Hockey Preview: Stout hosts Northland College Tuesday

Blue Devil home games: Live Stats | Live Video |

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (6-6-0, 1-1-0 WIAC) will play their final game before the holidays when they host Northland College (4-6-1, 3-4-1 NCHA) Tuesday Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

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


A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: 

• Senior Riley Colvard picked up his team-leading sixth goal of the season last weekend against St. Olaf, tallying 10 points.
• Freshman Colton Brausen has been hot the last few games, picking up a pair of goals this past weekend, getting Stout's only goal of the game in a loss to Concordia-Moorhead, then slamming the door on St. Olaf with a shorthanded, 6-on-4, empty net goal off the faceoff. The shorthanded goal was Stout's first of the season. 
• Connor Valesano is one of three Blue Devils with seven points, tallying five goals. Senior veteran Justin Moody has three goals and four assist. Freshman Jack Forbort has a goal and team-high six assists.
• Eleven additional Blue Devils have scored at least one goal. Twenty Blue Devils have scored at least one point as Stout nears the halfway point of the season.
•  Complete Blue Devil  2016-17 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS BETWEEN THE PIPES

• The Blue Devil goalies have been getting roughed up a bit as of late.  Freshman Tommi Ahlgren and senior Spencer Viele have seen the vast majority of the time between the pipes, but both hit the pines in favor of untested Etienne Roy against St. Olaf Saturday. Roy, who saw only seven minutes before Saturday, responded by posting the Blue Devils only shutout of the season, and their first in a year. Roy now posts a stellar 0.90 GAA with a saves percentage of .950. Ahlgren, who has started eight games, has a 3-5-0 record with a 3.42 GAA and .874 saves percentage. Viele started three games early in the season and has seen action in five games, has a 2-1-0 record with a GAA of 3.36 with a saves percentage of .857.

BLUE DEVILSPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils have put their power play in gear over the last several games. After scoring three power play goals over the first six games, Stout has scored 10 in the last six games, including three against both MSOE and UW-Eau Claire. Stout has 13 power play goals on 54 opportunities for a percentage of 24.1 percent. The Blue Devils have a penalty kill percentage of. 84.1 percent, allowing 11 in 69 chances.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: 

• Etienne Roy made his first start in goal for UW-Stout and handed the Blue Devils their first shutout of the season with a 3-0 victory over St. Olaf College Saturday at the Fanetti Community Center. Roy, a junior transfer from Franklin Pierce University, needed only 18 saves to notch his first win as a Blue Devil. In contrast to the night before when Stout lost 6-1 at Concordia-Moorhead, the Blue Devil defense was, well, Stout, shutting the Ole out.
• When the teams last met in November, the Blue Devils (6-6-0) needed overtime to take a win. Stout killed off six power play opportunities, including a 5-on-3 in the second period, and also picked up a shorthanded goal late in the game after after the Oles pulled their goalie. Stout scored a pair of goals in the first period.
• UW-Stout/St. Olaf Complete 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 NORTHLAND: The Lumberjacks are already well into their NCHA schedule, playing eight of their eleven games in the conference column. They are 4-6-1 overall, led by sophomores Josh Racek (3g, 6a) and Lucas DeBenedet (2g, 7 a) who each have nine points a piece. Senior Michael Barens is close behind with seven points on a team-best four goals. In net, AJ Smith has a 3-3-0 record over nine games with a 4.04 GAA and a saves percentage of .892. Brett Young has seen action in five games, with a 0-1-0 record, a 5.71 GAA and a saves percentage of .829.  | Statistics

LAST TIME OUT: Northland split their last two games, first losing against Lake Forest 1-6, and then bouncing back and beating the Foresters 4-3 in league action way back on Dec.3. In the win, the Lumberjack scored three consecutive goals starting in second and running into the third to offset a 2-1 deficit. The Lumberjacks' four goals were scored by four different players. | Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND NORTHLAND LAST MET: The teams tied, 2-2, in Ashland, Wis. in the 2014-15 campaign. Stout opened the scoring when Jake Useldinger scored shorthanded five minutes into the game. He was assisted by Justin Moody. The next 35 minutes-plus of game time were scoreless, but the third period was a different story. The Lumberjacks tied the score when Darius Cole scored 1:29 into the third period. Stout took the lead back on Craig Lindegard 's power play goal two minutes later, with an assist by Moody.  Northland tied the score midway through the third on a goal by Matt Lennon, and neither team would tickle the twine the rest of the way. | Story and Stats

THE SERIES: Stout leads the series 2-0-1. Stout won in back-to-back years, winning 9-1 during the 2007-08 season and 11-2 during the 2008-09 season.


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, 3rd; UW-Eau Claire, 6th, Augsburg, 10th and St. Thomas, 15th. Concordia-Moorhead (10 pts) is 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: Mathias Ahman was selected the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Dec. 5 after notching two assists in his first game back from injury this season against UW-Eau Claire, then scored his first goal of the season the following night at UW-Superior...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 (239-287-35) 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. NORTHLAND COLLEGE: Seamus Gregory is in his third season as the head coach of the Lumberjacks. Prior to Northland, Gregory spent three seasons (2011-2014) at Williston State College in northwest North Dakota, where he was the architect of Teton Hockey. In a short three years, Gregory helped Williston State build their program that is now a hockey power in the NJCAA. During his tenure at Williston, Gregory led the program to a record of 44-36-4 with three Region XIII titles, 12 All-Americans, three NJCAA Frozen Fours and two National Championships (2013, 2014). The two titles are the first National Championships in school history.

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. Northland College is a member of 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: Colton Brausen vs. St. Olaf College, Dec. 10, 2016 (6-on-4)
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. St. Olaf College (3-0), Dec. 10, 2016; 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: Stout resumes play Jan. 6, 2017 at Hamline University, then will be at Gustavus Adolphus College the following night. Stout returns to Menomonie, Saturday, Jan. 14 to host St. Mary's University