Men’s Hockey Storms Past Stout

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team, ranked sixth by d3hockey.com and 12th by USCHO.com, scored at least one goal in all three periods to defeat rival UW-Stout 5-3 here tonight at Hobbs Ice Center.

Box Score | Coach Loen Video

The Blugolds improve to 12-4-2 overall and 4-1-0 in the WIAC while the Blue Devils fall to 7-10-1 overall and 2-3-0 in conference play.  Eau Claire has won seven of its last nine games against the Blue Devils.  This season the Blugolds are 9-0 when they score four or more goals in a game.  The win also marks the fifth consecutive victory for the Blugolds at Hobbs Ice Center. 

In conference play the Blugolds remain tied for second place in the WIAC with eight points along with River Falls and are just two points behind conference-leading Stevens Point.

The Blugold power play was a big factor once again as Brandon Wahlin (So.-White Bear Lake, MN) scored his fifth power play goal of the year at 13:12 of the first period assisted by Preston Hodge (So.-Normal, IL/Oregon) giving Eau Claire a 1-0 lead.

Tied 1-1 at the start of the second period Ethan Nauman (Jr.-Mosinee, WI) scored the Blugolds' second power play of the evening at 1:31 assisted by Hodge and Jeff Pauluk (Jr.-Bloomington, MN/Jefferson) to regain the lead at 2-1. 

After the Blugolds tied the game at 2-2 Jacob Wolter (Fr.-Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop) scored his first goal of the season at 5:46 of the second period assisted by David Henry (So.-Foster City, CA/Junipero Serra) putting the Blugolds back on top at 3-2.

Stout answered with another goal at 8:23 of the second period tying the game at 3-3 but Nauman scored his second goal of the evening at 16:25 of the second period assisted by Hodge and Wahlin putting the Blugolds back in front at 4-3.

Jason Eddy (So.-Woodbury, MN) added an insurance goal at 13:34 of the third period assisted by Hodge and T.J. Stuntz (Fr.-Austin, TX/Round Rock) giving Eau Claire a two-goal lead at 5-3.

Hodge scored four points, all assists, on the night while Nauman scored two goals while Wahlin added a goal and an assist.  The game-winning goal for Nauman was his team-leading fifth this season.  Hodge doubled his assists total for the season with his four-assist performance.

Goalie Tyler Green (Jr.-Noblesville, IN) played 31:37 of shutout hockey to earn the win.  His season record now stands at 7-2-1.

Eau Claire outshot Stout 38-29.  The Blugolds were two-for-nine on power play chances while the Blue Devils were one-for-three.  Eau Claire was whistled for six minor infractions totaling 12 penalty minutes while Stout was called for 11 penalties for 22 minutes.

Both teams return to Hobbs Ice Center tomorrow night.  Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m.

-KCM-