Hockey Preview: Falcons are weekend opponent

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

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (3-7-1, 3-2-0 WIAC) close out the first semester of play with a pair of games against UW-River Falls (5-4-2, 1-3-1 WIAC), traveling to Hunt Arena, Friday, Dec. 13 for a 7 p.m. contest and hosting the Falcons, Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils won Friday, 3-1. The Saturday game is sponsored by Northtown Ford.

BLUE DEVILS LIVE: Join the Blue Devils every second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Stout Ale House for Blue Devil Live, a live radio show with host Pete Knutson, the voice of the Blue Devils. Throughout the show, Knutson will talk to Blue Devil coaches and student-athletes about what is coming up and what happened last week.  

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.

THE BLUE DEVILS SO FAR THIS SEASON:

• The Blue Devils are coming off perhaps their best overall showing of the season with a 4-2 win over UW-Superior last Saturday.
• The Blue Devils are averaging 2.5 goals per contest and are giving up 3.8. Sophomore forward Logan Nelson turned in a solid weekend last weekend, scoring two goals each night in games against UW-Stevens Point and UW-Superior, his first goals of the season. Nelson added a goal against the Falcons last night to run his total to five goals. Freshman Vladislav Sorokin had the eventual game-winning goal last night, running his goal totals to five. Nelson also has an assist. Alex Nagel has a team-best seven points, tallying two goals and is matched with Raphael Gosselin and Evan Butcher for most assists with five. Perhaps overshadowed last weekend by Nelson, Konnar Dechaine put together a solid weekend, scoring both a goal and an assist in both games to bring his totals to three goals and three assists.  Evan Butcher, who last year played in only one game, this year has appeared in all 11 games and has five points with a goal and ficw assists. Senior Hunter Anderson has three goals and senior captain Adam Kresl and junior captain Lucas Carroll each have two goals.  Alex Bowe, Noah Carson, Konnar Dechaine, Kobe Keller, Peter Verstegen and Landon Lushenko each have one goal.
• Connor Chambers, Riley Jensen, Kobe Keller and Adam Bowe each have three assists,  and Jack Cernohous has two. Six players each have one assist and 19 players have notched at least one point this season. 
• In net, the Blue Devils have been able to play all three of their goalies. Brennan Kitchen has seen action in six games and is 2-4-1, kicking out 180 shots for a saves percentage of .900 and a GAA of 2.97. Kitchen earned his first collegiate win, taking a 4-2 win over UW-Superior, Dec. 7. Evan Bisek is 1-3-0 with 198 minutes of work between the pipes. Bisek has a saves percentage of .897 and a GAA of 3.33. Brady Meyers has seen action in three games and has made 30 saves over a shade under 60 minutes.
• 2019-20 Statistics | 2019 WIAC Statistics | 2019 Division III Statistics

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT:

• The Blue Devils have five juniors and five seniors. Senior returners include Hunter Anderson, a 2017-18 All-WIAC honorable mention forward, forward Adam Kresl, defensemen Trent Olson and Connor Chambers and goalie Evan Bisek. The junior class along with Carroll includes defensemen Jack Cernohous and Alex Bowe and forwards Konnar Dechaine and Evan Butcher.
• Anderson scored two goals and added 11 assists. Chambers passed off 10 assists. Olson had three goals and four assists and Bowe had three goals and three assists. Kresl had a goal and five assists, while Cernohous had two goals and three assists. Carroll had seven goals and seven assists.
• The Blue Devils have 10 freshmen and are joined by seven sophomores, most of whom saw a great deal of action last season. The freshman class has one goalie, two defensemen and seven forwards.
• Sophomore Logan Nelson is the lone Blue Devils to have earned all-conference honors last season, earning an honorable mention nod. Senior Hunter Anderson was an honorable mention pick in 2017-18.
• The sophomore class, led by Nelson, is made up of forwards Raphael Gosselin, Alex Nagel and Landon Lushanko, defensemen Tomi Varjonen and Alec Skar and goalie Brady Meyers. Gosselin was among Stout's scoring leaders with five goals and nine assists. Nagel had five goals and six assists.
• The incoming freshman class is made up of forwards Peter Verstegan, Vladislov Sorokin, Riley Jensen, Cam Olstad, Dylan Mattson, Garett Giertuga and Kobe Keller; defensemen Noah Carson and Alex Stuckert and goalie Brennan Kitchen.
• Goalies: Bisek is a senior who has seen limited action over the past couple of years and allowed no goals over two-plus periods in Stout's opening exhibition game against St. Mary's University two weeks ago. At 6-foot-3, Meyers fills up a lot of the net area. Meyers saw action in three games last year and allowed only one goal over 112 minutes played. Freshman goalie Brennan Kitchen brings four years of juniors experience to the team.
• The Blue Devils averaged 3.0 goals per game and gave up 2.6 goals per game last season. Stout had a power play percentage of 19.1 and a penalty kill of 87.2.
• Complete Blue Devil 2018-19 Statistics

BLUE DEVIL SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Blue Devils have scored four power play goals against 32 opportunities (12.5 percent).
• The Blue Devils have allowed three power plays goal against 31 opportunities. (90.3 percent). Stout allowed their first power play goal since Nov. 8 when they allowed one against UW-Superior, Dec. 7. The Blue Devils are ninth nationally in penalty kill.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• UW-Stout scored three unanswered goals to take a come-from-behind conference win Friday at UW-River Falls in Hunt Arena. The Blue Devils spotted the Falcons a 1-0 lead on a first period goal by Adam Canepa at 6:51 of the the opening stanza. It was all Blue Devils after that, but not until after a scoreless second period.  Senior Hunter Anderson opened the scoring parade for the Blue Devils, knotting the score only 10 seconds into the third period, getting assists from Adam Kresl and Kobe Keller. The Blue Devils took the lead at 10:15 when Vladislav Sorokin scored his fifth goal of the season in what would prove to be the game-winning-goal on assists by Alex Stuckert and Evan Butcher. Logan Nelson gave Stout a two goal lead a little over five minutes later, scoring his fifth goal over the last three games, with assists by Stuckert and Alex Bowe. Brennan Kitchen earned his second consecutive win of the season, stopping 26 shots. Zach Quinn absorbed the loss for the Falcons, matching Kitchen's 26 saves.
• The Blue Devils lost 6-3 to defending national champion UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 6, but bounced back for a 4-2 win over UW-Superior, Dec. 7.
• Logan Nelson scored two goals for UW-Stout, but 13th-ranked UW-Stevens Point went on to down the Blue Devils, 6-3, at KB Willett Arena Friday. The Pointers (5-5-1, 1-1-1 WIAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead, getting their first goal of the night midway through the first period, then added two goals by Zach Zech in the first half of the second period before the Blue Devil offense came alive in a big way. Zech's second goal was a 3-on-5 power play goal, the first power play goal the Blue Devils allowed since Nov. 8. Nelson put the Blue Devils (1-7-1, 1-2-0 WIAC) on the board at the 13:05 mark of the second period, getting assists from Konnar Dechaine and Riley Jensen. Fifty ticks of the clock later, Dechaine scored on an assist from Jensen and the Blue Devils were within a goal. But the Pointers made it a two-goal game with less than a minute left on the second period clock on a goal by Jordan Faber. The Pointers stretched the lead to three goals two minutes into the third period before Nelson scored his second goal of the night at the 7:26 mark to get the Blue Devils back within striking range.  | UW-Stevens Point Game Story and Statistics
• For the second consecutive night, Logan Nelson scored two goals and tonight Nelson notched the eventual game winner as UW-Stout defeated UW-Superior, 4-2, Saturday at the Fanetti Community Center. The Blue jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on Konnar Dechaine's goal at 5:29 and Nelson's first goal of the night at 14:51. But the Yellowjackets (6-2-0, 2-2-0 WIAC) came storming back in the second period. Dylan Johnson scored a short-handed goal at 7:29 and Andrew Durham drew the 'Jackets into a tie at 9:03. Nelson scored his second goal of the game to give Stout a 3-2 lead, a power play goal at 19:48 of the second period. Freshman Peter Verstegan gave the Blue Devils some cushion, scoring the only goal of the final period at 12:49. Freshman goalkeeper Brennan Kitchen (1-4-1) earned his first collegiate win, turning away 28 shots. The Yellowjackets Oscar Svensson had 21 saves in the loss.. | UW-Superior Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker (2019-20)

UW-Stout	Statistics	UW-River Falls	xxxx
2.5	Goals/game	2.6	x
3.8	Goals Allowed	2.5	x
12.5 percent	Power Play %	38.9 percent	x
90.3 percent	Penalty Kill %	85.4 percent	x
0	Shutouts	0	x

SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS

• The Falcon's offense is led by Ryan Cusin who leads the team in goals with seven. Six of the seven goals have come from the power play. Cusin also has seven assists for a total of 15 points. Christian Hausinger leads the team in assists and points. Hausinger has five goals and 10 assists on the year. Cayden Cahill has also contributed with five goals and three assists. In goal, Zach Quinn and Kade Phipps have split time, only having a six minute difference. Quinn leads the team in wins with three and also holds a 1.97 goal against average with a .920 save percentage. Phipps has a 2.97 goal against average going along with a .880 save percentage
• Falcon Stats

THE FALCONS LAST TIME OUT

• The Falcons lost a pair of WIAC games last weekend. On Dec. 6, they hosted the University of Wisconsin-Superior and fell 5-2. Superior scored three goals in the second period and the three goals seeled the win for the Yellowjackets. I Game 1 Story and Stats
• UW-River Falls traveled to Eau Claire on Dec. 7, and hung around with #1 UW-Eau Claire until halfway through the third period. The Blugolds scored two goals in 15 seconds with seven minutes left to play in the game to seel the win. I Game 2 Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND RIVER FALLS MET LAST YEAR

• The Falcons won the first meeting in February, 4-1, in River Falls, then the two teams closed out the regular season with a 4-4 tie in Menomonie a week later. |
• UW-River Falls scored three goals in the third period, including two empty net goals, to take a 4-1 win over UW-Stout Feb. 2, 2019, at Hunt Arena.The Falcons' Joel Frazee scored a goal  at 2:29 in the second period, then the Falcons (10-8-4, 1-3-2 WIAC) took a 2-0 lead with a goal by Josh Arnold at 00:22 in the third. Stout (13-9-1, 0-5-1 WIAC) cut the lead in half when Austin Jackson scored at 6:22 in the third. The Falcons' Ryan Cusin and Charlie Singerhouse scored empty-net goals in the final minute of the game. | Game 1 Recap
• UW-Stout had a substantial lead, but let UW-River Falls back into the game and the Blue Devils had to come back to claim a tie 4-4 with the Falcons in the final regular season game Saturday at the Fanetti Community Center. On Senior Night, Blue Devil senior Joe Kleven notched the game-tying goal at 13:43 of period, with assists from freshman Tomi Varjonen and junior Adam Kresl. Neither team found any successful offense the rest of the way. | Game 2 Recap.

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, but dropped out after back-to-back losses to UW-Eau Claire and UW-Superior and have not returned. 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, 6th (Nov. 28, Jan. 23) and Augsburg University, 7th. (Jan. 12). St. Thomas (Dec. 6) and Concordia-Moorhead (Nov. 9, Nov. 10) are receiving votes. USCHO.com Division III Poll

TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2019-20 season are Adam Kresl, Lucas Carroll and Connor Chambers.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Logan Nelson, So, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville); 


AWARDS AND HONORS: 2018-19:

• 2019-20: After scoring two goals each night in a loss to UW-Stevens Point and a win over UW-Superior, Logan Nelson was selected as the WIAC Athlete of the Week and the UW-Stout Athlete of the Week...2018-19: Logan Nelson earned All-WIAC honorable mention honors in 18-19 and is the only returning all-conference pick...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).

UW-STOUT COACH TERRY WATKINS

• The 2019-20 season marks Terry Watkins' (268-329-43) 24th season as the head coach of the Blue Devils' varsity program. (Watkins began the season at 265-322-42),
• 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.
• Watikins is second on the WIAC all-time wins list.
• 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 recently moved into sole possession of second place on the conference's all-time wins list, surpassing former UW-Stevens Point head coach Joe Baldarotta's 265 victories.

UW-RIVER FALLS' STEVE FREEMAN

• Steve Freeman is in his 24th season as the Falcons' head coach, Freeman has been the driving force and leader of one of the elite powerhouse college hockey programs in the nation.  He is the program's all-time leader in games won. In 2016 he led UWRF to the WIAC regular season championship. In 2015 Freeman led the Falcons to the WIAC playoff Championship including a thirteen game winning streak and 20-7-1 overall record. Freeman has been named Coach of the Year 12 times in his career at UW-River Falls. Freeman is the WIAC all-time leader in games won. He's led the team to the WIAC Championships in 12 of the past 16 seasons. He is the winningest coach in UW-River Falls hockey history and that was accomplished in just six seasons, the shortest period of time of any UWRF coach. Freeman has led the Falcons to 388 wins during his tenure. His teams have averaged nearly 20 wins a season over his 20 years, with a 25 game regular season schedule.  Freeman has coached in a Falcon program that has played in five NCAA Frozen Four National Championships, 11 NCAA National Tournaments and 13 NCHA Peters Cup Tournaments. He was named the NCHA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003 and was the WIAC Coach of the Year in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

THE CONFERENCE:

• UW-Stout is a member of the six-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. Northland College joined the league this season.

LENDING AN ASSIST: Goalie Evan Bisek recorded an assist against Marian University, Nov. 2, 2019...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.
 
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: Trent Olson vs. St. Mary's University, Jan. 17, 2019
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: Evan Bisek vs. Marian University, Nov. 2, 2019
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. St. John's University (5-0), Nov. 16. 2019
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 last 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 The Blue Devils will be off for Christmas and return to action Friday, Jan. 10 at Bethel University at 7 p.m. and host Hamline University, Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.