Hockey Preview: Stout close out regular season by facing Falcons

at UW-Stevens Point: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | at UW-River Falls: Live Stats | Live Video

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (9-9-5, 1-4-1 WIAC) will wrap up the regular schedule when they travel to UW-Stevens Point (18-4-1, 4-2-0 WIAC) , Friday, Feb. 12 and to UW-River Falls (14-6-4, 4-2-1 WIAC) Saturday, Feb. 13. The Blue Devils last week lost to both UW-Stevens Point, 7-0, Feb. 2, and UW-River Falls, 4-3, Feb. 4. The Blue Devils will need to win at least one of the two games, and UW-Superior will have to lose all of their remaining games for the Blue Devils to secure a first round WIAC home berth. The Yellowjackets leap frogged over the Blue Devils Friday, Feb. 5, when they ran over River Falls, 5-2, pushing Stout into fifth place. Yellowjackets are two full points in front of the Blue Devils after a 2-2 tie with River Falls,, Tuesday, Feb. 9. River Falls is currently one point ahead of Stevens Point in the WIAC standings with one game remaining. UW-Eau Claire is two points behind the Falcons. Both Stevens Point and Eau Claire have two games remaining.


THE 2015-16 BLUE DEVILS (9-9-5, 1-4-1 WIAC): It's been a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for the Blue Devils. One night Stout will play a solid game, the next night the game will get away from them, or vice versa, which was the case last week. After getting blown out, 7-0, at home against No. 5 UW-Stevens Point on a snowy night, the Blue Devils dropped a close 4-3 decision to No. 12 UW-River Falls. The Blue Devils currently have an eight game winless streak, with two ties in that streak, and will play both the Pointers and Falcons this week on the road to close out the regular season.

Justin Moody leds the team in scoring with eight goals and a team-high 12 assists, recording two power play goals. Team captain Jake Useldinger matches Moody's eight goals and has 10 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 nine assists. Cayemberg had a hat trick first semester. Shayne McLaughlin has seven goals and four assists. Danny Ray and Craig Lindegard each have eight assists, while Riley Colvard has seven assists. Karl Andersen has five goals. Joe Kleven has six assists and four goals. The Blue Devils have a power play percentage of 22.9 percent and a penalty kill mark of 75.2 percent. Stout is averaging 3.0 goals per contest and giving up 3.4.

As a team, the Blue Devils have proven to be the most prolific in the third period, outscoring their opponents 33-31 in the final stanza, but have been outscored over the first two periods. Stout is being outscored 24-15 in the first period and 24-20 in the second period. Stout has scored 68 goals (3.0 goal per game) and has given up 79 (3.4). The Blue Devils have surrendered six or more goals in four of the last sixgames. Stout has not given up an overtime goal this season, nor have they scored an overtime goal in five opportunities.

Spencer Viele has a 4-3-2 record with a GAA of 2.56 and a saves percentage of .920. 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 3.37. | 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. UW-Stout took an early lead, fell behind, then rallied, but their comeback fell short as the Blue Devils came up just short to UW-River Falls, 4-3, Feb. 4. Stout got first period goals from Joe Kleven and Shayne McLauglin, but the Falcons tied the game before the period was over, getting goals from Zach Schrotenboer and Ryan Doner. The pair would score again in the second to give the Falcons a 4-2 lead. Gavin Smith pulled Stout to within a goal with his marker at 15:27 in the third, but the Blue Devils could not find the back of the net with an extra defender on the ice.. | UW-Stevens Point Story and Box Score | UW-River Falls Story and Box Score

Game Stats Tracker

UW-Stout	Statistics	UW-Stevens Point	UW-River Falls
3.0	Goals/game	5.3	2.8
3.4	Goals allowed	2.3	1.8
22.9	Power Play %	25.5	20.0
75.2	Penalty Kill %	91.5	93.7
1	Shutouts	1	5

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT: Over the last four games, the Pointers have scored 31 goals, scoring nine over Lake Forest, seven over UW-Stout, six over top-ranked Adrian and nine over UW-Superior. 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 5.3 goals per contest. Joe Kalisz tops out the Pointers' offense with 13 goals and 26 assists - eight assists over the last week. Lawrence Cornelllier has scored 16 goals and 11 assists, as has Kyle Sharkey. Sharkey's eight power play goals is second in Division III. Matt Milosek has an 13-3-1 record in front of the pipes and has a GAA of 2.16 and a saves percentage of .908. The Pointers have won 12 of their last 13 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, coming off a 6-4 win over top-ranked Adrian College the night before, crushed UW-Superior, 9-1, Feb. 6. Trailing 2-0 to Adrian, the Pointers rolled off four consecutive goals to take a 4-2 lead midway through the second period.Adrian twice got within a goal but the Pointers responded both times to go up two goals and held on for the win. The following night, the Pointers broke open a close 3-1 game with the upset-minded Yellowjackets, scoring six times in the third period. Jacob Barber scored twice in the period for the Pointers. | Adrian Story and Stats | Superior Story and Stats

LAST TIME STEVENS POINT AND STOUT MET: With the snow flying outside, UW-Stevens Point produced a flurry of their own when they scored three goals in the first period and wrapped up the game with a four-goal third period to hand UW-Stout a 7-0 WIAC loss Feb. 2. | Game Story and Statistics

THE SERIES: The Blue Devils hold a 40-35-3 lead in the series.


SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS: The Falcons have 20 returning letterwinners from last year's squad that claimed the Commissioner's Cup (WIAC Tournament title). Kyle Gattelare leads the Falcons in goals with eight and has seven assists. Joe Drapluk has six goals and eight assists. Jjeff Bergh and Ryan Doner each have nine assists and three goals. All three of Doner's goals are power play goals and two of Bergh's goals were power play. Tanner Milliron has worked all but two games and has an 11-5-3 record with a GAA of 1.76 and a saves percentage of .928. The Falcons are scoring 2.9 goals and giving up 1.6. 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: The Falcons notched two power play goals in the contest, including one less than a minute into the game, but found themselves locked in a tight battle with the Yellowjackets for all 60 minutes of regulation, Feb. 9. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the five minute overtime period, as the two teams walked away with a 2-2 tie. The tie moves the Falcons' overall record to 14-6-4 and 4-2-1 in WIAC play. | After a scoreless first period, Feb. 5, the Falcons scored twice to lead off the second period, getting goals by Zach Schrotenboer and Christian George. UW-Superior cut the lead in half before the period was over, then rolled over the Falcons with four third period goals for a 5-2 Yellowjacket win. | Feb. 9 Superior Story and Stats | Feb. 5 Superior Story and Stats

LAST TIME UW-RIVER FALLS AND STOUT MET: UW-Stout took an early lead, fell behind, then rallied, but their comeback fell short as the Blue Devils came up just short to UW-River Falls, 4-3, Feb. 4. Stout got first period goals from Joe Kleven and Shayne McLauglin, but the Falcons tied the game before the period was over, getting goals from Zach Schrotenboer and Ryan Doner. The pair would score again in the second to give the Falcons a 4-2 lead. Gavin Smith pulled Stout to within a goal with his marker at 15:27 in the third, but the Blue Devils could not find the back of the net with an extra defender on the ice. | Game Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Falcons hold a 73-20-1 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.


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: 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 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 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.