Posted: Feb 12, 2016
By Justin Dade, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The No. 8 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team returned home to conference play after their weekend trip out west and won in convincing fashion on Friday night at Hobbs Ice Arena over UW-Superior.
The Blugolds conference record will now improve to 4-2-1 after getting back into the win column behind a hat trick from thier leading goal scorer Adam Knochenmus (Jr. – Roseau, MN) and a four assist evening from Patrick Moore (Jr. – Grand Rapids, MN).
The first period began with a very quick pace that led to the Yellowjackets first goal scored by Jordan Neduzak 2:26 in on a 2-on-1 breakaway opportunity to give UW-Superior the quick 1-0 lead.
The Blugolds wouldn't take long to settle in however, as they began to pile on scoring chances that eventually led to Knochenmus' first goal of the evening just over three minutes later as he cleaned up a rebound in the slot assisted by Garret Clemment (Jr. – Wausau, WI) and Moore.
After a Yellowjacket penalty, the Blugolds added another this time on the power play with 6:18 left to play in the first period on a blistering wrist shot from Clemment assisted by Moore and senior captain Jeffrey Pauluk (Sr. – Bloomington, MN).
After one period of play, the Blugolds dominated in the face-off circle leading 14-6.
It took over 12 minutes for someone to break through in the second period, but Knochenmus added to the Blugold lead on his second goal of the evening assisted by Moore and Lucas Kohls (So. – Forest Lake, MN) to make it 3-1.
Colton Wolter (So. – Fairbanks, AK) made it 4-1 on a shorthanded goal with 4:51 left in the second period assisted by his own brother Jacob Wolter (So. - Fairbanks, AK). Wolter's goal was his first of the season.
Jake Hopfner added yet another Blugold goal just under three minutes later on the power play assisted by Preston Hodge (Jr. – Normal, IL) and Todd Koritzinsky (So. – Verona, WI) to extend the lead to 5-1.
The Yellowjackets would close the gap to 5-2 on a goal from Anton Svensson with 1:28 remaining in the second period.
UW-Eau Claire would add four more goals in the final period from Knochenmus, David Henry (Jr. – Foster City, CA), Jesse Tredinnick (So. – Onalaska, WI), and J. Wolter to earn the impressive 9-2 victory.
Senior goaltender Tyler Green (Sr. – Noblesville, IN) contributed yet another strong outing saving 27 of the 29 Yellowjacket shots on goal. With this win, Green will strike double-digit wins for the year with a season record of 10-4-2.
The Blugolds (14-5-5, 4-2-1 WIAC) will look to use this conference win as momentum as they step away from Hobbs Ice Arena for their final conference matchup with No. 3 UW-Stevens Point tomorrow night in a huge game for determining conference playoff seeding. The puck will drop at 7 p.m. at KB Willett Ice Arena.