Hockey Preview: Blue Devils host Concordia at 7 p.m. Friday

Blue Devil home games and vs. Tommies at the Xcel Energy Center: Live Stats | Live Video |

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (8-8-1, 1-1-0 WIAC) will be the home team twice this week, but will have to travel to one game. The Blue Devils start off the weekend by hosting Concordia-Wisconsin (9-6-1, 6-5-1 NCHA) Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. (please note the time change) at the Fanetti Community Center, then will board the bus the next day to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., where they will host the University of St. Thomas, (8-5-3, 6-1-1 MIAC),Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m.

BLUE DEVILS/TOMMIES AT XCEL CENTER: UW-Stout will meet the University of St. Thomas at the Xcel Energy Center Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m. as part of a Hockey Day in Minnesota. The day will feature a game with the Minnesota Wild taking on the Anaheim Ducks at 8 p.m. The Blue Devils and the Tommies will get the day underway at 1:30 p.m. There is no cost for the NCAA Division III game. The Blue Devils last played at the Xcel Energy Center during the 2011-12 season in a Jan. 21, 2012 contest with St. Norbert College.Following the Stout game, Blue Devil fans and alumni will gather at McGovern's Pub to buy your own food and beverages. (225 7th St. W, St. Paul, MN 55102). The Wild and the Ducks will get underway at 8 p.m. Links to purchase the first-come, first-served tickets are listed below and above. | More information

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.

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT:

• Senior Riley Colvard leads the team in scoring with eight goals and five assists.
• Freshman Colton Brausen has seven assists six five goals, matching Colvard's point total of 13. Senior Justin Moody has nine assists to go along with his three goals for 12 points
• Connor Valesano and Alex Toscano trail Colvard in goals with five goals. Valesano also has three assists and Toscano two.
• Sixteen different Blue Devils have scored at least one goal this year. Twenty different Blue Devils have scored at least one assist. Twenty-one Blue Devils have recorded at least one point so far this season.
• The Blue Devils are averaging 3.1 goals per contest, but are giving up 3.5.
• Complete Blue Devil 2016-17 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS BETWEEN THE PIPES

• The Blue Devil goalies were getting roughed up a bit as the first semester of play wrapped up in December. Freshman Tommi Ahlgren and senior Spencer Viele have seen the vast majority of the time between the pipes, but junior transfer Etienne Roy made a pair of starts in December. Ahlgren is currently 3-6-1 with a GAA of 3.21 and a saves percentage of .895, seeing time in 12 games. Viele is currently 4-1-0 with a GAA of 3.16 and a saves percentage of .889 across five appearances. Roy is 1-1-0 and has Stout's only shutout of the season, a 3-0 win over St. Olaf College. With three appearances, Roy has a GAA of 3.91 with a saves percentage of .848.

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils power play started off slowly, but has made it's way towards the top of the conference. Stout is currently posting a power play percentage of 25.7 and is penalty killing at a rate of 84.6 percent. Stout got three power play goals against Saint Mary's last week. Ten different players have scored at least one power play goal. Colvard leads the way with four power play goals, second in the WIAC.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blue Devils bounced back for a 3-1 loss to St. Thomas last week to down Saint Mary's University, 6-5, in overtime, Jan. 14 in Stout's first game back in Menomonie in just over a month.
• Colton Brausen scored the game winner just more than a minute into overtime and Alex Toscano scored two third period goals against the Cardinals. The Blue Devils also got goals from Karl Andersen, Riley Colvard and Jack Forbort.
• Complete Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING CONCORDIA-WISCONSIN

• St. Mary's is one of the most powerful offenses in the MIAC, as well as, the second team in the MIAC standings at 5-3-0 in conference.
• Junior forward Martin Gruse holds 14 goals and 17 assists on the season. Totaling 31 points.
• Bob Kinne is right behind Gruse with 27 points, 9 goals and 18 assists.
• The Cardinal rank first in the MIAC in penalty minutes, averaging 13.8/game.
• Statistics

LAST TIME OUT

• The Falcons dropped a pair of NCHA games to Marian University last weekend, losing 2-1, Jan. 13, and 3-1, Jan 14.
• In the first game, the loss was just the second for the Falcons in their last eight games. It was also the second loss for CUW on the road this season, as they have an impressive 6-2-1 mark away from home. The Falcons tied the game six minutes into the second period, but Marian scored 1:26 later and held onto the lead.
• Game Story and Statistics
• In the rematch at home, the Sabres built up a 3-0 lead before the Falcons scored a power play goal by Jake Switzer
• Game Story and Statstics

WHEN STOUT AND CONCORDIA LAST MET:

• Connor Valesano scored with just over two minutes remaining in the game to pull UW-Stout to within one goal, but the Blue Devils could get only one me shot on frame in the remainder of the game, falling 3-2 to Concordia University, Wisconsin Nov. 19 at the Ozaukee Ice Center.
• The Falcons opened the game with three straight goals before the Blue Devils got on the board. Concordia got first period goals from Eric Theirren and Jim Pearson. Pearson scored again in the second period. Both of Pearson's goals came on the power play.
• Stout's Joe Kleven scored at 18:55 of the second to get Stout on the board and Connor Valesano scored late in the third period to close out the scoring.
• Story and Stats

THE SERIES:

• Stout leads the series 6-2-0

SCOUTING UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS:

• St. Thomas sits atop the MIAC standings at 6-1-1.
• Michael Dockry leads the team in scoring with seven goals and eight assists, tops on the team in both catergories. Johnny Roisum and Cullen Willox each have six goals.
• The Tommies goalie Benjamin Myers has recorded the most saves of all goalies in the MIAC with 346. Myers has a GAA of 2.39 with a saves percentage of .925 and a record of 7-3-2.
• Though the Tommies aren't statistically flashy, they are a buttoned up team who wins games when it counts. They capitalize on power plays and penalty kills. They are 6-2-0 when leading at the end of the first, and 9-1-1 when leading after two periods.
• The Tommies have been in the USCHO.com Top 15 poll this season, but are currently in receiving votes category.
• Statistics

LAST TIME OUT

• The Tommies allowed three second period goals before getting on the board early in the third period, but lost 5-1 to UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 14, in Eau Claire.
• For the game, Eau Claire finished with a 24-22 shot advantage and converted on 2-of-4 power play chances, compared to an 0-for-2 mark for the Tommies. Ben Myers suffered the loss for the Purple, making 19 saves in the contest and dropping to 6-3-2 on the year. Jay Deo tallied the win for the Blugolds in a 21 save effort.
• Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND ST. THOMAS LAST MET:

• St. Thomas scored in every period and went on to a 3-1 win over UW-Stout Friday.
• The Tommies got things going with a goal by Johnny Roisum at 7:44 of the first period. The Blue Devils tied the score when freshman Jack Forbort, with an assist by Joe Kleven, scored at 8:29 in the second period. The tie was short-lived as the Tommies took advantage of the power play three minutes later on a Cullen Willox score. St. Thomas scored the final goal at 4:45 in the third by Braydon Stufko.
• Tommi Ahlgren took the loss for the Blue Devils, recording 36 saves. The Tommies' Benjamin Myers turned away 35 shots.
• Game Story and Statistics
• Stout met St. Thomas on the road last season, winning a 5-3 contest, and taking the only matchup of the 2015-16 season. The Blue Devils scored three goals in the third period to break a 2-2 tie at the end of the second. Tyler Cayemberg, Jake Useldinger and Gavin Smith scored for Stout.
• Story and Stats

THE SERIES:

• Stout leads the series 11-8-1.
• Over the last five meetings, the Blue Devils are 2-3-0

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, 6th, and Augsburg, 11th,. St. Thomas (9 pt), St. Scholastica (6); St. Mary's (3) and Concordia-Moorhead (2 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:

• Alex Toscano was selected the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Jan. 16, after scoring two goals in the third period against Saint Mary's University
• 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..

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.


UW-STOUT COACH TERRY WATKINS

• Terry Watkins (241-289-36) 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.

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY WISCONSIN COACH JASEN WISE

• Jasen Wise is in his fifth season with the Falcons. Wise, the winningest coach in program history, has helped the Falcons set a new season wins mark in three of his four seasons at the helm.
  In 2015-16, Wise led the Falcons to an 11-win season, the most in program history. CUW finished the year with an 11-12-3 record, which included a win over a top-10 opponent for the first time in program history (2-1 at No. 8 UW-Eau Claire). The Falcons posted three wins over ranked opponents in 2015-16, having only one such victory in program history before the season.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS COACH JEFF BOESER

• A key figure in St. Thomas ice hockey success for more than three decades, Jeff Boeser was named head coach in April 2010 following the retirement of 23-year head coach Terry Skrypek. The 2016-17 campaign marks his seventh season as the Tommies head coach, and Boeser has been an integral part of UST's current streak of 34 consecutive winning seasons.

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.
• St. Thomas is a member of the MIAC, while Concordia is a member 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: 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.

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: Stout will turn their attention to conference play the rest of the way. Stout will host UW-Eau Claire, Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. and UW-Superior, Friday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. This will be the second meeting this season for both opponents, having played in early December.