No. 10 UW-Stout erased an early deficit and held off a furious late push from rival UW-River Falls to claim a 5–4 victory Saturday night at the Fanetti Community Center, completing a perfect 4-0 season against the Falcons and securing the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008-09.
The victory caps a historic season for the Blue Devils (21-5-1), who won the WIAC regular season title outright and advanced to the conference championship game for the first time before capturing the program's first conference tournament crown since winning the NCHA title in 2008-09. The win also marks Stout's first 20-win season since that same 2008-09 campaign that ended with a run to the NCAA Frozen Four.
River Falls (14-12-1) struck first midway through the opening period. At 11:48 of the first, Cole Teleki fired a shot from the point through traffic that beat a screened Sebastian Monaco to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
Stout responded quickly once the second period began. With a carryover power play, the Blue Devils tied the game at 1:12 of the second. Hayden Stocks stepped into the slot and fired a shot that was initially stopped, Arhip Sidarovich followed with another attempt that was denied, and Nicolas Pigeon finally buried the rebound to knot the game at 1-1.
Just 15 seconds later (1:27), Stout seized the momentum. Kullan Daikawa and Noah Tyrrell broke in on a two-on-one, where Daikawa feathered a pass across the crease that Tyrrell tapped home to give the Blue Devils their first lead at 2-1.
Stout continued to press late in the period and added another key goal in the final minute. At 19:07 of the second, Felix Cadieux-Fredette sent a shot from the point that William Schofield redirected on goal, and Sidarovich pounced on the rebound to extend the advantage to 3-1 heading into the intermission.
The Blue Devils carried the momentum into the third. At 2:47 of the third, Daikawa again created the offense, feeding Nicholas Stevens, who finished the play to push the lead to 4-1.
Stout added what proved to be the game-winning goal midway through the period. After winning an offensive-zone faceoff, Daikawa tipped a point shot from Tyler Pfister past the goaltender at 12:44, giving the Blue Devils a 5-1 cushion.
River Falls refused to go quietly. The Falcons scored at 14:14 and again at 15:46 to trim the deficit to two before pulling their goaltender late. WIAC Player of the Year Keenan Ingram made it a one-goal game with an extra-attacker goal at 18:15, setting up a tense final two minutes.
Monaco and the Blue Devils' defense held firm down the stretch, denying several late chances to secure the historic championship win.
By The Numbers
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21 – Wins for UW-Stout this season, the program's first 20-win campaign since 2008-09.
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4-0 – Stout's record against rival UW-River Falls this season.
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5 – Different Blue Devils scored in the championship game: Nicolas Pigeon, Noah Tyrrell, Arhip Sidarovich, Nicholas Stevens, and Kullan Daikawa.
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3 points – Daikawa led Stout with a goal and two assists.
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24 saves – Sebastian Monaco stopped 24 shots to earn the championship victory in net.
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1 – The first WIAC Tournament championship and first WIAC title game appearance in program history for the Blue Devils.
Up Next
UW-Stout will await its NCAA Tournament opponent, which will be revealed during the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Selection Show on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. The Blue Devils will be making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2008-09 season.
