Hockey Preview: Blue Devils and Blugolds clash this weekend in Eau Claire

at UW-Eau Claire Live Stats Friday | at UW-Eau Claire Live Stats Saturday | at UW-Eau Claire Live Video Friday | at UW-Eau Claire Live Video Saturday


THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (6-12-1, 5-4-0 WIAC) play a pair of conference games at third-ranked UW-Eau Claire (14-3-2, 6-2-1 WIAC), Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1. Both games are slated to get started at 7 p.m.

BLUE DEVILS LIVE:  Join the Blue Devils every second Thursday of the 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. The next broadcast is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13th at noon.

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:

• Konnar Dechaine had a streak of three games where he scored at least one goal for a total of four goals in the streak, jumping him to the top of the stat sheet with seven total goals and four assists for 11 points. Dechaine came into the season with two goals to his collegiate name. During his freshman season he scored two goals and three assists.
• Evan Butcher had a big weekend, collecting a total of six assists in the two wins over Northland College. Butcher had four assists in the 7-2 win Thursday and two assists in the 4-0 shutout. 
• Twelve different players scored at least one point over the two games against Northland College last weekend. Logan Nelson had three goals and two assists. Raphael Gosselin had two goals and two assists. Connor Chambers and Alex Nagel each had a goal and two assists. Alex Bowe had two goals. Adam Kresl had a goal and an assist. Jack Cernohous had two assists. Alec Skar had a goal. Noah Carson, Konnar Dechaine and Peter Verstegen each had an assist.
• But perhaps no one had a bigger weekend than freshman goalie Brennan Kitchen. The Utopia, Ontario, native had a nearly Utopian two games, Kitchen recorded two wins, including his first collegiate shutout, with wins of 7-2 and 4-0 over Northland College last week. Kitchen recorded 55 saves in the 4-0 win over the Lumberjacks, Jan. 25, in Ashland. Kitchen notched 33 saves in 7-2 win, Jan. 23 in Menomonie. Over the two games, Kitchen recorded 88 total saves, allowing two goals with a saves percentage of .978 and a goals against average of 1.00, playing 120 minutes. Kitchen was selected as the UW-Stout Athlete of the Week and as the WIAC/Kwik Trip Athlete of the Week. 
• The 55 saves by Kitchen were the most saves since Corey Koop recorded more than 50 saves twice during the 2013-14 season. Koop had 51 saves against UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 20 2014, and 59 saves against UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 7, 2013. The shutout over Northland College was Stout's first since the Blue Devils blanked Marian University, 3-0, Nov. 17, 2018.  
• The Blue Devils are averaging 2.4 goals per contest and are giving up 3.8 goals. Raphael Gosselin, who scored the game-winner against Bethel Jan. 10 in overtime, has two goals and a team-best seven assists. Evan Butcher and Alex Nagel each two goals and five assists for seven points. Logan Nelson and Vladislav Sorokin each have five goals and one assist.  Adam Kresl has three goals and three assists. Alex Bowe has a goal with five assists and Kobe Keller has three assists with one goal. Lucas Carroll and Peter Verstegen each have two goals and three assists. Connor Chambers scored his first goal since his freshman year and now has a goal and four assists this season. Alex Stuckert has four assists.
• In net, the Blue Devils have been able to play all three of their goalies, and quite extensively over the last week. Each of the three received a start last in of the three games last week. Brennan Kitchen has seen action in 10 games and is 3-6-1, kicking out 251 shots for a saves percentage of .893 and a GAA of 3.19. Kitchen earned his first collegiate win, taking a 4-2 win over UW-Superior, Dec. 7. Evan Bisek is 1-5-0 with 316 minutes of work between the pipes. Bisek has a saves percentage of .893 and a GAA of 3.23. Brady Meyers has seen action in five games and has made 64 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 10 power play goals against 66 opportunities (15.2 percent).
• The Blue Devils have allowed nine power plays goal against 59 opportunities. (84.7 percent). The Blue Devils are tied for 22nd nationally in penalty kill.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blue Devils took a pair of wins over Northland College, winning 7-2 Jan. 23 and 4-0 Jan. 25.   
• UW-Stout started off with three goals in the first 12 minutes of the game, but Northland College answered back with two goals before the end of the first period to make it a 3-2 contest, but Stout scored the next four goals of the game to notch a 7-2 conference win over the Lumberjacks Thursday at the Fanetti Community Center. Alex Bowe had Stout's opening goal, and finished the game with the Blue Devils seventh goal of the night. Evan Butcher had four assists and Logan Nelson had two assists. | Game Story and Statistics
• Freshman goalie Brennan Kitchen recorded UW-Stout's first shutout of the season and the Blue Devils made it a three-game season sweep over Northland College in a 4-0 conference win Saturday. Kitchen had to work to get his first collegiate shutout, stopping all 55 shots - a career-high - that came his way. Kitchen set the tone early, stopping 19 shots in the first period and 23 in the second stanza. The Blue Devils (6-12-1, 5-4-0 WIAC) scored a goal in each of the first two periods, then doubled the score with two goals in the third period. Logan Nelson scored two goals in a single game for the third time this season, scoring Stout's first two goals – at 11:01 of the first and at 10:15 of the second. Nelson was assisted in the first period by Evan Butcher and was assisted in the second period by Butcher and Alex Nagel. Stout scored two power play goals in the third period, opening up the scoring at 5:06 in the third period by Raphael Gosselin, assisted by Nagel and Connor Chambers. Gosselin assisted on Stout's final goal of the night by Chambers. Adam Kresl also assisted. | Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker (2019-20)

UW-Stout	Statistics	UW-Eau Claire	x	-
2.68	Goals/game	3.53	-	-
3.53	Goals Allowed	1.63	-	-
15.2 percent	Power Play %	11.9 percent	--	-
84.7 percent	Penalty Kill %	87.0 percent	-	-
1	Shutouts	4	-	-

SCOUTING UW-EAU CLAIRE

• The Blugolds are led by Jake Bresser who leads the team in goals with 12 and points with 21. Bresser also ties for the lead in goals in the WIAC. Jon Richards leads the team in assists with 12 and also has seven goals to give Richards 19 points. Adam Parsells has six goals and 11 assists and also has two power play goals. The Blugolds have six players with double digit points to lead a high powered offense. But Eau Claire has won a lot of games due to their defense and goaltending. Zach Dyment has 11 wins on the year, a 1.45 goal against average, and a .938 save percentage. Dyment leads the WIAC in goal against average, wins, and shutouts with four. 
• Blugold Stats

THE BLUGOLDS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blugolds swept UW-Superior last week in a pair of games, both by two goals. Eau Claire doubled up the Yellowjackets, Jan. 24, then posted a shutout, 2-0, Jan. 25.
• #4 UW-Eau Claire continued WIAC play on Friday as they hosted #10 UW-Superior in the first game of a two-part weekend series. After scoring in under a minute to start the game, the Blugolds would play a complete game in a 4-2 victory.  |  Game One Story and Stats
• The Blugolds wrapped up their weekend series on Saturday against UW-Superior. With heavy pressure and consisten special teams play all game, the Blugolds would come away with the 2-0 win.  |  Game Two Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE LAST MET

• The Blugolds took a 4-1 score when the teams met Nov. 23 in Menomonie. After a turnover in the Blue Devil's own zone in the first period, Eau Claire's Derek Hammer scored from a shot from the slot to take the lead. Steen Cooper had the assist on the goal. A back and forth period saw the Blugolds going into the first intermission up 1-0, but with 40 seconds left in the period, Kobe Keller beat Eau Claire's Dyment to tie the game up. Evan Butcher had the assist on the tying goal. At 16:03 of the second period, the Blugold's Jake Bresser scored his fifth goal of the season to take the lead 2-1. Going into the third period, the Blue Devils were trying to fight back to even the score up, but with 14:46 left in the game, Jon Richards and the Blugolds took a 3-1 lead. With 9:20 left in the game, Eau Claire's Jon Richards scored his second goal of the night and the Blue Devils were down three goals. | 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, 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.

2019-20 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Brennan Kitchen, Fr, Utopia, Ontario (Athens District);  Konnar Dechaine, Jr, Lac La Biche, Alberta (JA Williams); Logan Nelson, So, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville)

HONORS AND AWARDS

• .2019-20: After scoring three goals and an assist over the weekend against Bethel University and Hamline University, Konnar Dechaine was selected as the UW-Stout athlete of the week, Jan. 13…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...
• 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' (271-334-43) 24th 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 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-EAU CLAIRE'S MATT LOEN

• Matt Loen is in his 13th season as head coach for the men's ice hockey team in 2019-20 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Last season Loen led the Blugolds to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament championship. In 2017-2018, he 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. Loen ranks 6th on the all-time WIAC Coaches Wins List. He has also been named NCHA Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2013. Loen is the school's all-time leader in wins with an overall record 190-117-27.

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: 55, Brennan Kitchen vs. Northland College, Jan. 25, 2020; 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. Northland College, Jan. 25, 2020 (4-0); 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

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils host defending national champion UW-Stevens Point Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8.