Hockey Preview: Weekend series in Twin Cities, at Hamline, Augsburg

at Hamline: Live Stats | Live Video | at Augsburg: Live Stats | Live Video | WIAC Weekly Release

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: After five consecutive home games, the Blue Devils (5-8-2, 2-0-0 WIAC) head to the Twin Cities for a pair of games this weekend, traveling to Hamline University (3-9-1, 1-5-1 MIAC), Friday, Jan. 12 for an 8 p.m. contest in the new TRIA Rink on Treasure Island Center that is part of the Minnesota Wild's practice facility. Stout will be at Augsburg University (10-5-0, 6-3-0 MIAC), Saturday, Jan. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. game. The Blue Devils are currently atop the WIAC, while the Auggies are in first place of the MIAC.

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:

• 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.
• Defenseman Mathias Ahman is the team's leading scorer, tallying 17 points on nine goals and eight assists. Six of his goals have come on power play, as have four of his assists.
• Freshmen Hunter Anderson and Connor Chambers has 12 points, scoring two goals and a team-best 10 assists. Hunter Anderson is expected back to the lineup and has scored nine points on four goals and five assists. Anderson had a two-goal night against UW-Eau Claire and has four goals and five assists on the season.
• Conner Valesano has nine points, with two goals and seven assists.
• Dylan Zins has three goals and three assists. Lucas Carroll has three assists.
• Connor Chambers, Conner Valesano, Alex Toscano, Konnar Dechaine, Jack Forbort, Gavin Smith, and Kyle Sylvester each have two goals.
• Lucas Carroll has three goals, with one even strength goal, one power play and one short-handed goal. Gavin Smith has the team's other shorthanded goal.
• Alex Toscano and Kyle Sylvester have two power play goals apiece.
• The Blue Devils have 14 players who have scored at least one goal, 16 players who have scored at least one assist and 17 players with at least one point.
• Complete Blue Devil 2017-18 Statistics

AHMAN RISING IN STATS NATIONALLY

• Mathias Ahman scored his first career hat trick in a 6-5 loss to St. Olaf College, Jan. 5, made strong moves upwards in the NCAA Division III statistics. Ahman scored the first goal of the game, then added two power play goals in the third period. On the season, Ahman has nine goals, of which six are power play goals, ranking him fourth nationally in power play goals. Ahman is ranked seventh nationally among defensemen in points with 1.13 per game (9-8-17).  Ahman's nine goals ranks second among defensemen nationally, behind Endicott's Logan Day, who has 10, and is tied for 20th nationally among all players.
• Ahman, the Blue Devils' leading scorer, ranks third in total points among all players in the WIAC and leads conference defensemen in scoring. Teammate Connor Chambers (2-10-12) ranks second among defensemen within the conference. Among all conference players, Ahman ranks second in goals and fifth in assists. Ahman's six power play goals is first in the WIAC.

BLUE DEVILS BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Tommi Ahlgren (4-5-1) has figured into 10 decisions this season, and is posting a goals against average (GAA) of 2.78, with a saves percentage of 896. Last season, Ahlgren figured into 12 decisions, finishing with a save percentage of .901 and a team-best 3.04 goals against average (GAA), fourth-best in the WIAC. 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.
• Eitenne Roy (1-2-0) has made four appearances with three starts this season, recording 95 saves on a saves percentage of .888 and a goals against average (GAA) of 3.30. With three appearances last season, Etienne Roy finished with a GAA of 3.91 with a saves percentage of .848.

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils power play is 20.3 percent (14-69), scoring 14 power play goals. Defenseman Mathias Ahman has six power play goals, with Kyle Sylvester and Alex Toscano each notching two power play goals. The Blue Devils' penalty kill is at 84.4 percent (10-64), allowing 10 power play goals. Stout has two short handed goals, one each by Lucas Carroll and Gavin Smith. The Blue Devils have given up six shorthanded goals.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• St. Olaf College scored two goals in 22 seconds of game time to steal a 6-5 win over UW-Stout Friday at the Fanetti Community Center.
• Trailing 5-4 with less than seven seconds left and in a face off in Stout's zone, the Oles' Roshen Jaswal scored at the buzzer with an extra attacker on the ice to send the game into overtime. Twenty-one seconds into the extra period, Menomonie native and St. Olaf senior Drew Otto scored to hand Stout the one goal defeat.
• The loss took the luster off of a Blue Devil hat trick by defenseman Mathias Ahman. The Swedish native opened a three-goal first period for Stout with a goal seven minutes into the contest. Ahman, who was Stout's leading scorer coming into the game, added to his season totals with a pair of power play goals in the third period.
• Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING HAMLINE UNIVERSITY

• The Pipers are currently in eighth place in the MIAC. Hamline will be looking to shake off an eight game winless streak, stretching back to Nov. 17. Hamline tied 7-7 with Concordia-Moorhead, Dec. 9, but lost in the shootout. Mitch McPherson has a team-best nine goals and 12 points. He has five power play goals. Russ Jordan has scored five goals and Brandon Reinholz four. Jesse Kessler leads the team in assists with six. Young goalies will have to carry the weight second semester. Sophomore Lance Knudsn has a GAA of 5.05 and freshman Evan Robert has a GAA of 4.50.
• The Pipers officially moved their gear into locker rooms at the TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center, located on the corner of 6th and Wabasha Street in downtown St. Paul, the first week of January and both men's and women's team played games in the facility Jan. 5 and Jan. 6. The arena, which is on the fifth floor of the old Macy's building, will be the main practice facility for the NHL's Minnesota Wild.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Pipers lost their TRIA Rink opener, 3-0, to Augsburg College

WHEN STOUT AND HAMLINE LAST MET

• Adam Kresl scored with 21 seconds remaining in the overtime period to lift UW-Stout to a 2-1 win over Hamline University Jan. 6, 2017.
• Game Story and Statistics

THE SERIES:

• The Blue Devils lead the series, 16-10-1.

SCOUTING AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY

• The Auggies are currently in first place in the MIAC. Nate Flynn has pumped in 11 goals and dished off eight assists for a team-best 19 points. Chandler Madry has four goals and a team-best 12 assists. Luke Dietsch has four goals and 11 assists. Nick Schmit has worked every minute for the Auggies this season, posting a 10-5-0 record with a GAA of 2.27 and a saves percentage of .918.
• Auggie Stats

LAST TIME OUT

• The Auggies defeated Hamline University, 3-0, Jan. 6, to complete a weekend sweep. The Auggies downed Hamline, 6-3, the night before. Nate Flynn claimed his ninth career multi-goal game, and Nick Schmit claimed his second career shutout in goal, as the Augsburg University men's hockey team completed a sweep of Hamline University with a 3-0 win in MIAC action on Saturday evening.
• The Auggies host UW-Stevens Point, Friday, Jan. 12.
• Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND AUGSBURG LAST MET

• Augsburg College scored three second period goals and went on to down UW-Stout 4-1 Nov. 11, 2016, at the Fanetti Community Center.
• Game Story and Stats

THE SERIES:

• The Auggies lead the series 12-7-1.

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, 3rd; Augsburg University, Marian University, St. John's University and MSOE are all receiving votes. USCHO.com Division III Poll

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

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mathias Ahman, Jr, Harnosand, Sweden (Nolaskolon)


AWARDS AND HONORS: 2017-18:

• Defenseman Mathias Ahman scored a hat trick and was selected as the WIAC hockey player of the week after a 6-5 loss to St. Olaf, Jan. 5. Ahman scored the first goal of the game, then added two power play goals in the third period.
• Defenseman Mathias Ahman scored two goals and two assists in a 4-4 tie with Concordia University Wisconsin, Dec. 16, and was the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week. Ahman also added an assist on a shorthanded goal in Stout's 2-1 loss the Falcons the previous night.
• Goalie Tommi Ahlgren posted two conference wins to open the WIAC season, a 4-3 victory over conference favorite UW-Eau Claire on Nov. 29, and a 2-1 triumph over UW-Superior on Dec. 1. Ahlgren, a sophomore from Tampere, Finland, was selected as the WIAC athlete of the week, Dec. 5, and the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week. Ahlgren recorded 20 saves against Eau Claire and 32 against Superior.
• 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 marks Terry Watkins' (250-301-39) 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.

HAMLINE COACH CORY LAYLIN

• Cory Laylin is in his fourth year as the Pipers' coach. Assistant coach Mike McMillan played for UW-Stout in the early 1980s.

AUGSBURG COACH CHRIS BROWN

• Chris Brown enters his 11th season as head coach of the Augsburg men's hockey team in 2016-17. In addition to his coaching duties, Brown serves an instructor in the health and physical education department. During his time at Augsburg, Brown has helped guide the Auggies to the top of the MIAC standings, including capturing the MIAC regular season and playoff Championships in 2015-16, which capped off the Auggies first NCAA tournament

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)

• Mathias Ahman vs. St. Olaf College, Jan. 5, 2018
• 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, Mathias Ahman vs. St. Olaf College, Jan. 5, 2018
• 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. St. Olaf College, Jan. 5, 2018
• 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. Marian University (0-2), Nov. 24, 2017
• 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.

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 host St. Mary's University, Friday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., in the final non-conference game of the season.