Hockey Preview: Stout to host River Falls Friday, travel to River Falls Saturday

All Events | UW-River Falls Game: Watch | Live Stats |  at UW-River Falls Game: Watch | Live Stats 


THIS WEEK'S GAMES: UW-Stout (3-7-0, 3-1-0 WIAC) will play a home and away weekend with UW-River Falls (6-3-1, 2-2-0 WIAC), hosting the Falcons, Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. and going to River Falls, Saturday, Dec. 11 for a 7:05 p.m. start. The Blue Devils are in a three-way tie for first place in the WIAC, but River Falls is only one win back.

2021-22 Blue Devil Hockey Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 23 - at St. Mary's University (exh), L 3-2, ot
Friday, Oct. 29 - Bethel University, L 3-2, ot
Saturday, Oct. 30 - Concordia-Wisconsin, L 5-4
Friday, Nov. 5 - at St. Scholastica, L 4-1
Saturday, Nov. 6 - at Gustavus Adolphus, L 2-0
Friday, Nov. 12 - Augsburg University, L 3-0
Saturday, Nov. 13 - St. John's University, L 3-2, ot
Thursday, Nov. 18 - at Northland College, W 3-1
Saturday, Nov. 20 - at UW-Eau Claire, W 4-2
Friday, Dec. 3 - UW-Stevens Point, L 6-3
Saturday, Dec. 4 - UW-Superior, W 4-3
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 have picked up the pace since entering conference play. While their overall goals per game average is 2.3 goals per outing, in conference games, Stout is averaging 3.5 goals.
• Last year's leading scorer Raphael Gosselin has been moving up the Blue Devils stat sheet and is now tied with freshman Caleb Serre for most points with six. Gosselin has scoredt two goals and four assists. Serre has dished off six assists.
• Peyton Hart, Logan Nelson and Dylan Rallis have all scored three goals. Hart and Nelson have each added two assists, while Rallis has one assist.
• Cole Beckstead, Riley Enderle and Landon Lushanko have each added two goals.
• Stout has gotten power play goals from newcomers Matt Flodell and John Jebamani, as well as Gosselin, Peter Verstegen and Logan Nelson. Rallis has scored Stout's first shorthanded goal since the 2018-19 season.  
• Stout has five goalies this season and freshman Tyler Masternak appears to have the hot hand. Masternack figured into both decisions last weekend, coming out on the short end of a 6-3 loss to UW-Stevens Point to open the weekend, but came on in the first perod against UW-Superior with the Blue Devils trailing 3-0. Masternack kicked out 31 shots and did not allow a goal to earn the 4-3 win. Masternack is now 3-2-0 overall, with all of his wins coming in conference games. The freshman is posting a GAA of 2.54 with a saves percentage of .925 Brennan Kitchen has a GAA of 3.04 with a saves percentage of .888 and Zack Cloutier has a 4.10 GAA with a saves percentage of .895.
• 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 split a pair of league games last week, falling 6-3 to UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 3, but coming back for a 4-3 win over UW-Superior, Dec. 4.
• The Blue Devils scored two unanswered goals in the third period to down the Yellow Jackets of UW-Superior . UW-Stout earned their first home win of the season after winning tonights contest 4-3. Tyler Masternak came into the game at 13:24 of the first period and did not allow a goal. Alex Nagel scored in the third period to tie the game and Riley Enderle scored his second goal of the season for the game-winning goal.  | Game Story and Statistics
• UW-Stevens Point scored three goals in the first period and the Pointers kept adding to the score to take a 6-3 win in Menomonie, Dec. 3. Logan Nelson scored a power play goal in the first to make the score 2-1, but the Pointers left the period with a goal for a 3-1 advantage. Stout pulled to with 3-2 with a goal by Peyton Hart in the second, but the Pointers scored three times in the third. | Game Story and Statistics

Game Stats Tracker

SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS

• The Falcons are receiving 14 votes in the most recent USCHO.com rankings.
• Alex Davis and Vilho Saariluoma lead the Falcons in total with seven, and both players have two goals and five assists.
• Cayden Cahill and Caleb Anderson each have three goals. Two of Anderson's goals came on the power play.  Cahill has three assists and Anderson two assists. Noah Roofe has four assists and two goals. 
• Dysen Skinner suffered his first loss of the season last Saturday and is posting a 5-1-0 record. Dysen has appeared in seven games and has a goals against average of 1.68 and a saves percentage of .924. Dean Buchholz has seen work in four games, with a 1-2-1 overall record, a GAA of 2.46 and a saves percentage of .892. 
• Statistics

• The split a pair of conference games last weekend, falling 2-1 to UW-Superior, Dec. 3, but coming back for a 4-3 win over UW-Eau Claire, Dec. 4. 
• The Falcons conceded two third period goals before sophomore defenseman Brock Draeger scored his first career goal. It was one goal short though as the Yellowjackets closed out the game fending off a Falcon comeback. After two scoreless periods, UWS opened the scoring at 7:56 of the third stanza, and added another few minutes later - the eventual game-winner. Draeger's first career goal came at 13:46, a wrist shot from the point. He was assisted by Peter Grytdahl and Alex Davis. Dysen Skinner suffered the loss in net, his first of the season. | Game Story and Stats
• River Falls rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat UW-Eau Claire 4-3 Saturday evening at Hunt Arena. Down 3-1 after two periods, the Falcons answered with a trio of goals in the third period, including two from freshman forward Valentino Passarelli to improve to 6-3-1 overall and 2-2 during WIAC play. | Game Story and Stats

WHEN STOUT AND RIVER FALLS LAST MET

• The teams split the two games last season, with both winning on their home ice. Stout won at the Fanetti, 5-1, Feb. 3, but the Falcons won at Hunt Arena, 4-1, two days later as WIAC sports started their seasons late due to the pandemic. River Falls holds a 6-3-1 advantage over the last 10 games, and the teams have split their last four games. River Falls holds an all-time advantage of 83-25-4.
• For the first time in 347 days, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, UW-Stout took the ice seeking to get new Blue Devils' head coach, Mike MacDonald first win. With 31 shots on net for the Blue Devils and two goals by Logan Nelson, Stout got their first WIAC win of the year against the Falcons, 5-1, Feb. 5, 2021.  |  Game Story and Statistics
• UW-River Falls scored three unanswered goals over the final two periods to hand UW-Stout their first loss of the season, a 4-1 decision at Hunt Arena Feb. 5, 2021. The teams played to a 1-1 tie after the first period, with the Falcons (1-1-0, 1-1-0 WIAC) scoring the opening goal, by Peter Grytdahl at the 8:45 mark. The Blue Devils' Alex Stuckert answered back just over two minutes later, gaining assists by Alex Nagel and Peter Verstegen.  The Falcons took the lead back five minutes into the second period on a goal by Joel Frazee. Christian Hausinger scored on the power play four minutes into the fourth period and Noah Roofe scored an empty net, shorthanded goal with just over a minute remaining to close out the scoring. Zack Cloutier, who had earned his first collegiate win the night before in a 5-1 win, picked up his first collegiate loss, turning away 35 shots. Dean Buchholz recorded 30 saves | Game Story and Statistics

USCHO.com TOP 15 DIVISION III POLL:

• The most recent poll was just released Dec. 6. UW-River Falls is receiving 14 votes. UW-Stevens Point is ranked 14th. 
• The last time the Blue Devils received votes was in the 2018-19 USCHO.com poll starting Nov. 18, but they 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 since.
• USCHO.com Division III Poll

TEAM CAPTAINS: Raphael Gosselin is the captain for the 2021-22 season. Alex Nagel, Logan Nelson, and Alec Skar are serving as assistant captains.

2021-22 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK:  Week Four: none...Week Three: Tyler Masternak, Fr, Oshawa, Ontario...Week Two: none...Week One: Logan Nelson, Sr, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville)

HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2021-22: Goalie Tyler Masternak was selected as the UW-Stout Athlete of the Week after picking up wins over Northland College and UW-Eau Claire in the conference openers.
• 2020-21: Goalie Zack Cloutier was selected as the Kwik Trip/WIAC Athlete of the Week and The Heights/UW-Stout Athlete of the Week. 
• 2019-20: Goalie Brennan Kitchen, defenseman Connor Chambers and forward Logan Nelson earned WIAC honorable mention honors. Lucas Carroll was selected to the all-sportsmanship team...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 MIKE MACDONALD

• The 2021-22 season marks Mike MacDonald's (7-14-0) second season as the Blue Devils' head coach.
• 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.

UW-RIVER FALLS COACH STEVE FREEMAN

• Steve Freeman enters his 26th season as the UW-River Falls men's hockey coach in 2021-22. He 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 14 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 13 of the past 16 seasons. In 2020, he secured his 400th career victory in the Falcons' 4-0 shutout of St. Mary's University January 19. He currently ranks first in the WIAC for wins.    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 394 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, 2016, and 2020.

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. UW-Eau Claire was picked to win the league title, according to a preseason poll conducted by conference coaches and sports information directors. UW-Stevens Point was chosen second, UW-River Falls third, UW-Superior fourth, UW-Stout fifth and Northland sixth. 

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: Dylan Rallis vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 5, 2021
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: Zach Cloutier vs. Concordia-Wis, Oct. 30, 2021
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 Zach Cloutier chalked up an assists against Concordia University-Wisconsin, Oct. 30, 2021...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


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

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.

UP NEXT:  Stout will break for the Christmas and winter holiday, returning to play at Bethel University, Friday, Jan. 7 and at Hamline University, Saturday, Jan. 8.