Hockey Preview: Blue Devils host Pointers Friday and Saturday

 Live Stats | Live Video | WIAC Weekly Notes

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (6-15-1, 5-7-0 WIAC) host defending national champion UW-Stevens Point (13-6-3, 7-2-3 WIAC), Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8. Both games are slated to begin at 7 p.m. The Pointers are currently ranked 13th in the latest USCHO.com Division III poll. The Blue Devils close the season playing three teams that are either ranked in the top 15 or receiving substantial votes. Tonight's game is sponsored by Edward Jones. Tonight is also Senior Night and the Blue Devils will recognize seniors Evan Bisek, Trent Olson, Connor Chambers and Adam Kresl.

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:

• Coming into the weekend, Raphael Gosselin, Evan Butcher and Konnar Dechaine were the Blue Devils' scoring leaders, with Gosselin and Butcher accounting for 14 points, but Butcher added Stout's only goal Friday night and now has 15 points. Gosselin and Dechaine each have three power play goals. Gosselin has five goals and nine assists, while Dechaine has eight goals, the same as Logan Nelson. Dechaine also has three power play goals and five assists. Butcher has four goals and a team-high 11 assists, getting four against Northland College in a 7-2 win. Nelson has eight goals and three assists. 
• Alex Nagel has three goals and nine assists, while Connor Chambers has three goals and eight assists. Adam Kresl has four goals and five assists. Alex Bowe has three goals an five assists. Valdislav Sorokin started the season off hot and has five goals and an assist. Alec Score, Peter Verstegen, Jack Cernohous and Alex Stuckert each have four assists. 
• Freshman goalie Brennan Kitchen had the biggest weekend of his collegiate career when the Blue Devils swept Northland College.  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 named the WIAC 
• 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 2.6 goals per contest and are giving up 3.6 goals. 
• In net, the Blue Devils have been able to play all three of their goalies.. Brennan 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 six games and has a saves percentage of .893 with a GAA of 3.23. Brady Meyers has played 169 minutes. and has recorded 83 saves. Meyers came on in relief Friday night. 
• 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 12 power play goals against 76  opportunities (15.8 percent).
• The Blue Devils have allowed 11 power plays goal against 68 opportunities. (83.8 percent). The Blue Devils are tied for 26th nationally in penalty kill.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

 

• UW-Stout scored the first goal of the evening, but UW-Stevens Point scored nine unanswered goals, three in each period to down the Blue Devils 9-1 Friday at the Fanetti Community Center. Evan Butcher scored Stout's goal 3-minutes, 47-seconds into the first period. The Pointers Jordan Faber scored in the sixth minute and again in the ninth minute to take the lead, then made it 3-1 on Brennen Miller's goal with just under three minutes left in the period. Miller added another goal in the third period. Stevens Point got additional goals from Kelly O'Brien, Jake Theis, Carter Roo, Colin Raver and Ryan MacKellar. Stout's Brennan Kitchen (14) and Brady Meyers (19) combined for 33 saves. The Pointers' Eli Billing had 18 saves and Ryan Wagner had five. | Game Story and Statistics
• The Blue Devils lost two games at UW-Eau Claire over the weekend, falling in overtime, 5-4, Jan. 31, and 4-0, Feb. 1.   
• UW-Stout took third-ranked UW-Eau Claire into overtime, but the Blugolds scored the game-winning goal with 1-minutes, 16-seconds left in the extra period to take a 5-4 win at Hobbs Ice Center Friday. The Blue Devils (6-13-1, 5-5-0 WIAC) scored three goals in the second period, but Eau Claire (15-3-2, 7-2-1 WIAC) made it a one-goal game heading into the break after Andrew McGlynn, with assists by Jake Bresser and Jon Richards, scored 75 seconds before the second intermission. Raphael Gosselin gave Stout a 4-3 lead with 6:44 left in the third period, on an assist by Noah Carson. The Blugolds tied the game with an extra attacker on the ice when Bresser scored his second goal of the night with 48 seconds left in regulation. Cole Paskus gave the Blugolds the win, with assists by Bresser and Adam Parsells.  | Game Story and Statistics
• UW-Eau Claire scored in every period, took advantage of a number of power play opportunities and defeated UW-Stout, 4-0, Saturday at Hobbs Ice Center.The third-ranked Blugolds' Andrew McGlynn scored twice, scoring the opening goal at 6:54 of the first period, then scored the final goal of the game on the power play at 14:36 of the final period. In the second period, Eau Claire got goals from Jon Richards and Nick Techel, with Techel's goal coming on the power play. The Blue Devils (6-14-1, 5-6-0 WIAC) were 0 for 5 on the power play, while the Blugolds (16-3-2, 8-2-1 WIAC) were 2 for 4. Eau Claire outshot Stout 34-16, with Brennan Kitchen recording 30 saves. Zach Dement had 16 saves for Eau Claire.. | Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker (2019-20)

UW-Stout	Statistics	UW-Stevens Point	x	-
2.5	Goals/game	3.9	-	-
3.9	Goals Allowed	2.6	-	-
15.8 percent	Power Play %	17.4 percent	--	-
83.8 percent	Penalty Kill %	81.0 percent	-	-
1	Shutouts	2	-	-

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT

• The Pointer's offense is led by Luke McElhenie who leads the team in goals with 13, to go along with 13 assists and points with 26. Carter Roo has seven goals and 15 assists. Zach Zech also has 12 goals and nine assists to go with 21 points. Zech also has five power play goals. Drew McLean leads the team with 16 assists and also has a goal on the season. The Pointers had seven players score goals last night and eight different players had at least one assist. Roo had four assists last night and Ryan MacKeller had three assists last night. Steven Quagliata and Kellen Tharoldson had two assists. . In net, Eli Billing is 13-6-2 and owns a 2.49 goal against average to go along with a .897 save percentage. 
• Statistics

THE POINTERS LAST TIME OUT

• The Pointers defeated UW-Superior 6-5 in overtime Jan. 30 and edged the Yellowjackets 3-2, Feb. 1. 
• Stevens Point squandered a three-goal lead late in the second, but Zach Zech scored his second of the game just 32 seconds into overtime to give UWSP a 6-5 win at No. 12 UW-Superior  |  Game One Story and Stats
• Stevens point didn't lead in the game until there was 16 seconds left in the third period in a 3-2 win over No. 12 UW-Superior.  The Pointers tallied two power-play goals in the final 1:11 of the game to win. | Game Two Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND STEVENS POINT MET IN DECEMBER

•  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 Dec. 6. The Pointers jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Stout scored two goals in a minute when Nelson and Konnar Dechaine scored to make it 3-2. The Pointers' Justin Faber scored with two minutes left in the second period for the Pointers. Kelly O'Brien stretched the score to 5-2 two minutes into the third period. Nelson made it a two goal game and pulled Stout to within striking range before the Pointers got an empty net goals. | 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);  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' (271-337-43) 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.
• 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-STEVENS POINT'S TYLER KRUEGER

• Tyler Krueger (73-12-8) is in his third year as the head coach of the UWSP men's hockey program in 2019-20. He holds a career record of 50-6-5, including a 14-0-2 record in WIAC games. In 2018-19, he guided the Pointers to the first unbeaten season in Division III history and the sixth national championship in program history. Krueger was honored with the Edward Jeremiah Award as National Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association and the USCHO.com National Coach of the Year. His 2018-19 Pointers set a program record with a 31-game unbeaten streak, had the highest winning percentage (.968) and allowed the fewest goals (46). He guided sophomore goaltender Connor Ryckman to the WIAC Player of the Year honor, one of two AHCA/CCM All-Americans (Tanner Karty). His Pointers went 8-0-0 in WIAC play and won the WIAC Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. 
   

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 close out the regular season by hosting UW-Superior, Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. and traveling to UW-Superior, Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.