Hockey Preview: Blue Devils open WIAC tourney at River Falls

at River Falls: Live Stats | Live Video

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (7-17-1, 6-9-0 WIAC) will travel to UW-River Falls (15-7-3, 7-6-2 WIAC) to meet the Falcons in the first round of the WIAC Championship, presented by Culver's, Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22. The Falcons are ranked 15th in the latest USCHO.com DIvision III poll.  The Falcons won two of the three regular season meetings over the Blue Devils and are coming off a season-ending 4-2 win over then second-ranked UW-Eau Claire.  

WIAC CHAMPIONSHIP, PRESENTED BY CULVER'S: UW-Stevens Point earned the first seed and UW-Eau Claire, which had been in first place most of the season, slipped to the second seed. The top two teams earned a first round bye.  Stout is the fifth seed and will travel to fourth-seeded UW-River Falls. UW-Superior earned the third seed and host sixth seed and newcomer to the league Northland College. 

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 THIS SEASON:

• Raphael Gosselin, Evan Butcher and Konnar Dechaine are the Blue Devils' scoring leaders, with Butcher leading the way with 18 points on four goals and a team-best 14 assists. Gosselin and Dechaine each have three power play goals. Goesselin has six total goals and nine assists. Dechaine has eight goals.Logan Nelson, who netted the game winner against UW-Superior Saturday, has a team-best nine goals. Dechaine has six assists and Nelson has three assists. Alex Nagel and Connor Chambers each have nine assists, with Nagel scoring four goals and Chambers three goals. Freshman Vladislav Sorokin has six goals, two on the power play for the season, and has two assists.
• Freshman goalie Brennan Kitchen posted his second shutout of the season with a 1-0 win over UW-Superior, recording 31 saves. For the season, Kitchen has a save percentage of .907 with a GAA of 3.14. He has a record of 6-9-1. 
• Kitchen had 55 saves in a shutout win over Northland College and the 55 saves 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 2.5 goals per contest and are giving up 3.8 goals. 
• In the net, Kitchen has played in 15 games and is 5-9-1 overall, with a saves percentage of .900 and a GAA of 3.37. He has played 837 minutes and has made 424 saves. Evan Bisek has played in seven games and has a saves percentage of .878 with a GAA of 3.72. Brady Meyers has played 223 minutes and has recorded 110 saves. 
• 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 13 power play goals against 81 opportunities (16.0 percent).
• The Blue Devils have allowed 12 power plays goal against 79 opportunities (84.8 percent). The Blue Devils are 20th  nationally in penalty kill.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blue Devils split the final two games of the regular season with UW-Superior, losing 3-2 in Menomonie, Feb. 13, then closing the regular season with a 1-0 win at Superior, Feb. 15.
•  In a back and forth matchup, UW-Superior came into town to face UW-Stout and the Yellowjackets scored with 5:03 left in the game to seal the win. Adam Kresl sandwiched a goal between two goals by the Yellowjackets and Kobe Keller knotted the game in the third period. But Jonny Pace got the game-winner with about five minutes left in the game.in a 3-2 decision.   | Game Story and Statistics
•  Brennan Kitchen made 35 saves and UW-Stout makes an early first period goal stand up and the Blue Devils closed out the regular season with 1-0 shutout in the 2019-20 regular season finale at Wessman Arena Feb. 15. The win gives Kitchen his second shutout of the season and send the Blue Devils into the WIAC Championship first round series on a positive note. Logan Nelson lit up the scoreboard with his ninth goal of the season at 3:41 of the first period with assists by Konnar Dechaine and Riley Jensen and the Blue Devil defense did an outstanding job to keep the 'Jackets off the board. | Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker (2019-20)

UW-Stout	Statistics	UW-River Falls	x	-
2.5	Goals/game	3.2	-	-
3.8	Goals Allowed	2.0	-	-
16.0 percent	Power Play %	33,3 percent	--	-
84.8 percent	Penalty Kill %	87.5 percent	-	-
2	Shutouts	3	-	-

SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS

• The Falcons are the fourth seed in the tournament. The Falcons ran off an eight game winning streak during the middle of the season and over the last four games they have gone 2-2. The Falcons lead the WIAC in power play goals, racking up 28 for a 1.12 power play goal/game average. Ryan Cusin and Cayden Cahill have each scored seven power play goals and Christian Hausinger has six. Hausinger leads the team in points with nine goals and 25 assists and has two hat tricks.. Cusin has 15 goals and 11 assists and 11 goals and six assists. Zach Quinn has worked 19 games and has a .930 save percentage to go along with a 1.93 goals against average. 
• Statistics

THE FALCONS LAST TIME OUT

• Just like the Blue Devils, The Falcons closed their season on the upswing, defeating UW-Eau Claire, 4-2, and dropping the Blugolds into the second spot of the tournament. The Blugolds handed the Falcons a 6-1 loss Feb. 14.   
•  It was not a sweetheard of a night at Hunt Arena for UW-River Falls as the Falcons fell to No. 2 UW-Eau Claire 6-1, Feb. 14. The Blugolds led off the first period with a goal at 2:12. They carried the lead into the second period. The Blugolds scored three more goals in the second period to take a 4-0 lead.  Cayden Cahill got the Falcons on the board at 16:18 in the second.  Assisting him on the goal was Nic Herringer and Christian Hausinger. Eau Claire scored a pair of goals in the third period securing the win with a score of 6-1. The Falcons had 22 shots on goal and were led by Cahill who had four shots and a goal.  Zach Quinn had a season high 36 saves in goal.  |  Game One Story and Stats
• UW-River Falls finished out the 2020 regular season with a huge 4-2 win over No. 2 UW-Eau Claire Saturday night at Hunt Arena. In a tight battle in the first period, it was the Falcons who struck first scoring a power play goal at 7:55.  Ryan Cusin scored his fourteenth goal of the season on the play. In the final minute of the period Charlie Singerhouse extended the Falcons lead to 2-0. The Blugolds answered back with a goal in the second period at 5:59 with a goal to get them within 1 goal. The Falcons again scored in the final minute of the period.  This time Ryan Cusin scored his second goal of the night on a pass from Josh Arnold.  The Falcons led 3-1 at the conclusion of two periods. The third period was a fight between the two teams.  Josh Arnold broke through to score the Falcons fourth goal at 16:29 on a rebound shot from Ryan Cusin. Twenty seconds later the Blugolds again cut the lead in half with a goal. The Falcons had 29 shots on goal and were led by Ryan Cusin who had seven shots and two goals. Zach Quinn stopped 32 of 34 shots he faced. | Game Two Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND RIVER FALLS MET THIS SEASON

• UW-Stout scored three unanswered goals to take a come-from-behind conference win Dec. 13 at UW-River Falls in Hunt Arena. The Blue Devils spotted the Falcons  a 1-0 lead on a first period goal by Max Doner 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. | Game Story and Statistics
• Stout was looking to win their third WIAC game in a row, but UW-River Falls scored three goals in the first eight minutes of the game to take a commanding lead. UW-Stout (3-8-1, 3-3-0) added a goal late in the second period and scored with 14:11 left to play in the game to make it a one goal game, but River Falls held them to no goals down the stretch to win 3-2. | Game Story and Statistics
• For the third and final time, the Blue Devils faced the Falcons of River Falls at the Fanetti Community Center. 21 penalties were called in the game and River Falls capitalized on two power play goals. The Falcons scored four goals in the second period to give River Falls the win 6-2.  | Game Story and Statistics

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);  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: Brennan Kitchen was selected as the WIAC hockey athlete of the week after stopping 55 shots in a 4-0 shutout over Northland College, Jan. 25. On the weekend, Kitchen had 88 total saves...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.

UW-STOUT COACH TERRY WATKINS

• The 2019-20 season marks Terry Watkins' (272-339-43) 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-RIVER FALLS' STEVE FREEMAN

• Into his 24th as the Falcons' head coach, Steve Freeman (403-227-60) 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 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: 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 7-2), Jan. 23, 2020
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. UW-Superior, Feb. 15, 2020 (1-0); 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. UW-Eau Claire (4-0), Feb. 1, 2020; 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 winner of the first round WIAC game will play at either No. 1 seeded UW-Stevens Point or No. 2 seeded UW-Eau Claire, Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Feb. 29.