Hockey Preview: Blue Devils at Stevens Point tourney this weekend

at UW-Stevens Point Tournament: Live Stats | Live Video

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: Win or lose in the UW-Stevens Point Tournament this weekend, the Blue Devils (3-4-1, 0-0-0 WIAC) will be playing a nationally ranked team. The Blue Devils will open the tournament by facing  Aurora University (0-5-2, 0-4-1 NCHA), Friday, Nov. 24 at 3:30 p.m. The tournament will conclude Saturday, Nov. 25 where the Blue Devils will face either host UW-Stevens Point (5-3-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) or the Milwaukee School of Engineering (5-1-0, 3-1-0 NCHA). The Pointers are ranked eighth in the latest USCHO.com Division III men's poll. The Raiders are ranked twelfth. The Blue Devils met Aurora earlier this season, with the teams skating to a 3-3 tie, Oct. 28. 
 

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT:

• The Blue Devils return two seniors, defenseman and team captain Jordan Stejskal and goalie Etienne Roy, who transferred to Stout last season. Stout has five juniors, but 12 sophomores and nine freshmen. Twelve on the roster are first year players for the Blue Devils.
• Conner Valesano is the team's leading returning scoring player, popping seven goals and added six assists. Adam Kresl, an assistant captain, chipped in five goals and eight assists. Jack Forbort had four goals and eight assists and Alex Toscano six goals and four assists.
• Defenseman Joe Kleven returns as a two-time All-WIAC honorable mention selection. Kleven led all Stout defensemen in scoring, finding the back of the net three times and dishing off 10 assists.
• Mathias Ahman received honorable mention honors last season. Ahman is an assistant captain this year.
• The 2016-17 Blue Devils averaged 2.8 goals per contest, and gave up 3.4. Stout finished the 2016-17 season at 12-13-2, 3-5-0 in the WIAC, good for fourth. Stout hosted UW-Superior in a first round WIAC playoff series. The two teams split the series, but Superior won tie-breaking mini-game. | Story and Statistics
• Mathias Ahman and Conner Velesano lead the Blue Devils in points, each having eight total points. Ahman has a team-high three goals and five assists. Ahman also has two power player goal. Ahman leads all WIAC defensemen in points (8). Ahman and Velesano are second overall in the WIAC in points (8). Velesano has two goals and a team-high assists at six.
• Kyle Sylvester, Connor Chambers, Conner Valesano, Alex Toscano, Hunter Anderson and Jack Forbort have each scored two goals. Both of Sylvester's goals have come on the power play. Sylvester also has three assists.
• Conner Valesano has four assists and one goal. Mathias Ahman has three assists and a goal. Connor Chambers, Jack Forbort and Dylan Zins each have a goal and an assist.
• Sylvester, Ahman, and Toscano lead the team in power play goals with two. Conner Valesano, Joe Kleven and Connor Chambers each have a single power play goal.
• Lucas Carroll scored his first collegiate goal, and it was a shorthanded goal against St. John's University, Stout's first shorthanded goal of the season. Stout has allowed four shorthanded goals.
• Complete Blue Devil 2017-18 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Tommi Ahlgren's first appearance of the 2017-18 season did not go well, and the native of Finland lasted just one period, surrendering two goals against Concordia-Moorhead. Ahlgren has bounced back, going 2-2-0 on the season, with 73 saves (84.8 saves percentage) and a GAA of 3.60. Ahlgren figured into 12 decisions last season, finishing with a save percentage of .901 and a team-best 3.04 goals against average (GAA), fourth-best in the WIAC.
• With three appearances last season, Etienne Roy finished with a GAA of 3.91 with a saves percentage of .848. This season, Roy has made three appearances with two starts and one long relief outing, recording 69 saves (92.0 saves percentage) and a GAA of 2.28, second in the WIAC.
• First-year player Evan Hauser was a member of the University of Alaska-Anchorage team last season. Hauser has had two starts, making 19 saves in his first Blue Devil start, a 3-3 tie with Aurora College, then had 20 saves in a loss to St. John's. Hauser has a GAA of 3.36.

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils power play is 23.1 percent (9-39) and the penalty kills is 84.2 percent (6-38). Stout has taken 51 penalties thus far this year. Stout's final power play last season was 21.3 percent (23-106) and the penalty kill finished at 85.1 percent (17-126). Stout averaged 5.7 penalties per game.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• In a pair of home games, the Blue Devils defeated Lawrence University, 6-4, Nov. 17, then lost 3-0 to Marian University, Nov. 18.
• Stout vs. Lawrence recap
• Lawrence Story and Statistics
• Marian University recap
• Marian Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING AURORA UNIVERSITY

• Aurora University (0-5-2) is winless in seven contests in the season. Tim Faulkner leads the team with five points, including two goals. Nick Minerva and Liam Stirtzinger also have two goals a piece, while Minerva has two assists and Stirtzinger also adds an assist as well. Jake Gwillim and Josh Boyko have split time in net. Gwillim has started four games and has a .894 save percentage to go along with a 3.81 goals against average. Boyko has started five games and has a .873 save percentage. Boyko also has a 4.40 goals against average. Earlier in the year (Oct. 28), UW-Stout tied Aurora University, 3-3 in Geneva, Illinois.
• Aurora Stats

LAST TIME OUT

• The Spartans played one game and traveled to Lake Forest College to get up-ended 7-1.

SCOUTING Stevens Point

• WIAC foe, No. 8 UW-Stevens Point (5-3) currently carries a losing streak of two. Pointer Tanner Karty leads the WIAC in points and goals. Karty currently has six goals and seven assists to bring his total to 13 points. Luke McElhenie leads the Pointers in power play goals with two. Logan Fredericks leads the team in assists, along with Karty with seven. In goal, Max Milosek has started six games and leads the WIAC in goals against average (1.85) and save percentage (.921). He holds a record of 3-3. Connor Ryckman has started two games and has won both games in net.
• Stevens Point Stats

LAST TIME OUT

• The Pointers lost two games at home against Marian University (3-1) and #1 St. Norbert College (2-1).

SCOUTING MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

• No. 12 Milwaukee School of Engineering (5-1) only loss has been against #1 St. Norbert College. The Raiders are led by two Freshmen. Garrett Gintoli leads the team with nine points including three goals and six assists. Will Gauthier notches one goal and five assists. Senior Zach Woodman has started five games in goal and holds a 1.60 goal against average to go with a .944 save percentage.

• The Raiders faced two conference teams in Northland College and St. Scholastica. MSOE came out of the weekend defeating both teams. The Raiders beat Northland College, 5-3 and defeated St. Scholastica, 4-1.

USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL: Blue Devil 2017-18 opponents ranking in the Top 15 in the latest USHCO.com Division III poll are: UW-Stevens Point, 8th, MSOE 12th and Augsburg, 3rd. UW-Eau Claire dropped out of the top 15 and I said receiving votes. | USCHO.com Division III Poll

TEAM CAPTAINS:  Captains for the 2017-18 season are Jordan Stejskal, Adam Kresl and Mathias Ahman.



AWARDS AND HONORS: 2016-17:

• Joe Kleven was selected the WIAC Athlete of the Week and the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the week, Feb. 13, after scoring a goal and three assists in a 4-3 win over UW-River Falls.
• Riley Colvard was selected the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Jan. 30, after scoring the game-winning goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over UW-Eau Claire.
• 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..

UW-STOUT COACH TERRY WATKINS

• The 2017-18 season will mark Terry Watkins' (248-298-38) 22nd 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. Watkins played in UW-Stout's first-ever game, but he was a member of the Blue Devils' opponents, St. Paul Groveland, Jan. 19, 1969. St. Paul beat the Blue Devils, 8-4. Watkins enrolled at the Stout the following school year and joined the hockey team.
• 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.

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. Both Aurora and MSOE are members of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (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: Lucas Carroll vs. St. John's University, Nov. 4, 2017 (4-5)
• 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: 45, Tommi Ahlgren vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Jan. 7, 2017
• 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: 5 vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 11, 2017
• 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.

HOME ICE: 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 will open the WIAC schedule when they host UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Stout will host UW-Superior, Friday, Dec. 1.