EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team began their final regular season Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) weekend series on Friday as they hosted UW-Stout at Hobbs Ice Arena. Two first period goals for the Blugolds found riding a wave of momentum as they shutout the Blue Devils, 4-0.
Leo Bacallao (Fr. – Madison, Wis./Vel Phillips Memorial) got things started for Eau Claire just after the halfway mark of the opening period with a shot from the right going under the goalie's blocker to earn the 1-0 lead. Cade Lemmer (Fr. – Tomahawk, Wis./Wausau West) earned the lone assist on Bacallo's goal.
As the period ended, Willy Stauber (Jr. – Duluth, Minn./Marshall) extended the UWEC lead with 43 seconds remaining in the period with a slapshot from the right dot to make it 2-0. Kyle Oleksiuk (So. – Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Ty Readman (Sr. – Edmonton, Alberta/Vimy Ridge Academy) earned the helpers on Stauber's third goal of the year.
The middle frame was controlled by Eau Claire as they outshot the Blue Devils 13-10. Both sides saw one powerplay opportunity, but neither squad could convert on the man advantages. Quinn Green (Jr. – West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) found the only goal of the middle frame at the 6:26 mark with his team leading 12th goal of the year. Stauber and Ryan Green (Jr. – Muskego, Wis.) earned the assists on Eau Claire's third goal of the evening.
In the third period, both sides locked down their defenses as the offenses found only nine shots each. Ty Readman found his second goal of the year on a rebound out front for the final goal of the contest and a 4-0 Blugold win. Jack Johnston (Jr. – St. Paul, Minn./St. Paul Academy & Summit School) and Blake Kryska (Jr. – Grand Blanc, Mich.) both earned an assist on Readman's 12th career goal.
Max Gutjahr (Fr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped all 27 shots he faced to earn his second shutout and 14th win of the season. Gutjahr improves to 14-8-1 on the year.
The Blugolds (15-8-1, WIAC 8-5-1) will host their regular season finale on Saturday, February 11th for game two of the WIAC weekend series with Stout. UWEC will celebrate Senior Night with a 7PM puck drop.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
