Hockey Preview: Stout at Eau Claire in WIAC semi-finals Friday, Saturday

at UW-Eau Claire: Friday Live Stats | Saturday Live Stats | Live Video | WIAC Commissioner's Cup | Weekly Release

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  The Blue Devils (6-15-3, 3-4-1 WIAC) will be at UW-Eau Claire (15-9-1, 5-2-1 WIAC) in the semi-finals of the WIAC Commissioner's Cup Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24. Both games are slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Arena. Stout earned the third seed in the tournament and Eau Claire is the second seed.  The series is a best-of-two series, with a mini-game, if necessary. The winner will move to play the winner of the UW-Stevens Point/UW-River Falls game in the championship game, Saturday, March 3 at the highest-seeded remaining team.

TICKETS: Tickets are expected to be available at the door: Adults: $8; Senior Citizens: $6; Youth/WIAC students: $3. Advanced tickets can also be ordered at: UW-Eau Claire Tickets

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 21 points on 11 goals and 10 assists. Seven of his goals have come on power play, as have six of his assists.
• Sophomore Connor Chambers has 15 points, scoring two goals and a team-best 13 assists. Kyle Sylvester has five goals, of which four are power play goals, and six assists. Conner Valesano has 11 points, with two goals and nine assists. Hunter Anderson has scored 12 points on five goals and seven assists. Anderson had a two-goal night in the first game with UW-Eau Claire.
• Gavin Smith has scored five goals and has tallied three assists for a total of eight points.
• Dylan Zins has scored five goals and five assists. Austin Jackson has nine poitns with four goals and five assists. Alex Toscano has four goals and four assists. Toscano has three power play goals.
• Jonathan Marzec came on late in the season and has four goals and two assists, with all of the freshman's scoring coming since the calendar turned to 2018.
• Lucas 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.
• Stout has only been whistled for two penalties in their latest two games, one against UW-Stevens Point and one against UW-River Falls. Stevens Point and River Falls hardly heated up the penalty box either, each committing two penalties.
• 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 IN NATIONAL STATS

• Mathias Ahman has been ranked nationally among defensemen most of the season. He is currently ranked 12th nationally among defensemen (11-10-21). Along with Tucker Ross of the University of New England, Ahman's seven power play goals are the most of any defenseman nationally and Ahman ranks in a tie for 11th nationally among all players in power play goals (0.29). Ahman's 11 goals is second only to Endicott's Logan Day for more goals by a defenseman.  Among all players, Ahman ranks 87th in goals per game (0.46).
• Ahman, the Blue Devils' leading scorer, is eighth in total points and sixth in goals scored among all players in the WIAC and leads conference defensemen in scoring. Ahman leads the WIAC in power play play goals with seven. He is one of four league players to score a hat trick this season after scoring his first career hat trick against St. Olaf College, Jan. 5. Ahman and Connor Chambers (2-13-15) are first and third, respectively, in the WIAC in points by defensemen. Chambers leads all defensemen in the WIAC in assists.

BLUE DEVILS BETWEEN THE PIPES

• Tommi Ahlgren (5-9-2) has figured into 15 decisions this season, and is posting a goals against average (GAA) of 2.86, with a saves percentage of 889.
• 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 (0-2-0) joined the Blue Devils at semester and has made two starts.

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils power play is 19.0 percent (19-100), scoring 19 power play goals. Defenseman Mathias Ahman has seven power play goals, with Kyle Sylvester adding four power play goals. The Blue Devils' penalty kill is at 80.4 percent (19-97), allowing 19 power play goals. Stout has two short handed goals, one each by Lucas Carroll and Gavin Smith. The Blue Devils have given up eight shorthanded goals.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blue Devils lost 2-1 to UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 9 in their final home game of the season. The Blue Devils tied at UW-River Falls, 2-2, Feb. 10.
• Third-ranked UW-Stevens Point only needed to score one goal in the third period to secure the win against UW-Stout. After playing against each other a week ago, both teams came out of the locker room flying around the ice. The Blue Devils had the first chance to score as Stevens Point sent a guy to the box with just over two minutes into the game. With a man up, Stout could not get anything going on the power play, as the Pointers killed the two minute penalty.
• Stevens Point Game Story and Statistics
• Joe Kleven scored the game-tying goal as UW-Stout came from behind to tie with at UW-River Falls, 2-2, Feb. 10 at Hunt Arena. Kleven scored the lone goal of the third period, scoring at 10:20 of the period. Kleven's second goal of the season was assisted by Dylan Zins, who scored earlier to tie the game in the second period.
• River Falls Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING UW-EAU CLAIRE

• Eau Claire earned the second seed in the WIAC Commissioner's Cup tournament. Colton Wolter leads the team in points with seven goals and 13 assists. Mac Jansen leads the team in goals with 10 goals. Lucas Kohls has five goals and 12 assists. Wolter, Jake Hopfner and Jansen each have four power play goals. The Blugolds has young goaliess, with two freshmen seeing the most amount of time. Zach Dyment has worked 12 games and has a GAA of 2.23 with a saves percentage of .900. Camden Haugenoe has worked 10 games and has a GAA of 2.47 with a saves percentage of .882.
• Eau Claire Statistics

BLUGOLDS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blugolds entered the night with the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament locked down no matter the result of this game, but earned an extra point in the standings with the 4-4 draw with third ranked UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 10.  They proved they could hang with the second best team in the country on the road outshooting the Pointers 37-21 on the night.
• Stevens Point Game Story and Statistics
• Eau Claire defeated the UW-Superior Yellowjackets 7-3 on Feb. 9 at Hobbs Ice Arena on senior night. After having a week off before tonight's game, the Blugolds erupted on the offensive end firing 56 total shots on goal in the blowout led by Lucas Kohls  and Adam Parsells  who contributed eight total points. The Blugolds now improve to 5-2 in conference play to lock up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming WIAC Tournament sponsored by Culver's.
• Superior Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND UW-EAU CLAIRE MET DURING THE SEASON

• In a wild finish at the Fanetti Community Center, UW-Stout (4-6-1, 1-0-0) finished off WIAC foe UW-Eau Claire (7-4-0, 0-1-0), 4-3 in the first WIAC matchup of the young season.
• Game One Story and Statistics
• UW-Stout cut the deficit to one goal in the second period, but UW-Eau Claire scored twice in the third period to give the Blue Devils their first conference loss of the season, a 5-2 decision at Hobbs Ice Arena Jan. 24. The Blugolds jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period, but Gavin Smith scored for Stout in the second to cut the margin and make the score 3-2. The Blugolds' Jake Wolter scored twice in the third period, including a shorthanded goal with 50 seconds remaining in the game.
• Game Two Story and Statistics

THE SERIES:

• The Blugolds lead the series 39-35-4. Over the last 15 games dating back to the 2012-13 season, Eau Claire holds a 10-4-1 lead in the series. Over the last three seasons, Eau Claire leads the series, 3-2-1.

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 and St. John's are 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: Tommi Ahlgren, So, Tampere, Finland


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' (251-309-40) 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.

UW-EAU CLAIRE'S MATT LOEN

• Matt Loen (169-109-25) enters his ninth season as head coach for the men's ice hockey team in 2016-2017 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Blugold's ended their 2015-2016 season tying for first in the WIAC with a 5-2-1 record, and a 15-6-6 record overall. In 2012-2013 Loen led the Blugolds to win the NCAA Division III National Championship in Lake Placid, New York. That year, Loen was named the USCHO and D3Hockey.com National Coach of the Year. The Blugolds also won the NCHA and WIAC Conference Championships in 2012-2013.

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:  Stout will participate in the WIAC Tournament as the third seed. The winner of this weekend's series will take of the winner of the UW-Superior/UW-River Falls at UW-Stevens Point contest Saturday, March 3 in the Commissioner's Cup championship game.