 13, 1997


STOUT'S RANKED HISTORY: The Blue Devils returned to the USCHO.com poll, albeit it was only one vote in the Oct. 31, 2016 poll. The last time Stout was mentioned was Jan. 18, 2016...The Blue Devils returned to the USCHO.com Division III poll, Jan. 18, 2016, after nearly a four year hiatus, receiving five votes. A tie and two straight losses the following week dropped the Blue Devils out of the poll. Stout finished the 2008-09 season as the second ranked team in the USCHO.com poll. With the exception of the Nov. 17, 2008, USCHO.com poll, Stout had been ranked in the top 15 since the Nov. 13, 2006, poll. Stout made their first appearance in the poll on Nov. 27, 2000, when they received one vote, then moved up to 10th the following week. The 2008-09 season ending poll matched Stout's previous high mark of second in the Jan. 29, 2007, poll. Stout opened the 2009-10 season ranked third, their highest-ever season-opening ranking, but fell out of the polls midway through the season and returned to the top 15, Nov. 22, 2010. Stout was in the 2011-12 USCHO.com poll early in the season, dropped out, returned again, but dropped out. Stout returned to the poll after a win over top-ranked St. Norbert, Jan. 18, 2012, garnering eight votes in the Jan. 21, 2012, poll, effectively ranking the Blue Devils 19th. Stout returned to the poll in the early part of the 2012-13 season, receiving seven votes in the Dec. 3, 2012 poll before dropping out. | USCHO.com Division III poll

SCORELESS TIE: If fans were looking for scoring in the UW-Stout/Gustavus Adolphus College game Nov. 7, 2015, they went away disappointed. The scoreless tie with the Gusties was a first for UW-Stout, which has never had a scoreless tie in any of the program's varsity games, stretching back to 1968. Gustavus last season set an NCAA Division III record for ties with eight and one was a scoreless tie. According to Tim Danehy of collegehockeystats.net, scoreless ties are "not common obviously, but not that rare overall" across all divisions, both men and women, and appear to be on the rise. So far this year, six scoreless ties have been reported, but the Stout/Gustavus double goose eggs were the first of the season for Division III men. Last season there were 17 scoreless ties reported to collegehockeystats.net, of which six were Division III men, Danehy said. In 2013-14 there were nine total and 2012-13 had 10 total. The same night UW-Stout and Gustavus were going scoreless, the UW-Eau Claire women and St. Catherine played to a 0-0 decision.

NEW NAME: The Dunn County Board in 2015 approved renaming the Dunn County Ice Arena the Fanetti Community Center in recognition of Marilyn Fanetti's contribution to fundraising efforts undertaken by the Menomonie Youth Hockey Association to remodel and add to the arena at the Dunn County Recreation Park. Fanetti donated $370,000 to the project and asked that the hockey arena and new community room be named for her family.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will host Augsburg College, Friday, Nov. 11, before heading out on a road trip that begins the following night in St. Olaf College. Stout will be on the road until Saturday, Dec. 10 when they host St. Olaf College.