EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team will kick off the 2010-11 season Saturday (Oct. 30) against Lawrence University at Hobbs Ice Center at 7 p.m.

There are 28 Blugolds on this year's squad, 15 returning letterwinners and 13 newcomers. This year's roster includes three seniors, six juniors, nine sophomores and 10 freshmen. The returners accounted for 42 of the Blugolds' 69 goals last season (61 percent).

Among the returners is Isaiah Bennis (So.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial), who led the Blugolds with 11 goals a season ago. He finished off the year with 16 points and was the team's leader in power-play goals with four.

Jordan Singer (So.-Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) is also back. He accumulated 15 points with six goals and nine assists last year, while he led the Blugolds with two game-winning goals.

Tyler Romasco (Jr.-Perry, Ohio) is the other returner who recorded more than 10 points as he finished 2009-10 with 12 (four goals, eight assists). Romasco recorded three power-play goals.

Two players who have experience in-goal are also back. Brandon Stephenson (So.-Saline, Mich.) played 15 games between the pipes while Scott Pederson (Jr.-Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake) competed in two games in-goal. Stephenson played more than 815 minutes and finished with a .906 save-percentage.

The Blugolds will be at home 12 times this season. After Saturday, the next time Eau Claire will play at Hobbs is November 19-20. The Blugolds will follow with a five-game home stand between December 4 and January 8, along with a four-game home stand between January 29 and February 11.