Hockey Preview: Blue Devils open WIAC schedule at Eau Claire

at UW-Eau Claire: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | at UW-Superior: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: After a Thanksgiving break, the Blue Devils (4-4-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) return to action this week and will begin WIAC play when they travel to UW-Eau Claire (6-1-2, 0-0-0 WIAC), Thursday, Dec. 1 and to UW-Superior (4-6-0, 0-0-0 WIAC), Friday, Dec. 2. Both games are 7 p.m. starts.  Stout is on the road until Saturday, Dec. 10.

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. Blue Devil home games: Live Stats | Live Video


UW-STOUT: The Blue Devils needed additional scoring and so far this year, they are getting it at opportune times on their way to a 4-2-0 overall record with 17 players scoring at least one point and 11 players scoring at least one goal. Senior Riley Colvard has scored four goals, matching the single season best that he set last season. Freshman Connor Valesano has scored three goals and two assists, while senior Justin Moody and freshman Connor Valesano have both  scored two goals and two assists. Both senior goalkeeper Spencer Viel and freshman Tommi Ahlgren have started three games. Viele has a goals against average of 2.62, while freshman Tommi Ahlgren has a GAA of 2.37 with a saves percentage of .917. The Blue Devil power play has a been a little low, recorded only three power play goals in 23 opportunities. On the other hand, the Blue Devils penalty kill is 87.5 percent, allowing five power play goals in 40 attempts (.130). The Blue Devils were receiving votes in the USCHO.com coaches poll, but the loss to Augsburg dropped the Blue Devils off the sheet. | 2016-17 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils lost a pair of one goal games with a spin through the Milwaukee area, losing to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, 4-3,  Nov. 18, and to Concordia University-Wisconsin, 3-2, Nov. 19. | Story and Statistics

UW-STOUT PREVIEW: 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 UW-EAU CLAIRE: The tenth ranked Blugolds come into Thursday's game with a 6-1-2 overall record, their only loss coming against the seventh ranked Auggies of Augsburg. Patrick Moore and Mac Jensen are the leaders on the team. Moore leads the team in total points with 15 (six goals, nine assists) and Jensen is right behind him with 12 points (six goals, six assists). The team overall has had some nice wins on the season, tying St. Johns and then winning their last four games by two goals or more. | Statistics

LAST TIME OUT: The Blugolds defeated Northland College, 4-1, Nov. 22 at Hobbs Ice Arena. | Story and Stats

WHEN EAU CLAIRE AND STOUT LAST MET: The last time these two teams met, they tied at two all at Hobbs Ice Arena on January 28 of this year. | Story and Stats

THE SERIES: Eau Claire leads the series 37-33-4.

WHEN WILL THEY MEET AGAIN?: The teams will meet once more this regular season on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Fanetti Community Center in Menomonie, Wis. for a 7:30 puck drop.


SCOUTING UW-SUPERIOR: The Yellowjackets are 4-6-0 on the season, grabbing wins against Northland, twice against Finlandia, and even St. Thomas, who received votes this last week in the USCHO.com Top 15 poll. Anton Svensson is the leader for Superior, the Swedish senior forward has 15 points to his name, scoring five goals and dishing 10 assists on the season. Jordan Neduzak is close behind with 14 points with six goals and eight assists. Daniel Litchke has been the offensive spark for the Yellowjackets, the Superior native sophomore has scored seven goals and leads the team in that category. | Statistics

LAST TIME OUT: The Yellowjackets capitalized on Finlandia for the second time this season, winning for the second time by seven points. Superior took the 8-1 win.  | Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND STOUT LAST MET:  Stout's last meeting with Superior came down to the wire. The two teams met in the WIAC Championship playoffs, each grabbing a win in two days, and then forced to play a mini game as a tie-breaker. Craig Lindegard was the hero for the Blue Devils in the game, scoring two of the three goals to give Stout the win. | Story and Stats

THE SERIES: Superior leads the series 57-22-4.

WHEN WILL THEY MEET AGAIN?: Superior, still a part of WIAC hockey, will play in Menomonie on Friday January 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Fanetti Community Center for their second meeting of the season against the Blue Devils.


USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL: Blue Devil 2016-17 opponents ranking in the Top 15 in the latest USHCO.com Division III poll are: UW-Stevens Point, 4th; UW-Eau Claire, 11th and Augsburg (6th). Hamline University (14 pts) and St. Thomas (10 pts) are receiving votes. | USCHO.com Division III Poll

TEAM CAPTAIN 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..

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Terry Watkins (237-285-35) 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. UW-EAU CLAIRE: Matt Loen is in his ninth season as the Blugold head coach.  The Blugolds ended their 2015-2016 season tying for first in the WIAC with a 5-2-1 record, and a 15-6-6 record overall. In 2012-13 Loen led the Blugolds to win the NCAA Division III National Championship in Lake Placid, New York. That year, Loen was named the USCHO and D3Hockey.com National Coach of the Year. The Blugolds also won the NCHA and WIAC Conference Championships in 2012-13. Loen ranks 12th on the all-time WIAC Coaches Wins List. He has been named WIAC Coach of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2013.  UW-SUPERIOR: Richard McKenna was named the head men's hockey coach at UW-Superior May 11, becoming just the sixth head coach to lead the Yellowjackets since the program was reinstated in 1965. McKenna comes to the Yellowjackets following a season as the head coach and general manager of the New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He led the Titans to a record of 34-22-4 and a second place finish in the NAHL's East Division in 2015-16. McKenna began his coaching career as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Castleton State University in 2008-09.

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.

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.

ALL TIED UP: When the Blue Devils notched a 3-3 tie with St. Scholastica, Jan. 19, 2016, it tied a school record for most ties in a single season with four. The 2009-10 team and the 2004-05 team each finished with four ties. The Blue Devils snapped that record a week later, Jan. 28, when they forged a 2-2 tie with ninth ranked UW-Eau Claire, then finished with six in the final game of the season against UW-River Falls.

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 travel across the state of Minnesota to face Concordia-Moorhead, Friday, Dec. 9, then return to the Fanetti Community Center for the first time in nearly a month when they host St. Olaf College, Saturday, Dec. 10. Stout will close out the semester Tuesday, Dec. 13 when they host Northland College. Stout resumes play Jan. 6, 2017 at Hamline University.