Hockey Preview: Blue Devils host Falcons Thursday in final home game

Blue Devil home games: Live Stats | Live Video

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (9-8-5, 1-3-1 WIAC) will wrap up the home portion of their schedule when they host UW-River Falls (13-5-3, 3-1-0 WIAC) Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. The Blue Devils lost to UW-Stevens Point, 7-0, Tuesday. Stout went 0-1-1 in conference games last week, while the Pointers and Falcons each played non-conference games.

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games are scheduled to be broadcast in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video. Brady Burzynski and Hayden Bowe will be on the call throughout the season. Live Stats will also be available for home games. Blue Devil home games: Live Stats | Live Video


THE 2015-16 BLUE DEVILS (9-8-5, 1-3-1 WIAC): After seeing a three-game winning streak and a six game unbeaten streak fall by the wayside the previous week, the Blue Devils came into last week and forged a 2-2 tie with ninth ranked UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 28, but then lost a 6-3 decision, Jan. 29 at UW-Superior before falling to UW-Stevens Point, 7-0, on a snow Tuesday night. The Blue devils currently have a six game winless streak, with two ties in that streak. Stout only has UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls remaining on their schedule. After playing the pair at home this week, the schedule flips and the Blue Devils will close the regular season on the road at Stevens Point and River Falls.

Justin Moody leds the team in scoring with eight goals and a team-high 11 assists, recording two power play goals. Team captain Jake Useldinger matches Moody's eight goals and has nine assists. He has three power play goals and is one of four Blue Devil players to have notched a shorthanded goal this year. Freshman Joe Anderson had a hat trick against Gustavus Adolphus, Jan. 9, and currently mirrors Tyler Cayemberg's six goals, and has eight assists. Cayemberg had a hat trick first semester. Danny Ray has eight assists, while Riley Colvard and Craig Lindegard each have seven assists. Karl Andersen and Shayne McLaughlin each have five goals. Joe Kleven has six assists and four goals. The Blue Devils have a power play percentage of 24.4 percent and a penalty kill mark of 76.5 percent. Stout is averaging 3.1 goals per contest and giving up 3.2.

As a team, the Blue Devils have proven to be the most prolific in the third period, outscoring their opponents 32-27 in the final stanza, but have been outscored over the first two periods. Stout is being outscored 19-13 in the first period and 22-20 in the second period. Stout has scored 65 goals (3.1 goal per game) and has given up 68 (3.2). The Blue Devils have surrendered six goals in three of the last four games. Stout has not given up an overtime goal this season, nor have they scored an overtime goal in five opportunities.

Spencer Viele has a 4-2-2 record with a GAA of 2.40 and a saves percentage of .925. Freshman Nick Schmit has worked nine games with a record of 3-3-2, on a GAA of 4.00 and a saves percentage of .894. Schmit made a team season-high 44 saves against Hamline University, Jan. 8. Chase Hollander has a 2-3-1 record, working eight games with a GAA of 3.75 and a saves percentage of .856. The team is posting a team GAA of 3.35. | 2015-16 Blue Devil Statistics

THE 2015-16 BLUE DEVILS PREVIEW: UW-Stout's 2015-16 roster features two seniors, 12 juniors, three sophomores and 13 freshmen. Ten returners played in all 26 games last year and 11 played in 20 games or more. The Blue Devils return 13 of their top-15 scorers and six of their top-eight scorers from last season, including junior forward Justin Moody, who led the squad with 11 goals, 12 assists and 23 points. UW-Stout will play nine of its first 13 games at the Fanetti Community Center (formerly the Dunn County Ice Arena), including seven consecutive home contests from Nov. 21-Jan. 8. The Blue Devils were picked to finish fifth in the WIAC in a preseason poll. Jake Useldinger scored seven goals and nine assists. Craig Lindegard added seven goals and eight assists, while Tyler Cayemberg had five goals and 10 assists. Spencer Viele and Chase Hollander split time in the net, with Viele posting a 5-11-1 overall record, with a goals against average of 3.62 and a saves percentage of. .908. Hollander had a 3-6-0 record with a GAA of 4.13 and a saves percentage of .893. | 2015-16 Blue Devil Statistics

STOUT'S LAST TIME OUT: UW-Stevens Point scored three goals in the first period - including two power play goals - and scored four in the final period on their way to a 7-0 win Tuesday on a snowy night. The Pointers scored 1:56 into the game and scored the final goal of the game with less than two minutes remaining in the contest. Six has been the magic number with Stout and Superior have played this year, with the winning team recording six goals. It was the same story Jan. 29 when they Yellowjackets upended the Blue Devils, 6-3, in Superior. The 'Jackets rolled off four straight goals and took a 4-0 lead into the third period before Stout's offense put up three goals. Shayne McLaughlin scored early in the period and Riley Colvard cut the score in half midway through the period. But the Yellowjackets answered back with two goals to make it 6-2 before Justin Moody scored with less than two minutes remaining. Against the ninth-ranked Blugolds, Jan. 28, the teams answered each other's goals, with the Blugolds opening the scoring in the first. Playing in his first game as a Blue Devil, Trey Gardner scored in the second to tie the game and Joe Kleven scored in the third to give Stout a 2-1 lead. Two minutes later, the Blugolds knotted the score. | UW-Stevens Point Story and Box Score | UW-Eau Claire Story and Box Score | UW-Superior Story and Box Score

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS: The Falcons have 20 returning letterwinners from last year's squad that claimed the Commissioner's Cup (WIAC Tournament title). Sophomore forward Kyle Gattelaro led the team with 13 goals and 25 points a season ago and this year has eight goals and seven assists. Senior goalie Tanner Milliron started every game last year and had a conference-high 729 saves, while ranking second with a 2.18 goals-against-average and .927 saves percentage. Milliron this year is 11-5-3 overall, with a GAA of 1.76 and a saves percentage of .928. | 2015-16 Statistics

THE FALCONS LAST TIME OUT: Tanner Milliron recorded his third shutout of the season and the Falcons' offense provided plenty of firepower in a 3-0 non-conference win over Bethel, Jan. 26. The Falcons scored in every period, and every which way possible. Danny Hamburg scored even strength in the first period, Kyle Gattelaro scored shorthanded in the second stanza and Ryan Doner scored on the power play in the third period Milliron recorded 19 saves. | Bethel Story and Stats

LAST TIME UW-RIVER FALLS AND STOUT MET: The Falcons won all three contests last year, 7-3, 3-2, and 5-2. In the opener, the Falcons broke open a close game with a three goal run over the close of the second period and into the third period. Jake Useldinger had two goals for Stout. In the second game, the Falcons jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period, but Stout's Justin Moody scored with seven minutes left in the opening stanza. The Falcons extended the lead in the third period and Moody got his second goal of the game with an extra attacker on the ice late in the game. The Blue Devils received a penalty shot with 47 seconds remaining, but the Falcons' Tanner Milliron blocked the attempt. In the final meeting, with the score tied at 2 apiece, the Falcons rolled off the final three goals of the game. | Game One Story and Stats | Game Two Story and Stats | Game Three Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Falcons hold a 72-20-1 lead in the series. The Blue Devils last win over the Falcons came on Jan. 14, 2012, a 2-1 win in River Falls. Stout's last win at home over the Falcons came on  Feb. 18, 2011, in the first game of a two-game NCHA quarterfinals series, a 3-2 win. The next night, the Falcons defeated Stout, 4-3, in overtime, then took the mini-game to win the series. During the 2013-14 season, the Blue Devils lost two overtime games to the Falcons.


SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT: The Pointers are the preseason pick to repeat as WIAC champions and are currently in a fight to stay on top. The Pointers are ranked fifth in the latest USCHO.com Division III poll. The Pointers are the top scoring team in the conference and the second scoring team in all of Divsion III, averaging 4.9 goals per contest. Joe Kalisz tops out the Pointers' offense with 12 goals and 18 assists. Lawrence Cornelllier has scored 13 goals and nine assists, as has Kyle Sharkey, who last time out had his first collegiate hat trick. Sharkey's six power play goals is seventh in Division III. Matt Milosek has an 11-3-1 record in front of the pipes and has a GAA of 2.19 and a saves percentage of .910. The Pointers have won nine of their last 10 games, with their only loss in that stretch coming at UW-Eau Claire, a 5-4 overtime decision, Jan. 22. A season ago, the Pointers advanced to the national championship game for the second straight year and secured the program's 10th conference crown - and first since 2000. UW-Stevens Point starts its 35th season with 18 returning letterwinners, including its top-two scorers in senior forward Joe Kalisz and junior forward Kyle Sharkey. Kalisz compiled 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points, while Sharkey registered 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points. Their 32 points tied for second in the WIAC. Also back is senior defenseman Alex Brooks, who was second on the team with 21 assists and added five goals for 26 points. The Pointers have accumulated 45 wins the past two years - the most for the program since 50 victories in 1992 and 1993. | 2015-16 Statistics

THE POINTERS LAST TIME OUT: The Pointers played back-to-back non-conference games with Lake Forest College, downing the Foresters, 3-2, Jan. 27, and 9-2, Jan. 30. In the first meeting,Lawrence Cornellier netted his second game-winning goal of the season in the second period, as the Pointers team defeated Lake Forest 3-1 Wednesday in Lake Forest, Ill. In the rematch three days later in Stevens Point, Kyle Sharkey recorded his first-career hat trick and the Pointers scored six times in the second period to record a 9-2 win over Lake Forest on Saturday. | Game One Story and Stats | Game Two Story and Stats

LAST TIME STEVENS POINT AND STOUT MET: The Pointers swept all three games last season over the Blue Devils, taking wins of 7-5, 6-0, and 3-2. The final meeting of the two teams was decided in overtime with the Pointers' Lawrence Cornellier scoring 47 seconds into the extra period. In the second game, Stout's Spencer Viele recorded a season-high 49 saves, but the Pointers' Garrett Ladd and Kyle Sharkey each scored twice. In the first game, Stout rallied from a 5-1 deficit and pulled to within 5-4 by the end of the second period. | Game One Story and Statistics | Game Two Story and Statistics | Game Three Story and Statistics

THE SERIES: The Blue Devils hold a 40-34-3 lead in the series.


USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL: Blue Devil 2015-16 opponents receiving votes in the latest USHCO.com Division III poll are: UW-Stevens Point, 5th; UW-Eau Claire, 9th; UW-River Falls, 12th; MSOE, 14th. St. Scholastica, 15th. Augsburg is receving votes. | USCHO.com Division III Poll

TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2015-16 season are Jake Useldinger, Derek Sand, Justin Moody and Danny Ray.

ALL TIED UP: When the Blue Devils notched a 3-3 tie with St. Scholastica, Jan. 19, 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.

AWARDS AND HONORS: 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 (220-276-34) is in his 19th 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-Stevens Point: In four seasons at UW-Stevens Point, Chris Brooks has helped re-establish the Pointers' program as one of the best in the country through national runner-up finishes in each of the last two seasons. Under his direction, the Pointers have compiled a 88-39-9 (add second Lake Forest game) overall record, while playing in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. UW-River Falls: Steve Freeman (353-177-44) is in his 20th season with the Falcons. Freeman has been the driving force and leader of one of the elite powerhouse college hockey programs in the nation.He is the program's all-time leader in games won. In 2015 Freeman led the Falcons to the WIAC playoff Championship including a thirteen game winning streak and 20-7-1 overall record.


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. Even though Superior left the conference in other sports this year, the hockey programs will remain affiliated with the WIAC. .

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.

LENDING AN ASSIST, continued: Chase Hollander was awarded his second career assist in the Blue Devils' 5-2 win over Concordia University Wisconsin, Nov. 21. That makes two different Stout goalies that have gotten 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. 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: Chase Hollander vs. Concordia Wisconsin, Nov. 21, 2015
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. 2, 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 Division III poll, Jan. 18, 2016, after nearly a four year hiatus, receiving five votes. A tie and two straight losses 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

NEW NAME: The Dunn County Board last spring approved renaming the Dunn County Ice Arena to 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 play their final regular season games of the year when they travel to UW-Stevens Point, Friday, Feb. 12 and UW-River Falls, Saturday, Feb. 13. The first round of the WIAC playoffs are set for Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20, a best of two series between the fourth and fifth seeded teams.