Hockey Preview: Stout to host Tommies, Lumberjacks this weekend

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

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  After a pair of  conference games last weekend, the Blue Devils (6-3-1, 0-1-1 WIAC) take to non-conference action until January. This weekend, the Blue Devils host the University of St. Thomas (4-4-2, 1-1-2 MIAC) Friday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Northland College (4-4-2, 2-2-2 NCHA), Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.

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.
• Mathias Ahman leads the team in points (8), scoring three goals and five assists, tied for 32nd nationally among defensemen. After scoring seven power play goals lasts season, Ahman is still looking for his first power play goal.
• Freshmen are leading the team in goals scored, with Arturas Laukaitis scoring five goals and one assist, while Logan Nelson has four goals and three assists. Sophomore Lucas Carroll also has four goals and three assists
• Tried-and-true Conner Valesano (2-5-7) and Lucas Carroll (4-3-6), along with Alex Toscano (2-2-4) are among the team leaders in points. 
• Ahman and Toscano lead the team in assists, with both dishing off five. Carroll has three assists, as does Nelson. Freshman Raphael Gosselin and Hunter Anderson each have four assists. 
• Jack Cernohous has scored his first goals of his career this season and now has two goals, along with one assist.
• Tommi Ahlgren has been solid this season, including back-to-back shutouts two weeks ago. Ahlgren has a GAA of 1.87 for the season and is 21st nationally. Ahlgren is 24th nationally in saves percentage (.967), 25th in winning percentage (5-2-1, .833), tied for third in shutouts (2)
• 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. 
• Complete Blue Devil 2018-19 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 DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils are 7-49 on the power play (.143). Logan Nelson has three power play goals, tied for 17th nationally, and Arturas Laukaitis and Alex Bowe each have two. Jack Cernohous scored Stout's first shorthanded goal, his first career goal and Lucas Carroll has one. 
• On the penalty kill, the Blue Devils are 4-47 (.915), tops in the WIAC, and sixth among the NCAA Division III. 

BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS

• Tommi Ahlgren recorded 32 saves in a 3-0 shutout win over Lawrence University, Nov. 16, then took a 4-0 shutout win over No. 7 Marian University, Nov. 17, where he recorded 27 saves. Over the last two games, Ahlgren was able to successfully turn away 10 power play opportunities. The Blue Devils last posted back-to-back shutouts win, Jan. 29, 2011 with a 1-0 win at UW-Superior, and Feb. 3, 2011, a 2-0 win at UW-Eau Claire. The first time Stout put together back-to-back shutout wins was Jan. 29-30, 1999, with two home wins, 4-0, 5-0, over St. Scholastics. Tom Lescovich recorded the back-to-back shutouts in 2011, and Ben Plester and Todd Sether teamed for the 1999 shutouts.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• Stout lost 5-2 at UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 28, to open the conference season, then tied with UW-Superior, 1-1, Nov. 30. 
• The 2018-19 conference season did not start off on the right foot as UW-Stout lost their conference opener, 5-1, at UW-Eau Claire Nov. 28. The seventh-ranked Blugolds (10-2, 1-0 WIAC) wasted little time getting to work on snapping the Blue Devils' four-game winning streak, including two consecutive shut-outs, scoring twice in the first period, first at 7:14 and again at 16:07 on the power play to take a 2-0 lead into the first break. The Blue Devils  jumped on the Blugolds early in the second period, taking advantage of a power play situation when Alex Bowe (So, Plymouth, Minn) scored his second goal in as many games, scoring at 3:24 with assists by Joe Kleven (Sr, Shakopee, Minn) and Raphael Gosselin (Fr, Quebec City, Quebec) to cut the score in half at 2-1. But the Blugolds got that goal back seven minutes later, then scored twice in the third period, with the final goal coming on the power play with four minutes left in the contest for the final 5-1 score. | Game Story and Statistics
•  UW-Stout's Lucas Carroll scored at 17:59 of the first period, but UW-Superior knotted the score when Pavel Mikhasenok scored at 9:18 of the third period and the two teams played to a 1-1 tie at Wessman Arena Friday in WIAC action. Carroll scored unassisted, while Mikhasenok was assisted by David Kaplan. Both teams were 0 for 4 on the power play. Stout's Tommi Ahlgren made 41 saves, including 16 in both the first and second periods, while the Yellowjackets' AJ Smith made 25 saves. | Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

UW-Stout	Statistics	St. Thomas	Northland	-
2.8	Goals/game	3.00	3.00	-
2.0	Goals allowed	2.73	3.05	-
14.3 percent	Power Play %	12.9 percent	20.0 percent	-
91.5 percent	Penalty Kill %	75 percent	79.5 percent	-
3	Shutouts	1	0	-

SCOUTING ST. THOMAS

• The Tommies were picked first in the 2018-19 MIAC head coaches' preseason poll. St. Thomas has won or shared six conference hockey championships in the eight years since head coach Jeff Boeser took over. St. Thomas must replace two-year starting goalie Benjamin, Myers. Andrew Rohkohl has started six games in net and has a .905 save percentage to go along with a 2.70 goal against average. Cam Buggrabe has started two games and holds a 2.01 goal against average and a .911 save percentage. Freshman Luke Radetic leads the Tommies in goals with seven and points with nine. Junior Brett Gravelle has four goals to go along with seven assists. 
• St. Thomas Statistics

TOMMIES LAST TIME OUT

• Tommie freshman Cam Burggrabe stopped 42 of 44 shots and helped kill six of seven power plays as St. Thomas and No. 11-ranked Augsburg tied 2-2 Saturday night in MIAC men's hockey. The game lasted nearly 2:50 and was played on the Auggies' home ice in Minneapolis. Augsburg (8-1-1 overall, 5-0-1 MIAC) takes four points on the weekend while the Tommies (4-4-2, 1-1-2) salvaged two after never holding a lead in either of the two games. Friday night's game was within one goal in the final 3:00 before Augsburg added an insurance score and an empty-net tally for a 5-2 victory. After a scoreless overtime and a scoreless 3-on-3 start to the tiebreaker, the Tommies converted two of their three shots while their goalie Burggrabe stopped Augsburg's first two. Augsburg scored in the final 5:00 of regulation to snap a 1-1 tie. The Tommies answered one minute later on a goal by Tanner Barnes, and the game went to overtime. The Auggies couldn't capitalize on a 2:00 power-play in overtime. An Auggie major penalty in the shootout session gave the Toms a 4-on-3 for the final 4:09 but they couldn't convert. Freshman Luke Radetic scored a power-play goal in period two and has scored a goal in five consecutive game. | Game Story and Statistics 

WHEN STOUT AND ST. THOMAS MET LAST

• The Blue Devils won a 5-4 exhibition contest over the Tommies last season on New Year's Eve.
• St. Thomas scored in every period and went on to a 3-1 win over UW-Stout Jan. 13, 2017. The Tommies (8-4-3) got things going with a goal by Johnny Roisum at 7:44 of the first period. The Blue Devils (7-8-1) tied the score when freshman Jack Forbort, with an assist by Joe Kleven, scored at 8:29 in the second period. The tie was short-lived as the Tommies took advantage of the power play three minutes later on a Cullen Willox score. St. Thomas scored the final goal at 4:45 in the third by Braydon Stufko. Tommi Ahlgren took the loss for the Blue Devils, recording 36 saves. The Tommies' Benjamin Myers turned away 35 shots.. | Game Story and Statistics

SCOUTING NORTHLAND COLLEGE

• The Lumberjacks are coached by Seamus Gregory and a part of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). Senior Lucas DeBenedet has a team leading five goals and six assists. Junior Kalib Ford and Freshman Zackary Fisher each have four goals and five assists on the year. In net, Senior David Krejcik has played most of the minutes this year starting in eight of the 10 games. Krejick hold a 2.54 goals against average to go along with a .916 save percentage. 
• Northland Stats

LUMBERJACKS LAST TIME OUT

• The Lumberjacks opened the weekend with a 5-2 conference win over Trine University, Nov. 30, and tied 1-1 with fourth-ranked Adrian College, Dec. 1. The Lumberjacks will be at UW-Eau Claire, Dec. 7.
• The Jacks jumped all over Trine, opening the game with three first period goals, then, after allowing the Thunder to pull to within one goal with two second period goals, Northland matched Trine's second period effort with two third period goals. Zackary Fisher led five individual Lumberjacks with goals, getting the game-opener. Fisher was credited with three assists and Kalib Ford, who scored the second goal of the game, added two assists. David Krejcik recorded 23 saves in the game for the Lumberjacks. | Trine Game Story and Statistics
• The Jacks hosted fourth-ranked the Adrian College Bulldogs today at the Bay Area Civic Center. Both teams skated up and down the ice battling for possession of the puck early in the first period. The Bulldogs would strike first with 8:41 elapsed in period, taking a 1-0 lead over the Jacks. The Jacks tightened up the defense from there and would keep the Bulldogs out of the net. The Jacks struggled to get their offense going throughout the period and would go into the first intermission down 1-0. The Jacks offense started to find its rhythm in the second as they tallied shots on goal. Their strong defensive play would carry over from the first period, as they would once again hold the Bulldogs scoreless. The Jacks came close numerous times, but wouldn't be able to tie it. They went into the third still down 1-0. The Bulldogs threatened early in the period, but the Jacks once again kept them from adding to their lead. With a little over 9 minutes elapsed in the period Max Glashauser would rip a shot between the pipes to tie the game at 1-1. He was assisted by Daniel Chartrand and Michael Courvoisier. Neither team would be able to break the tie before the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime. A penalty early in the overtime period, created a power play opportunity for the Bulldogs, but the Jacks strong defense would allow them to kill the penalty. Neither team would be able to break through before the clock expired. They would finish tied 1-1. David Krejcik recorded 36 saves for the Jacks. | Adrian Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND NORTHLAND MET LAST

• After some give and take between the two teams, Northland College rolled off three consecutive goals late in the second period and continued into the third on their way to a 6-5 win over UW-Stout, Dec. 13, 2016, at the Fanetti Community Center. | Game Story and Statistics 
• The teams are scheduled to meet again Jan. 8 in Northland. 

USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL: The Blue Devils have been receiving votes in the 2018-19 USCHO.com poll since Nov. 18, and received one vote this week. Blue Devil 2017-18 opponents ranking in the Top 15 in the latest USHCO.com Division III poll are: UW-Stevens Point, 1st (Feb. 1, Feb. 8); UW-Eau Claire, 6th (Nov. 28, Jan. 23); and Augsburg University, 9th. (Jan. 12).  Marian University (Nov. 17) is receiving votes. USCHO.com Division III Poll

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


AWARDS AND HONORS: 2018-19:

• Tommi Ahlgren was named the WIAC athlete of the week and to the D3hockey.com Team of the Week, Nov. 20, after posting back-to-back shutout wins over Lawrence (3-0) and seventh ranked Marian (4-0).
• 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' (258-313-41) 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 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. THOMAS' JEFF BOESSER

• A key figure in St. Thomas ice hockey success for more than three decades, Jeff Boeser (pronounced BESS-er) was named head coach in April 2010 following the retirement of 23-year head coach Terry Skrypek. The 2018-19 campaign will mark his ninth season as the Tommie head coach, and he's been an integral part of UST's current streak of 36 consecutive winning seasons. He's guiding the Toms to seven top-two MIAC finishes in his first eight seasons -- six championships and two seconds.

NORTHLAND'S SEAMUS GREGORY

• Seamus Gregory was hired as the Head Coach of LumberJack Hockey in July of 2014, he is the fourth Head Coach in school history. Entering his fifth season at the helm  in Ashland, Gregory and his staff have completely revamped the Jack lineup with the current roster complied of 26 underclassmen. In Gregory's second season (2015-16) behind the Jack bench, he led the program to their 3rd best ever season in their 19 year history of collegiate hockey. Prior to Northland, Gregory spent three seasons (2011-2014) at Williston State College in northwest North Dakota

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...
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: 41, Tommi Ahlgren vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 30, 2018
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 recorded back-to-back shutouts: Nov. 16, 2018, 3-0, vs. Lawrence University, Nov. 17, 2018, 4-0, vs. Marian University
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 Nov. 19, 2018...the last time the Blue Devils were mentioned was with 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.

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 Finlandia University, Friday, Dec. 14 at 6:15 p.m. (CT) and will be the host when the Blue Devils and the Lions meet the following day in Eagle River at 7 p.m.