MENOMONIE (December 5, 2009) – UW-Stout scored the first two goals of the game, but UW-Eau Claire answered back with two of their own and the teams played to a 2-2 overtime tie Saturday at the Dunn County Ice Arena.

The Blue Devils (4-5-3, 2-3-3 NCHA, 2-1-1 WIAC) scored two goals in the first seven minutes of the game. Branden Gay (Jr, Calgary, Sask) scored his first goal of the season 2-minutes, 53-seconds into the game, getting assists from Joe Beaudette (Fr, Blaine, Minn) and Danny Ryan (Jr, Niles, Ill).

Stout took a 2-0 lead at 6:55 of the first period on a Brandon Larson (Fr, New Richmond) goal, with assists by Scott Motz (Sr, Lake Elmo, Minn) and Joel Gaulrapp (Sr, Owatonna, Minn).

But the Blugolds (3-5-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3) cut the lead in half 26 seconds before the end of the first period on a goal by Nic Weight.

Eau Claire got the equalizer two minutes into the third period on a goal by Nicholas Kuquali.

Stout outshot Eau Claire in the first period, but the Blugolds turned the tables in the final two periods of the game and held a 39-32 lead in shots on net.

Stout will be at UW-River Falls, Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12.

(Courtesy of Layne Pitt, SID)

EAU CLAIRE (December 4, 2009) – UW-Eau Claire scored a goal in each period and went on to a 3-0 win over UW-Stout Friday at Hobbs Ice Arena.

The Blugolds (3-5-2, 1-2-2 NCHA) outshot the Blue Devils (4-5-2, 2-3-2) 39-24 for the entire game and carried a 28-9 advantage into the third period. In a typical Stout/Eau Claire match-up, the teams accounted for 17 penalties for 45 minutes. Stout was whistled nine times, Eau Claire eight times.

Nate Smith scored four minutes into the game for Eau Claire and Ross Janecyk scored three minutes into the second period. Nic Weight scored with less than five minutes left in the game to ice the Eau Claire win. All of the goals were even strength goals.

Eau Claire’s last win against Stout came on Dec. 5, 2003, breaking a 13 game winless streak versus the Blue Devils.

The teams will meet again Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Dunn County Ice Arena with the puck scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m.

EAU CLAIRE (December 4, 2009) – UW-Stout will look to get back on the winning track when they face UW-Eau Claire in a weekend series. Stout will be at Eau Claire, Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., then the two teams will be in Menomonie, Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Stout is coming off a pair of losses at the PrimeLink Northern Shootout last weekend in Northfield, Vt, losing, 9-1, to Norwich University and 7-3 to Middlebury College.

A highlight out of the weekend was that Derek Hanson (Sr, Bemidji, Minn) broke the school all-time scoring record. Hanson will be recognized for the feat at the Saturday game at the Dunn County Ice Arena.

Blue Devil Video will provide a live video stream both from Hobbs Ice Arena on Friday and again Saturday from the Dunn County Ice Arena. Matt Kaskavitch and Dan Walenski will provide the play-by-play and color commentary. Live Stats will be available for both games.

A pre-game tailgate will take place this afternoon at Buffalo Wild Wings at 5 p.m in Eau Claire.   The Buffalo Wild Wings is located across from the Oakwood Mall just off the Hwy53/94 interchange.

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (November 28, 2009) – Derek Hanson (Sr, Bemidji, Minn) scored a goal and an assist to become the all-time leading scorer in UW-Stout hockey history, but the Blue Devils lost a 7-3 decision to Middlebury College in the third place game of the PrimeLink Northern Shootout Saturday at Kreitzburg Arena.

Matthieu Dubuc and Martin Drolet each netted a pair of goals to help lift the ninth-ranked Middlebury College Panthers past No. 7 Stout.

The Panthers (2-1-1) got on the board less than six minutes into the first period when Charlie Townsend scored at the 5:58 mark.

Stout (4-4-2) knotted the score at 1-1 six minutes later when Hanson netted his fifth marker of the season at the 11:55 mark. The goal tied Hanson with Glenn LaChapelle as the all-time leading scorer with 128 points. LaChapelle played for Stout from 1970-73.

Middlebury reclaimed its lead just 10 seconds later when Dubuc scored his first goal of the game. The Panthers extended their advantage to 3-1 at 14:09 of the first period when Dubuc struck again.

The Blue Devils refused to quit, though, scoring a pair of power play goals late in the opening stanza to knot the score at 3-3 after 20 minutes. Joel Gaulrapp (Sr, Owatonna, Minn) and Andy Sternberg (Sr, Duluth, Minn) accounted for the tallies, which gave the Blue Devils some much-needed momentum heading into the second period. Hanson assisted on Sternberg’s goal to become Stout’s leading scorer.

Middlebury completed dominated the second period, outshooting Stout 14-3. The Panthers were only able to get one of their shots past Blue Devils’ GK Tom Lescovich (Fr, Clifton Park, NY), though, as Ken Suchowski lit the lamp at the 11:32 mark. The goal ended up being the game-winning tally.

The Panthers added three more goals in the third to account for the final margin. Drolet scored a pair early in the frame, while Charles Nerbak capped the scoring with just 34 seconds remaining.

Middlebury GK Max Kennedy (1-0-0) stopped 23 shots to earn the win in his first career start. Lescovich (4-4-2) made 31 saves for Stout.

The Panthers outshot the Blue Devils 38-26 in the contest.

Stout returns to NCHA action Friday, Dec. 4 when they are at UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m. The Blugolds come to Menomonie, Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

###  Courtesy of Layne Pitt