Hockey Preview:Stout hosts Pointers Friday, Falcons Saturday

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (10-12-2, 2-5-0 WIAC) will close out the regular season by hosting UW-Stevens Point (16-4-3, 5-1-0 WIAC), Friday, Feb. 10, then play their final regular season game by hosting UW-River Falls (12-10-1, 3-3-0 WIAC), Saturday, Feb. 11. Both games are slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. WIAC playoff seeding is on the line this weekend. The Pointers are in first (5-1-0), UW-Eau Claire second (4-2-0), River Falls third (3-3-0), Stout fourth (2-4-0) and Superior fifth (1-5-0). The top three teams will receive a bye next weekend, while the fourth seeded team will host the fifth seeded team.  UW-River Falls and UW-Superior meet Thursday, Feb. 9 in River Falls.

SENIOR NIGHT: The Blue Devils will recognize their eight seniors on Saturday, Feb. 11 when they Blue Devils host UW-River Falls. Seniors are Riley Colvard, Justin Moody, Spencer Viele, Derek Sand, Craig Lindegard, Nolan Kirley, Karl Andersen, and Shayne McLaughlin


TOURNAMENT SEEDING:

• The teams will be seeded based on the final regular season standings
• In the event of a tie in the standings among one or more teams, the seeding will be determined (in order) by the following criteria:
• 1. Head to Head competition among tied teams in WIAC games.
• 2. Most WIAC wins among tied teams.
• 3. Goal differential in WIAC games played between tied teams.
• 4. Goal differential in all WIAC games.
• 5. Coin flip conducted by the commissioner.
• [Note: If two teams remain tied after a third or other teams are eliminated, the tiebreaker reverts to criteria No. 1. ]

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 goals with 12 goals and eight assists. Freshman linemate Colton Brausen has eight goals and 11 assists. Brausen has assisted on six of Colvard's 12 goals, while Colvard has assisted on four of Brausen's eight goals.
• Adam Kresl has four goals and seven assists, Jack Forbort has three goals and seven assists and Connor Valesano has six goals and three assists.
• Senior Justin Moody is second on the team with 10 assists to go along with his four goals. 
• The Blue Devils are averaging 2.8 goals per contest, and are giving up 3.4.
• 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.
• Complete Blue Devil 2016-17 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Freshman Tommi Ahlgren and senior Spencer Viele have seen most of the time in goal. Spencer Viele is 6-4-0 with a GAA of 3.14 and a saves percentage of .903. Ahlgren is currently 3-7-2 with a GAA of 3.04 and a saves percentage of .901, seeing time in 14 games.
• With three appearances, Etienne Roy has a GAA of 3.91 with a saves percentage of .848.

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils power play is currently at 20.2 percent (20-99) and the penalty kill is at 85.5 percent (17-117). Stout has been averaging 6.0 penalties per game.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• Stout's third period rally fell short, but the Blue Devils made it exciting in the final stanza. Riley Colvard scored a pair of goals and Justin Moody another as Stout got to within two goals in the eventual 7-4 loss.
• The Blue Devils lost 2-1 at UW-River Falls, Feb. 2, and lost 6-1 at UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 3
• The Falcons scored with 10 seconds remaining in the game to get the win.
• Complete River Falls Story and Statistics
• Stevens Point jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first before Stout scored their only goal of the game on Mathias Ahman's goal just before the end of the first period. Following a scoreless second, the Pointers added three goals in the third.
• Complete Stevens Point Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT

• The Pointers are coming off a national championship season after finishing second in the WIAC, but beat UW-River Falls in the WIAC tournament game and then went on to earn an NCAA Division III at-large berth. The Pointers were picked to finish second this season in the WIAC.
• The Pointers are the top scoring team in the WIAC (4.2 g/game), 11th nationally.
• Lawrence Cornellier issecond in the WIAC in goals scored with 17 and Jacob Barber is third with 14.. Kyle Sharkey is second in the league in assists with 18 and Cornellier is third with 15. Cornellier ranks second in the league in total points (17/15 - 32). Barber tops the league in power play goals with five. Cornellier has a league-best two shorthanded goals.
• In the net, Matt Milosek is 13-3-3, with two shutouts and a GAA of 2.30 with saves percentage of .898. Milosek has scored one goal and one assist.
• Statistics

LAST TIME OUT

• The Pointers tallied three unanswered goals in the third period to earn a 6-3 victory over UW-Superior Saturday evening at K.B. Willett Arena.
• With the game tied at three apiece in the final frame, freshman forward Logan Fredericks scored his second goal of the game to give the Pointers a 4-3 lead over the Yellowjackets at the 6:39 mark of the third period. Following Fredericks goal, Jono Davis and Kelly O'Brien both tallied insurance goals in the span 4:46 to put UWSP up 6-3.
• Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND STEVENS POINT MET LAST WEEK:

• Lawrence Cornelier scored the Pointers' final goal of the first period, then score the Pointers first goal of the third period at Stevens Point downed Stout, 6-1, Feb. 3 in Stevens Point.
• The Pointers The Pointers won both meetings last year, blanking Stout, 7-0, in their first meeting last season, Feb. 2, 2016, in Menomonie, the last time Stout's offense has been shutout, then took a 5-2 win 10 days later in Stevens Point.
• Game Story and Stats

THE SERIES:

• The Blue Devils lead the series with the Pointers, 40-37-3.
• Over the last 10 games, the Pointers hold an 8-2 advantage. Stout's last win over Stevens Point came Feb. 8, 2014, a 4-2 win in Menomonie.

SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS

• The Falcons were picked to win the WIAC Championship after a strong finish in 2015-16, falling in the WIAC championship game to eventual national champion UW-Stevens Point. The Falcons were the regular season champion, and returned 15 letterwinners from last year's squad.
• The Falcons are fifth in the WIAC in power play percentage (15.7), but top the league in penalty kill (.866).
• The Falcons have no players in the top 10 in any scoring category, although Michael Lant is tied for second in the league in game winning goals at three. Lant has six goals and five assists and Mike Fazio has six goals and six assists . Ryan Doner has three goals and 10 assists to lead the Falcons in points.
• Joe Drapluk has a team-high eight goals with four assists. Matt Dietrich is matching Doner in assists with 10.
• Zach Quinn has started 18 games in net for the Falcons, with a GAA of 1.60 and a saves percentage of .935, league-best among regular starters in the WIAC in both categories.
• Statistics

LAST TIME OUT

• UW-Superior's Bruno Burzitis scored four minutes into the game and the Yellowjackets held off the Falcons until midway through the third period when Mike Dietrich scored the equalizer at 12:19 of the third, getting an assist from Mike Fazio.
• Neither team was able to score in overtime play to end the game in a 1-1 tie. The Falcons had a total of three shots to the Yellowjackets one shot during overtime. 
• The Falcons were not whistled for a penalty, while the 'Jackets kept a relatively clean sheet with only three trips to the penalty box.
• Zach Quinn, last week's WIAC player of the week, played in net for the Falcons and had a total of 21 saves.  Kyle Miller made 36 saves for the Yellowjackets.
• Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND RIVER FALLS LAST  MET:

• Blake Busch scored with just 10 seconds remaining in the game to defeat the Blue Devils 2-1, Feb. 2. The Falcons out-shot the Blue Devils 42 to 15.
• Stout opened the scoring in the first on a goal by freshman Austin Jackson at 9:35 of the first.
• The Falcons tied the score on a Joe Drapluk goal with three minutes remaining in the second.
• Spencer Viele recorded 40 saves for the Blue Devils, while Zach Quinn made 14 saves.
• Neither team was able to take advantage on the power play, with Stout going 0-for-3 and the Falcons 0-for-6.
• Game Story and Stats
• Last season, the Blue Devils went 0-3-1 against the top seeded Falcons last year. After two losses during the regular season (L 4-3, Feb. 4, 2016, in Menomonie; L 4-0 Feb. 13, 2016, in River Falls) and met in the second round of the WIAC tournament at River Falls, losing the first game, 3-1, then seeing their season end with a 1-1 tie.
• Game One Story and Stats
• Game Two Story and Stats
• Game Three Story and Stats
• Game Four Story and Stats

THE SERIES:

• River Falls leads the series 76-20-2.
• The Falcons are 9-0-1 in last 10 meetings. The last meeting between the two teams resulted in a tie. The Falcons had won the previous 13 games. Stout's last win over River Falls came Jan. 13, 2012, a 2-1 win in River Falls. Stout's last win in Menomonie over the Falcons was on Feb. 18, 2011 in the first game of the NCHA tournament, a 3-2 win in the then Dunn County Ice Arena. The Falcons won the next night, then won the mini-game to advance.

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, 7th, Augsburg, 11th , and St. Thomas (15th). Concordia-Wis 3 votes), and UW-River Falls (2 votes) 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:

• 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

• Terry Watkins (243-292-37) 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.

UW-RIVER FALLS HEAD COACH STEVE FREEMAN

• Steve Freeman (368-189-47) is his 21st season as head coach of the Falcons in 2016-17. He 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 2016 he led UWRF to the WIAC regular season championship. In 2015 Freeman led the Falcons to the WIAC playoff Championship including a thirteen game winning streak and 20-7-1 overall record.

UW-STEVENS POINT HEAD COACH CHRIS BROOKS

• In five seasons at UW-Stevens Point, Chris Brooks has led the Pointers to a 114-44-13 overall record, while playing in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. In 2016 Brooks led UWSP to its fifth National Championship in program history defeating St. Norbert 5-1 in Lake Placid, N.Y. Brooks has led the Pointers to three consecutive Frozen Four appearances, after finishing as the national runner-up in 2014 and 2015. The 24 wins in 2015-16 are the most by a UWSP team since the 1992-93. Brooks was also named a finalist for the Edward Jeremiah Award, given to the Division III Coach of the Year in each of the last four seasons. In 2016 Brooks was also named DIII Coach of the year by USCHO.com.

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.

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: 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: 6 vs. Saint Mary's (W 6-5), Jan. 14, 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.

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: The regular season will have concluded with the WIAC tournament slated to start with the first round, Feb. 17-18 as the fourth seeded team will host the fifth seeded team. WIAC playoff seeding is on the line this weekend. The Pointers are in first (5-1-0), UW-Eau Claire second (4-2-0), River Falls third (3-3-0), Stout fourth (2-4-0) and Superior fifth (1-5-0). The top three teams will receive a bye next weekend, while the fourth seeded team will host the fifth seeded team.