Hockey Preview: Stout looks to rebound against Yellowjackets

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

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (13-6-1, 0-1-1 WIAC) host fourth-ranked UW-Eau Claire (16-3-2, 2-1-1 WIAC), Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., then will host UW-Superior (6-11-2, 0-1-1 WIAC), Friday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils lost to the Blugolds, 5-1, and tied the Yellowjackets, 1-1, in November. 


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.
• Two freshmen are among the scoring leaders for the Blue Devils. Logan Nelson, the team's leading scorers with 10 goals and six assists, has a team-best four power play goals. Fellow freshman Arturas Laikaitis has three power play goals. Laukaitis has eight goals and six assists.   Nelson is 59th nationally in goals per game 25th nationally among freshman (0.80) in points per game and Laukaitis is 44th (0.70). 
• Senior defenseman Mathias Ahman has been clamped down on a bit after his breakout All-American junior season. Ahman currently has seven goals and eight assists, 30th nationally among defensemen. After scoring seven power play goals lasts season, Ahman got his first power play goal of the season, scoring on the advantage late in a 7-4 loss to St. Thomas, Dec. 7, and picked up his second at St. Olaf, Jan. 4, scoring the first goal of the game, and his third over six games with the lead-off goal against Northland College. 
• Conner Valesano leads the team in assists with 11, while Hunter Anderson has 10, Raphael Gosselin, Joe Kleven, Connor Chambers and Mathias Ahman each have eight.
• Tommi Ahlgren has been solid this season, including back-to-back shutouts in November. Ahlgren has a GAA of 1.96 for the season and is 17th nationally. Ahlgren is 28th nationally in saves percentage (.922), 8th in winning percentage (12-4-1, 735), tied for 12th in shutouts (2)
• In goal, Brady Meyers has made two appearances, picking up a 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. 
• The Blue Devils are averaging 3.4 goals per game, good for a 34th ranking nationally. Stout is surrendering 2.2 goals per game, ranking 17th and have a scoring margin of 1.15, ranking 19th. The Blue Devils' penalty kill is currently eighth in the NCAA Division III (90.2). Stout has a power play percentage of 20.0, 30th nationally. 
• 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 15-75 on the power play (.200), ranked 30th nationally. Logan Nelson has four power play goals. Mathias Ahman and Arturas Laukaitis each have three power play goals. Alex Bowe and Raphael Gosselin each have two power play goals. Lucas Carroll has two shorthanded goals, and is tied for second nationally. Jack Cernohous scored Stout's first shorthanded goal, his first career goal. Trent Olson has one shorthanded goal. The Blue Devils have scored at least one power play goal in 12 games and have twice scored two power play goals in single games.
• On the penalty kill, the Blue Devils are 8-82 (.902), tops in the WIAC, and eighth among the NCAA Division III. 

LOTS OF GOALS

• When Stout scored seven goals in a 7-1 win over Northland College, Dec. 8, 2018, it was the most goals scored since scoring seven in a 7-2 win over Aurora University, Jan. 23, 2015. Only two weeks earlier, Stout scored eight goals in an 8-5 win over Concordia University Wisconsin, Jan. 10, 2015. The six goal differential over Northland was the widest since Stout defeated St. Thomas, 8-0, Nov. 7, 2009.

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

• UW-Eau Claire scored twice in the first period, then added another goal in the third period before Stout broke up the shutout with less than four minutes to play Wednesday at the Fanetti Community Center.  Simon Sagissor scored unassisted at 5:10 of the first for the Blugolds. Steen Cooper made it a 2-0 game with 39 seconds remaining in the period. The fourth-ranked Blugolds (17-3-2, 3-1-1 WIAC) scored a power play goal by Austin Redders at 5:05 in the third period. The Blue Devils' (13-6-1, 0-2-1 WIAC) Logan Nelson broke up the shutout at 16:45 of the third on a power play goal. Eau Claire outshot Stout, 23-18.  Eau Claire was 1 for 3 on the power play, while Stout was 1 for 6. | Game Story and Statistics
• The Blue Devils defeated St. Mary's University, 4-2, Jan. 17 to close out non-conference play.  
• UW-Stout scored the final three goals of the game to come away with a 4-2 non-conference win at Saint Mary's University Jan. 17. The Blue Devils (13-5-1) trailed 2-1 at the end of the first period, but scored twice in the second period to take the lead on goals by Alex Nagel and Austin Jackson, then recorded an empty-net goal by Trent Olson to wrap up the win over the Cardinals (3-11-3).  |  Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

UW-Stout	Statistics	UW-Eau Claire	UW-Superior
3.4	Goals/game	3.48	2.79
2.2	Goals Allowed	1.67	3.21
20.0 percent	Power Play %	16.5 percent	16.5 percent
90.2 percent	Penalty Kill %	83.3 percent	78 percent
3	Shutouts	3	0

SCOUTING UW-EAU CLAIRE

• The Blugolds are ranked third in the latest USCHO.com poll. Eau Claire is led by Senior Lucas Kohls who leads the teams in goals (9) and points (11). Kohls has also added four power play goals. Junior Jake Bresser leads the team with assists (16) and also has scored three goals in the season. Nine Blugolds have double digit points this year. Sophomore Zach Dyment has dominated in net for the Blugolds and has started 20 out of 21 games on the season. Dyment holds a 1.67 goal against average and a .913 save percentage. 
• Eau Claire Stats

BLUGOLDS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blugolds split their conference week, downing UW-River Falls, 5-4, Jan. 16, then lost 3-1 to top-ranked UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 18.
• Eau Claire men's hockey resumed WIAC (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) play on Wednesday as they hosted the UW-River Falls Falcons. Earlier in the season, the Blugolds and Falcons skated to a 2-2 after a last-minute goal by River Falls. Despite being down early, the Blugolds would take control in the third period and complete the comeback for their 16th win and 2nd conference win of the season. Adam Parsells scored the hat trick, scoring once in the second period and twice in the third period, including the game-winning goal to break a 4-4 tie. Parsells twice scored on the power play. | Game Story and Statistics
• UW-Stevens Point scored the first three goals of the game, scoring once in the first period and twice in the second. The Blugolds made it 3-1 late in the second period as Nathan Dingman scored. The third period would be a defensive battle as neither team could score. Stevens Point outshot the Blugolds 24-15 on the night while goaltender Zach Dyment tallied 21 saves in the loss. | Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE LAST MET

• 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.
• Game Story and Statistics

SCOUTING UW-SUPERIOR

• The Yellowjackets are led by Troy York who leads the team in goals (9) and points (15). Seven of the nine goals by York has been on the power play. Troy MacTavish leads the team in assists with 10. MacTavish also has 13 points. In net, A.J. Smith has started 11 games and holds a 3-7-2 record. Smith has a .897 save percentage and a 3.14 goal against average. Oscar Svensson has started four games while going 2-2. Svensson holds a 2.44 save percentage and a .919 save percentage. 
• Superior Stats

YELLOWJACKETS LAST TIME OUT

• The Yellowjackets won a pair of games against MIAC foes last week, downing Bethel University 3-1 Jan. 11 and defeated Hamline University 2-1 Jan. 12. Superior had last weekend off. The 'Jackets' first game from their break will be the Stout contest.
• For the Yellowjacket men's hockey team, the 2018-19 season has not gone as expected. From scoring droughts to a couple of extended losing streaks, it has been a season of frustration for the 'Jackets. The Yellowjackets returned home and rid themselves of some of the frustration, scoring twice in the first and once in the second to earn a 3-1 win over Bethel at Wessman Arena, Jan. 11. Yellowjacket goaltender Oscar Svensson (Södertälje, Sweden/Haga Gymnasium). The sophomore made just his fourth career start Friday and he stopped 24-of-25 shots in the game to earn his first collegiate win. | Game Story and Statistics
• Maybe it was the momentum built up with a win Friday. Perhaps it was weight loss, as in the weight of the world was lifted off the shoulders of the Yellowjacket men's hockey team after Friday's win snapped a four-game skid. Or maybe it has something to do with the vintage orange sweaters the team was wearing. Maybe it was a combination of all three, as the Yellowjackets were shot out of a cannon to start Saturday's game against Hamline. They got all of the offense they would need in the first six minutes and then rode strong defense and the impeccable goaltending of Oscar Svensson to a 2-1 win over the Pipers Jan. 12 at Wessman Arena. It didn't take long for the Yellowjackets to get on the board Saturday. Just 1:49 in Artur Terchiyev (Kiev, Ukraine/Everst Academy) took a feed in the right circle and set a shot over the right shoulder of Hamline goaltender Sam Nelson to make it 1-0. Coltyn Bates (Brandon, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate) and Pavel Mikhasenok (Yekaterinburg, Russia/Everest Academy) assisted. It was a mirror image of the goal Terchiyev scored Friday night. Minutes later the Yellowjackets made it 2-0 when Mikhasenok broke down the slot and took a pass from Will Blake(Champlin, Minn./Breck) and deposited into the upper corner for his third goal of the season. Terchiyev also picked up a helper on the goal that came at 5:36. | Game Story and Statistics

WHEN STOUT AND SUPERIOR LAST MET

• 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 Nov. 30, 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

USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL: The Blue Devils received votes in the 2018-19 USCHO.com poll starting Nov. 18, but dropped out in mid-December. They returned to the "Receiving Votes" category with 10 in the Jan. 7 poll and currently have 15.  Blue Devil 2018-19 opponents ranking in the Top 15 in the Dec. 10 USHCO.com Division III poll are: UW-Stevens Point, 1st (Feb. 1, Feb. 8); UW-Eau Claire, 4th (Nov. 28, Jan. 23) and Augsburg University, 4th. (Jan. 12).  USCHO.com Division III Poll

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

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Week Five: Tommi Ahlgren, Jr, Tampere, Finland; Week Four: none; Week Three: Tommi Ahlgren, Jr, Tampere, Finland; Week Two: Mathias Ahman, Sr, Harnosand, Sweden; Week One: none


AWARDS AND HONORS: 2018-19:

• 2018-19: Tommi Ahlgren was selected as the WIAC Athlete of the Week for the second time this season after stopping 23 shots in 4-2 win over St. Olaf, Jan. 4...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' (265-315-41) 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.
• Watkins came into the season with a 252-310-40 record.

UW-EAU CLAIRE'S MATT LOEN

• Matt Loen enters his 11th season as head coach for the men's ice hockey team in 2018-2019 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Last season Loen led the Blugolds to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament championship and was named WIAC Co-Coach of the Year, an honor he has earned six times in the last nine years. He also received the honor in 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2016-17. In 2012-2013, Loen and the Blugolds captured 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.

UW-SUPERIOR'S RICHARD MCKENNA

• The 2018-19 season will be the third for Richard McKenna as the head coach of the Yellowjacket men's hockey program. McKenna was named the head men's hockey coach at UW-Superior May 11, 2016, becoming just the sixth head coach to lead the Yellowjackets since the program was reinstated in 1965. In McKenna's first two seasons he had three players earn All-WIAC honors and helped both Eric Shand and Anton Svensson earn professional contracts. McKenna came to the Yellowjackets following a season as the head coach and general manager of the New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He led the Titans to a record of 34-22-4 and a second place finish in the NAHL's East Division in 2015-16. McKenna began his coaching career as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Castleton State University in 2008-09.

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, 2008THE 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. Lawrence University, Nov. 16, 2018 (W 3-0)
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: 7 vs. Northland College (W 7-1), Dec. 8, 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. Marian University, Nov. 17, 2018 (3-0); vs. Lawrence University, Nov. 16, 2018 (4-0); 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 and received a single vote in the Dec. 3 rankings before dropping out...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 host top-ranked UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., then will be at UW-River Falls, Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.  Stout will see the same opponents the following weekend.