Hockey Preview: Stout opens season by hosting Bethel, Concordia-Wisconsin this weekend

Live Stats | Watch vs. Bethel | Watch vs. Concordia | Digital Game Day Program

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: After a 10-game season in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UW-Stout  (0-0-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) will open a full 2021-22 season by hosting Bethel University (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MIAC) Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. and Concordia-Wisconsin (0-0-0, 0-0-0 NCHA) Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.   

2021-22 Blue Devil Hockey Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 23 - at St. Mary's University (exh), L 3-2, ot
Friday, Oct. 29 - Bethel University, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 30 - Concordia-Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 5 - at St. Scholastica, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6 - at Gustavus Adolphus, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 12 - Augsburg University, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13 - St. John's University, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 18 - at Northland College, 7 p.m. 
Saturday, Nov. 20 - at UW-Eau Claire, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 3 - UW-Stevens Point, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 4 - UW-Superior, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10 - UW-River Falls, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 11 - at UW-River Falls, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 7 - at Bethel University, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 8 - at Hamline University, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 11 - at UW-River Falls, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 14 - St. Mary's University, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 15 - St. Olaf College, 7 pm.
Thursday, Jan. 20 - Northland College, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 22 - at Northland College, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 28 - UW-Eau Claire, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 29 - UW-Eau Claire, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 4 - at UW-Stevens Point, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 5 - at UW-Stevens Point, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11 - at UW-Superior, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 12 - UW-Superior, 7 p.m.


WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games are scheduled to be broadcast in a live video stream. Live Stats will also be available for home games.

A LOOK AT THE BLUE DEVILS:

• The Blue Devils finished the abbreviated 2020-21 season at 4-7 overall. The Blue Devils averaged 2.75 goals per game and gave up 3.6 goals. Stout is 6-29 (20.9 percent) on the power play and 7-27 (74.1) on the penalty kill. 
• The Blue Devils return their top seven scorers and nine of their top 10 scorers from last season. 
• Raphael Gosselin returns as the team's leading scorer from last season, leads the team in points, posting four goals and seven assists for 11 points.
• Kobe Keller led Stout in goals scored with five, of which two were power play goals, and added a pair of assists. Logan Nelson, a three-time all-WIAC honorable mention pick, returns after scoring four goals and three assists. Matt Dahlseide and Peter Verstegan each scored two goals and four assists. Defenseman Joey Petronack had a goal and five assists as a freshman, earning honorable mention honors. Alex Nagel was just behind Gosselin in assists, dishing off six. Alex Stuckert had a goal and three assists, while Brandon Connett had two goals, both power play goals, and an assist during his freshman season.
• Twenty different players scored at least one point last season.
• The Blue Devils return two all-conference goalies in Brennan Kitchen and Zack Cloutier. Kitchen earned honorable mention honors in 2019-20 and Cloutier earned first team honors last season when he set a single season record for goals against average (GAA) with a 1.63 mark. Tyler Masternak joins the Blue Devils' goalie crew that also includes returners Brady Meyers and Marco Zink.
• Stout returns five players who have earned All-WIAC honors at least once throughout their career. Senior forward Logan Nelson has been selected WIAC honorable mention all three years. Junior goalie Brennan Kitchen was a honorable mention pick in 2019-20. Senior forward Raphael Gosselin earned first team honors last season, as did sophomore goalie Zach Cloutier. Sophomore defenseman Joey Petronack was an honorable mention selection last spring.
• The Blue Devils have seven seniors, eight juniors, eight sophomores and 11 freshmen on their 2021-22 roster.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• The Blue Devils played an exhibition game at Saint Mary's University, Oct. 23, falling to the Cardinals, 3-2, in overtime.UW-Stout lost 3-2 in overtime at Saint Mary's University in a season-opening exhibition contest Saturday. The Cardinals' Tyson Liverance delivered the game-winning goal at 1:55 in the overtime period. After a scoreless first period, Stout got on the board nine seconds into the second period when Riley Enderle scored, on assists by Brandon Connett and Cole Beckstead.  Saint Mary's tied the game at 10:58 on a goal by Nick Kiemel, then took the lead on a goal by Brady Lindauer at 16:41. The Blue Devils tied the score when Dylan Rallis scored at 4:59 of the third period, with an assist by Joey Petronack. 
• Last season, the Blue Devils lost 2-1 in the in the first round of the WIAC Championship at UW-Superior, March 8.  

SCOUTING BETHEL UNIVERSITY

• Due to COVID-19 protocols, Bethel University played eight games in the 2020-21 season. The Royals went 2-6, losing all four of their conference games.
• Returning for the Royals are last year's leading scorers Dylan Giorgio and Jarrett Cammarata. Giorgio had five goals and three assists for a total of eight points, Cammarata had three goals and five assists for a total of eight points.
• Ridge Gerads returns for the Royals in net after playing in six (starting four of those) games in the 2021-21 season. Gerads had a save average of .899, allowing 18 goals in his six games. Sam Metclaff and Travis Allen each started a game. Metclaff had an .863 save percentage and Allen .831.
• Statistics

• Bethel played two exhibition games this season against WIAC foes, facing UW-River Falls on Oct. 22 and UW-Superior on Oct. 23

WHEN STOUT AND BETHEL LAST MET

• The Blue Devils hold a 7-5-0 lead in the series since Stout returned to varsity status in 1996.
• The Blue Devils scored a 3-2 overtime win over the Royals in St. Paul, Minn., when the teams last met Jan. 10, 2020. Adam Kresl scored late in regulation to push the game into overtime and Raphael Gosselin recorded the game-winning-goal midway through the overtime period to lift UW-Stout to a 3-2 overtime win over Bethel University Friday. Stout did not lead in the game until Gosselin scored the game winner two minutes into the overtime period. The Royals opened the game with a breakaway goal in the first period, then added a goal in the second period to take a 2-0 lead.  The Blue Devils scored two goals in the third period and advanced to only their second overtime game of the season.   | Game Story and Statistics

SCOUTING CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY-WISCONSIN

• Concordia-Wisconsin played 21 games in the 2020-21 season, finishing 9-12, 6-2 within their conference which landed them first place within the NCHA conference.
• The Falcons are returning their three top scorers, Braydon Barker, Nick Guiney, and Cole Pickup. Defensemen Barker led the team in scoring with one goal and 25 assists for a total of 26 points. Guiney and Pickup each had 25 points, Guiney had 13 goals and 12 assits, Pickup had eight goals and seventeen assists.
• The Falcon's goalkeeper Bo Didur, who played in 14 games last year (starting 10 of those), returns for the 2021-22 season. Didur allowed 49 goals, giving him a .897 save percentage. Freshman Liam McGarva also played some time in goal last year, playing in a total of nine games (starting in four). McGarva allowed 21 goals in his nine games giving him a .924 save percentage.
• The Falcons were picked seventh in a preseason poll conducted by NCHA coaches. 
• Statistics

• The Falcons played an exhibition game against MSOE on Oct. 23, before starting their regular season with a road game at St. Scholastica on Oct. 29 before coming to Stout

WHEN STOUT AND CONCORDIA-WIS LAST MET

• The Blue Devils hold a 5-3-1 lead in the series since Stout returned to varsity status in 1996.
• The last time these two played each other was Dec. 16, 2017, where they ended the game tied four goals each.
•  UW-Stout and Concordia University Wisconsin played extra hockey on Saturday at the Fanetti Community Center, but the game ended in a 4-4 tie. With 8:44 to go in the third period, Stout would get a goal taken away. The call was goalie interference and the scored remained 4-3 in favor of the Blue Devils. With 3:18 left to go in the game, the Blue Devils killed off another penalty and saw the finish line. But CUW did not back down, as the Falcons had an extra attacker on the ice with a minute left to go. CUW's  Dante Hahn slid a goal passed Ahlgren to tie up the game with just 18 seconds to go in the third period. In overtime, both teams would have chances to score, but ultimately ended in a draw. CUW outshot the Blue Devils 29-25.| Game Story and Statistics

USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL:
The 2021-22 poll is expect to be released weekly starting 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: Raphael Gosselin is the captain for the 2021-22 season with Alex Nagel, Logan Nelson, and Alec Skar are serving as assistant captains.


UW-STOUT COACH MIKE MACDONALD

• The 2021-22 season marks Mike MacDonald's (4-7-0) second season as the Blue Devils' head coach. (began the 2021-22 season at 4-7-0)
• Before coming to Stout, MacDonald coached four seasons at Curry College, near Boston, Mass. Prior to joining Curry, he spent a year as an assistant coach at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. 
• MacDonald graduated from the SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Business Administration in 2007. During his time at Geneseo, the team posted a record of 67-33-11, winning the SUNYAC Championship in 2005 and 2006. Over his collegiate career, MacDonald appeared in 109 games and is among the school's all-time leaders in goals (61) and points (120).
• MacDonald played six seasons professionally. He began his professional career in the Central Hockey League, spending one season each with the Odessa Jackalopes and New Mexico Scorpions. The following four seasons he played primarily for the Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc. While there he served as the team's captain for three seasons. In 2010 he scored the game-winning goal to give Huntsville its first ever SPHL Championship. Over his career, MacDonald appeared in 338 professional games with 213 points on 84 goals and 129 assists.
• MacDonald is a native of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

BETHEL'S CHRIS MCKELVIE
Chris McKelvie enters his fourth season at the helm of the Bethel men's hockey program after being hired in April of 2018. Previously McKelvie served for two seasons at NCAA DI Army West Point as an assistant coach after a seven year professional playing career.
• Became the ninth head coach in the 40 year history of the program
• In 2019-20, best MIAC winning percentage (.500) in 2019 since the 2009-10 season
• In 2019-20, best overall winning percentage (.360) since 2011-12.
• Goaltender Ridge Gerads ranked 14th in the nation and second in the MIAC with a .934 save percentage in nine contests during 2018-19.
• Netminder Joe Sheppard tallied a season-record .922 save percentage in 12 games

CONCORDIA'S BILL HORTON
Bill Horton is in his second season as the head coach of the CUW men's ice hockey program. William "Bill" Horton was promoted to Concordia Wisconsin's Men's Hockey interim head coach on March 31, 2020, after two seasons as an assistant coach. In his first season, the Falcons clinched the NCHA North Division title for the first time in program history. For two seasons, Bill was the AAA Youth Hockey Director for the Utica Comets (AHL) in New York. Horton oversaw every aspect of the program from fitness, to player development and coaching. Before working for the Comets, Horton served as the Director of Scouting for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 2013-2017. While working for the Cougars, Bill owned and operated 'Primary Assistant Hockey Coach' a hockey training company in St. Paul, Minnesota. At Primary Assistant, Horton worked on and off the ice with Minnesota-based WHL players, Minnesota high school other junior teams, NCAA and professionals. Horton played junior hockey in Canada between Ontario and Quebec, playing in the 2006 Royal Bank Cup Championship. In 2008, signed with the Flint Generals of the IHL and also played professionally in Finland and the Netherlands.

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 last 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: 5 vs. UW-River Falls, Feb. 3, 2021; 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. Northland College, Feb. 10, 2021 (1-0); 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

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 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 will be at St. Scholastica, Friday, Nov. 5 and at Gustavus Adolphus College, Saturday, Nov. 6.