MENOMONIE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The 12th-ranked UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team scored the first five goals of the game including three goals in the first period to pull away from UW-Stout 5-1 here tonight at the Fanetti Community Center.
The Blugolds improve to 16-6-2 overall and 8-3-0 in the WIAC while the Blue Devils fall to 8-15-1 overall and 3-8-0 in conference play. Eau Claire was won eight of the last 11 meetings between both schools. The Blugolds are 14-0 this season when they score four or more goals in a game.
Eau Claire has secured a winning season for the fifth consecutive year. Prior to the current streak the longest run of winning seasons was two achieved twice from 1982-84 and 1988-90.
With the win Eau Claire ties UW-Stevens Point for first place in the WIAC with 16 points while UW-River Falls sits in third place with 14 points. The top three teams all face-off this weekend as River Falls host Stevens Point tomorrow in Hunt Arena and Eau Claire welcomes the Falcons to Hobbs Ice Center on Saturday. The Blugolds defeated the Falcons twice at Hunt Arena and hold the tiebreaker advantage on River Falls. Stevens Point holds the tiebreaker on Eau Claire winning two of three games this season. Stout will host Superior next Tuesday, February 24 with the winner advancing to the WIAC Tournament Semifinals on Friday, February 27 at a site to be determined.
Eau Claire needed just 68 seconds to get on the scoreboard when Jake Hopfner (Fr.-Eastpointe, MI/Warren Woods Tower) scored his fifth goal of the season assisted by Adam Knochenmus (So.-Roseau, MN) and Jack Callahan (Sr.-Red Bank, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) running out to a 1-0 lead.
Knochenmus scored the Blugolds' second goal of the first period at 15:38 assisted by Hopfner and Ethan Nauman (Jr.-Mosinee, WI) extending the lead to 2-0. The goal was Knochenmus' fifth of the season and third in his last five games.
Nauman knocked in the third Blugold goal of the period at 19:55 coming off a power play assisted by Hopfner and Jeff Pauluk (Jr.-Bloomington, MN/Jefferson) closing out the first period with a 3-0 Eau Claire lead. The goal marked Nauman's fifth power play goal of the season.
The Blugolds extended their lead to 4-0 when Todd Koritzinsky (Fr.- Verona, WI/Middleton) scored his fifth goal of the season at 13:38 assisted by Colton Wolter (Fr.-Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop) and Mac Jansen (Fr.-White Bear Lake, MN).
Callahan scored his fourth goal of the season at 3:11 of the third period assisted by Jansen and Patrick Moore (So.-Grand Rapids, MN) giving Eau Claire a 5-0 lead. Stout scored their only goal of the game at 5:24 of the third period but Eau Claire shut down the Blue Devils the remainder of the game preserving the 5-1 victory.
Hopfner ended the evening with a goal and two assists, all scored in the first period. Callahan, Knochenmus and Nauman each added a goal and an assist.
Goalie Jay Deo (So.-Langley, BC) saved 26 shots fired between the pipes to earn the win. His season record now stands at 7-3-1.
Eau Claire outshot Stout 38-27. The Blugolds converted two-of-five power play opportunities while the Blue Devils were held scoreless on four chances. Eau Claire served 10 penalty minutes on five minor infractions while Stout was whistled for six infractions totaling 12 penalty minutes.
The Blugolds host 7th-ranked River Falls in their regular season finale Saturday, February 21 at with major WIAC playoff implications on the line. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center.
-KCM-
