Hockey Preview: Stout hosts St. Mary's Friday in non-conference tilt

Blue Devil home games: Live Video | Watch on Live Barn

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (5-9-2, 2-0-0 WIAC) will close out non-conference play with a single game this week, hosting St. Mary's University, (4-10-2, 2-5-1 MIAC) Friday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.

Live Stats will not be available for the St. Mary's game.

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games are scheduled to be broadcast in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video.
 

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 18 points on 10 goals and eight assists. Seven of his goals have come on power play, as have four of his assists.
• Freshman Connor Chambers has 13 points, scoring two goals and a team-best 11 assists. Hunter Anderson is expected returned to the lineup and has scored nine points on four goals and five assists. Anderson had a two-goal night against UW-Eau Claire.
• Conner Valesano has nine points, with two goals and seven assists.
• Dylan Zins, Lucas Carroll and Gavin Smith each have three goals and three assists.
• Konnar Dechaine, Jack Forbort, and Kyle Sylvester each have two goals. Sylvester has five assists, Forbort and Dechaine each have three assists.
• Carroll's three goals have each come in a different situation, 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 18 players who have scored at least one goal, 19 players who have scored at least one assist and 19 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 10 goals, of which seven are power play goals, ranking him in a tie for third nationally in power play goals. Ahman is ranked 11th nationally among defensemen in points with 1.06 per game (10-8-18). Ahman's 10 goals ties for first nationally among defensemen with Endicott's Logan Day, who has 10.
• Ahman, the Blue Devils' leading scorer, is tied for fourth in total points among all players in the WIAC and leads conference defensemen in scoring. Ahman leads the WIAC in power play points (7-4-11) and power play goals. Teammate Connor Chambers (1-6-7) is tied for third in power play points. Chambers (2-11-13) ranks second among defensemen within the conference. Among all conference players, Ahman ranks third in goals and 12th in assists. Ahman's seven 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.
• Eitenne Roy (1-3-0) has made five appearances with four starts this season, recording 122 saves on a saves percentage of .871 and a goals against average (GAA) of 3.88.
• Evan Bisek (0-1-0) joined the Blue Devils at semester and has made one start.

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils power play is 20.0 percent (16-80), scoring 16 power play goals. Defenseman Mathias Ahman has seven power play goals, with Kyle Sylvester and Alex Toscano each notching two power play goals. The Blue Devils' penalty kill is at 82.7 percent (13-75), allowing 13 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

• Augsburg University struck early and often, scoring the first four goals of the game on their way to a 6-2 win over UW-Stout Jan. 13. The Auggies scored three times in the first period. The Auggies struck first when Jake Larson scored at 2-minutes, 59-minutes. Augsburg added a goal at the six minutes mark and again at the 16 minute mark to carry a 3-0 lead into the first break. Augsburg struck again less than two minutes into the second period, taking a 4-0 lead before Stout got on the scoreboard. Jonathan Marzec scpred his second goal of the calendar year, cutting the lead to 4-1 on the power play at 4:27. Marzec would lend a hand in Stout's second goal of the period, assisting, along with Trent Olson, on Adam Kresl's goal at 16:23 to cut the lead in half. That would be the end of the Blue Devils' scoring as the Auggies tallied a pair of power play goals to put the game out of reach.
• Game Story and Statistics
• Hamline University scored the final three goals of the game, including two in the third period, to give UW-Stout a 5-3 loss Jan. 12 at TRIA Rink.
• Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY

• The Cardinals broke a five-game winless streak with a 5-3 win over Concordia-Moorhead, Jan. 13. In that streak, the Cardinals had four losses, one in overtime, and one tie. The five goals is the team's biggest offensive output of the season. Jay Heinle, Jared Johnson and Chad Cesarz each have five goals. Heinle leads the team in points, adding eight assists. Johnson has five assists and Cesarz four. Kelvin Walz has seven assists, to go along with two goals. Dylan Robertson has six assists and two goals. Jack Stang has four goals and four assists. In the net, Aaron Davis has seen the most time, posting a 3-7-1 overall record with a GAA of 3.61 and a saves percentage of .872. Al Rogers and Nick Nast have each played in three games. Rogers has a GAA of 2.67 and a saves percentage of .904, while Nast has a GAA of 4.73 and a saves percentage of .860. The Cardinals average 2.4 goals, while giving up 3.8.
• Cardinal Statistics

LAST TIME OUT

• The Cardinals split a pair of league games with Concordia-Moorhead, losing a 5-4 overtime decision, Jan. 12, but bouncing back for a 5-3 win Jan. 13.
• After scoring the game's first two goals in Friday's 5-4, overtime loss to Concordia, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's hockey team took a different approach to Saturday's rematch. This time, the Cardinals let the Cobbers score the game's first two goals.And the end result was much more pleasing to coach Bill Moore. The Cardinals rattled off four unanswered goals-and got a goal and two assists from both Kelvin Walz and Chad Cesarz-en route to a 5-3 victory over the Cobbers, and a split in the team's two-game Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series.
• Game Story and Statistics
• There certainly was no shortage of offense in the Saint Mary's MIAC game against Concordia Friday evening. And, despite scoring a combined eight goals-60 minutes was not enough to decide a winner. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the overtime period did not work out in their favor, as Concordia's Dalton Mills scored with 1:53 remaining in overtime to lift the Cobbers to a 5-4 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at the Moorhead Sports Center.
• Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND ST. MARY'S LAST MET

• In an up-and-down battle all night, UW-Stout's Colton Brausen scored the game-winning goal just over a minute into overtime to lift the Blue Devils to a 6-5 win over Saint Mary's University, Jan. 14, 2017. Scoring came in streaks for both teams.
• Game Story and Statistics

THE SERIES:

• The Blue Devils lead the series, 13-11-0. Stout captured a 6-3 win over the Cardinals during the 2015-16 season.

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, 4th; Augsburg University 14th; , Marian University is 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: 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

UW-STOUT COACH TERRY WATKINS

• The 2017-18 season marks Terry Watkins' (250-304-39) 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.

ST. MARY'S COACH BILL MOORE

• Bill Moore (90-162-18) is in his 11th season as the head coach of the Cardinals.

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)

• 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: It's all conference play from here-on-out. Stout will travel to UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Jan. 24 to meet the Blugolds at 7 p.m. Stout will be at UW-Superior, Friday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.