Hockey Preview: Stout returns home for pair of games this weekend

Blue Devil home games: Live Stats | Live Video | WIAC Weekly Notes |

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  UW-Stout (2-2-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) return to the Fanetti Community Center to face St. Olaf College (2-1-1, 1-0-1 MIAC), Friday, Nov. 9 and Gustavus Adolphus College (1-2-1, 0-1-1 MIAC), Saturday, Nov. 10.  


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 four seniors, defensemen Mathias Ahman and Joe Kleven, and forwards Gavin Smith and Dylan Zins. Stout has eight juniors, seven sophomores, and 11 freshmen.
• The Blue Devils are averaging 2.5 goals per game and are giving up 2.5 goals per game. Stout scored three goals in a win over Trine and two goals in a loss to Aurora. In a pair of overtime preseason wins, Stout scored two goals in each exhibition games. So far in the regular season, Stout has gotten single goals from Conner Valesano, Arturas Laukaitis, Mathias Ahman, Trent Olson and Jack Cernohous. Laukaitis has Stout's only power play goal of the season and Cernohous the lone shorthanded goals. 
• In goal, Brady Meyers has made two appearances, picking up the 3-0 shutout win in his collegiate debut against Trine. He came on in relief to allow one goal and has a goals against average (GAA) of 0.61 and a saves percentage of .967. Ridge Gerads' collegiate debut didn't go quite as well. Gerads gave up three goals against Aurora before giving way to Meyers. Gerads will look to lower his GAA from an 8.18. 
• Defenseman Mathias Ahman was the team's leading scorer during the 2017-18 season, tallying 22 points on 11 goals and 11 assists. Seven of his goals came on power play.
• Junior Connor Chambers contributed 15 points, scoring two goals and a team-best 15 assists. Conner Valesano had 12 points, with three goals and nine assists. Hunter Anderson scored 12 points on five goals and seven assists. Anderson had a two-goal night in the first game with UW-Eau Claire.
• Dylan Zins scored five goals and five assists. Austin Jackson had nine points with four goals and five assists. Alex Toscano had four goals and four assists. Toscano has three power play goals.
• The Blue Devils had 19 players who  scored at least one goal, 20 players who have scored at least one assist and 21 players with at least one point.
• Complete Blue Devil 2017-18 Statistics

AHMAN IN NATIONAL STATS LAST SEASON

• Ahman received national attention last season as one of the highest scoring defensemen in all of NCAA Division III, finishing the season with 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points, ranking 16th nationally, averaging 0.85 points, a mark that led the WIAC. Ahman was second in the conference with seven power play goals, ranking 14th among all players nationally in power plays. Among defensemen, Ahman tied for third nationally in total goals.  In the WIAC among all players, Ahman ranked seventh in goals scored (11), 10th in points (11-11-22), second in power play points (7-6-13) and 15th in assists (11). Ahman was an All-WIAC first team selection.

BLUE DEVILS BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Tommi Ahlgren (6-10-2)  figured into 18 decisions last season, and finished with a GAA of 2.87 with a saves percentage of 898 and earned all-WIAC first team honors
• Evan Bisek (0-2-0) joined the Blue Devils at semester and made two starts.
• Two freshmen goalies join the Blue Devils, Brady Meyers and Ridge Gerads.

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils are 1-for-7 (14.3) on the power play, with Arturus Laukaitis notching the lone power play goal. Jack Cernohous scored Stout's lone shorthanded goal, his first career goal. The Blue Devils have successfully stopped 12-of-13 (91.7)  power play opportunities by their opponents. 

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• Stout defeated Concordia-Moorhead, 4-2, Nov. 2 and lost to St. John's University, 4-3, Nov. 3.  
• A senior broke the impasse and a freshman sealed the deal as UW-Stout defeated Concordia-Moorhead, 4-2, Friday in non-conference hockey action. After Concordia tied the score at 2-2 midway through the third period, senior Gavin Smith, with an assist by fellow senior Mathias Ahman, broke the deadlock at the 17:58 mark in the third period. Concordia (2-1) pulled the goalie with about 1:20 remaining in the game and freshman Arturas Lakaitis scored his second collegiate goal with four seconds remaining on the clock, getting an assist from Conner Valesano. | Game Story and Statistics
• UW-Stout outshot St. John's University, 35-21, but the Johnnies scored three consecutive goals in about 12 minutes of game time to run past the Blue Devils, 4-3, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center Saturday. The Johnnies (2-1-1) opened the scoring when Tanner Dufault scored at 7:48 of the second period. The Blue Devils (2-2-0) answered back quickly when Mathias Ahman scored at 10:47 of the second, getting assists from Hunter Anderson and Lucas Carroll to knot the score. Three minutes later, Gavin Smith gave the Blue Devils a 2-1 lead, with an assist from Alex Toscano. St. John's tied the score with just over two minutes remaining in the period to start their three-goal assault when Brady Heppner scored. The Johnnies scored twice in the third period, on goals by Even Oakely at 6:18 and by Davis Kirkendall at 10:28 to go ahead 4-2.  With just over two minutes left to play, Stout pulled their goalie and with the extra attacker on the ice, Arturas Laukaitis scored, with an assist by Carroll and Conner Valesano. Stout pulled their goalie again 30 seconds later, but could not get the equalizer. | Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING ST. OLAF COLLEGE

• After finishing just two points out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs a year ago, the St. Olaf College (2-1-1, 1-0-1) men's hockey team enters 2018-19 with its sights set on its first playoff berth since 2013-14. Despite graduating Drew Otto, who led the team in goals (11) and points (21) last season, the Oles return three of their top-four point scorers and four of their seven double-digit point scorers. Junior defenseman Tuukka Totro leads the group of returners after being a First Team All-MIAC pick that saw him tally six goals and 12 assists. Roshen Jaswal, matched Totro's tally of 18 points with seven goals and 11 assists. Tobias Gabrielsen had 12 assists as part of an 18 point junior season, while junior Chris Koziel is the team's leading returning goal scorer after netting eight goals. Goaltender Eric Hancock also returns for this senior season after going 7-4-0 with a .908 save percentage in 13 starts. 
• St. Olaf Statistics

OLES LAST TIME OUT

• The Oles tied Gustavus Adolphus, 3-3, Nov. 2, and downed the Gusties, 2-1, Nov. 3.  | Gustavus Story and Statistics, Game One | Gustavus Story and Statistics, Game Two

WHEN STOUT AND ST. OLAF MET LAST

• The two teams met this season in an exhibition contest with Stout taking a 2-1 overtime win. Last season, the Oles took both games, winning 5-3 in November in Northfield and 6-5 in overtime in January in Menomonie.
• Game One Story and Statistics | Game Two Story and Statistics

SCOUTING GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE

• Youthful experience may best describe the Gustavus (1-2-1, 0-1-1) men's hockey team. One season removed from a run to the MIAC playoff championship game, the Gusties return eight of their top-10 scorers from last year, including a pair of All-Conference goaltenders. The Gusties return nine sophomores and 10 first-years. All-Conference goalie Chris Amsden will be looked upon to remain a strong backstop for the Gusties. Amsden posted a 2.21 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in 18 starts last year. Amsden will once again share time in net with Goor, who boasted a 1.87 goals against average and a .929 save percentage in nine starts last season. Head Coach Brett Peterson was the 2017-18 MIAC coach of the year.
• Gustavus Statistics 

• The Johnnies split at the MIAC Showcase last weekend, opening with a 3-2 loss to St. Thomas, but bouncing back for a big 6-1 win over Bethel University. | St. Thomas Story and Statistics | Bethel Story and Statistics

• Five different UW-Stout players scored goals and the Blue Devils went on to a 5-3 win over Gustavus Adolphus College, 5-3, Nov. 11, 2017, at Don Roberts Ice Rink.. | Game Story and Statistics

TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2018-19 season are Mathias Ahman, Conner Valesano, Lucas Carroll and Adam Kresl.


AWARDS AND HONORS: 2017-18:

• Mathias Ahman earned second team All-America honors and first team all-WIAC honors. Goalie Tommi Ahlgren was a first team all-conference selection. Dylan Zins and Hunter Anderson were all-WIAC honorable mention selections. Lucas Carroll and Evan Butcher were AHCA All American Scholars.
• 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 2018-19 season marks Terry Watkins' (254-312-40) 23rd 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. OLAF'S MIKE EAVES

• Mike Eaves is in his third season as the head men's hockey caoch at St. Olaf during the 2018-19 season after being named to the position on May 27, 2016.  Through two seasons, Eaves has led the Oles to a 16-27-6 record and a 14-21-5 mark in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Eaves spent the previous 14 seasons as head coach at the University of Wisconsin. He led Wisconsin to seven NCAA appearances including a national title in 2006 and a runner up finish in 2010, while compiling a 267-225-66 record in Madison. His teams won at least 20 games eight times and won back-to-back postseason league championships in 2012-13 (WCHA) and 2013-14 (Big Ten). 

GUSTAVUS' BRETT PETERSON 

• Brett Petersen is in his 19th season as the head coach of the Gustavus Adolphus men's hockey team for the 2018-19 season.
  In his 18-year tenure behind the Gustavus bench, Petersen has compiled a 229-199-53 overall record. His 229 wins at Gustavus rank second behind legendary coach Don Roberts. He has been named MIAC Coach of the Year three times, once in 2001-02 after helping the Gusties make the jump from ninth place the year before to a second place finish in the conference, again in 2009-10 after leading the Gusties to their first MIAC title since 1993, and in 2017-18 after reaching the MIAC playoff championship game with seven more wins than the previous season. While at Gustavus, Petersen has worked with 19 All-Conference players, three MIAC Player of the Year recipients, eight AHCA All-Americans and one National Player of the Year (David Martinson, 2010).

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. Olaf and Gustavus Adolphus are both members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). 

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. Trine University (3-0), Oct. 26, 2018' vs. St. Olaf College (3-0), Dec. 10, 2016; Gustavus Adolphus (0-0), Nov. 7, 2015
• Stout was shut out: vs. Aurora University (2-0), 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.

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.

LIGHTING THE LAMP: It will now be easier to see when the the Blue Devils score. The Fanetti Community Center this summer received an upgrade in their lighting. The lighting in the ice arena was recently replaced with LED lights. The replacement was helped by Xcel Energy through their incentive program, Focus on Energy. The incentives offered by Xcel Energy and Focus on Energy — including bonus incentives through the program's limited-time Community Small Business Offerings (CSBO) campaign — helped offset the cost of the Menomonie Youth Hockey Association Ice Board's investment. | Complete Story

UP NEXT:  The Blue Devils will be at Lawrence University, Friday, Nov. 16 and at Marian University, Saturday, Nov. 17.