By Nick Hoven, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team started Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup playoff hockey on Friday evening. The Blugolds, being the #2 seed, hosted the UW-Superior Yellowjackets in game 1 of the semifinals. With high intensity and physical play, Eau Claire would fall to Superior, 2-0.
A pivotal moment as the 1st period ended sparked a fire within both teams, as ejections and 10-minute misconducts were handed out to both sides. Eau Claire would lose two prominent defenseman for more than half a period, but stayed strong.
The Blugolds yet again outshot their opponents, but the 51 shots they rattled off would not be enough to get past the Yellowjacket goalie, Oscar Svensson. Despite outshooting the opposition, the Blugold special teams would struggle. The powerplay went 0 for 4 and the penalty-kill gave up the first tally of the game.
Zach Dyment (So. – Abbotsford, BC/Yale Secondary) stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced in the loss.
The Blugolds will return to Hobbs Ice Arena tomorrow Saturday night for game two of the WIAC Commissioner's Cup semifinals as they look to get back on track and even things up with UW-Superior. The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.