Skip To Main Content

University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

schedule

Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Dayn Belfour
Yellowjacket Athletics

Men's Hockey

Dalbec, Belfour star in overtime win

Dayn Belfour made 32 saves, including 18 in the second period as the Yellowjackets took down UW-River Falls 2-1 in overtime on Saturday.
Box Score

Yellowjackets 2, River Falls 1 (OT)

For the second time in as many nights the Yellowjacket men's hockey team found itself in a spine-tingling match-up with UW-River Falls at Wessman Arena. Friday night the Yellowjackets bombarded River Falls netminder Scott Lewan with 39 shots, only to be stymied on 38 of them in a 2-1 loss. It looked like Saturday's game was going to be much the same, with Lewan and his goal posts once again doing a number on the Yellowjackets.

Maybe it was the throwback orange jerseys, maybe it was the "Stick it to Cancer" theme. Regardless, the hockey gods had other plans and the home team emerged victorious.

With nothing decided after 60 minutes, the Yellowjackets finally got a little bit of luck in the overtime, as a Pat Dalbec (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) one-timer from the left circle went off Lewan and into the net with just 14.6 seconds remaining, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the Yellowjackets won 2-1.

Dalbec's ninth goal of the year capped a two-point night for the senior and helped the Yellowjackets salvage a weekend split with the Falcons and gain sole possession of fourth place in the WIAC following UW-Stout's loss to UW-Eau Claire.

The first period finished scoreless. The Yellowjackets rang three posts in the period while River Falls hit one. Early in the second period Dalbec nearly started the scoring, but Lewan stoned him on a breakaway and the ensuing rebound. Later River Falls almost drew first blood, but they rang their second shot off the post.

The Yellowjackets finally broke through at 6:01 of the opening period when Dalbec worked the puck out front of the Falcon goal and had his initial shot stopped. Connor Faupel (Rochester, Minn./Century) was there to pick up the rebound, though, and his backhand beat Lewan for his second of the year, giving the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead.

Following the goal the Falcons began to apply tremendous pressure, but time and again Dayn Belfour (Morden, Manitoba/Morden Collegiate) was there, making save after save. River Falls outshot the Yellowjackets 18-10 in the second period, but Belfour shut the door, stopping everything, some of them difficult, to preserve the 1-0 lead after two.

River Falls would tie the game at 6:12 of the third on an unassisted goal from Mitch Kontny. Kontny broke in from the right wing, evaded a pair of defenders and slipped a backhand past Belfour to tie the game.

As the third period progressed the Yellowjackets began to get their momentum back. Late in the game Cody Hotchkin (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) had a pair of point-blank chances, but he was unable to put the puck home and the teams were tied at the end of regulation.

In the overtime the Yellowjackets were outshot 3-1, but they took advantage of that one shot. Michael Rey (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Garden City Collegiate) got the puck on the right wing in Falcon territory and fed a perfect pass across to Dalbec, setting the stage for a rabid celebration at Wessman Arena. Jeff Forsythe (Campbell River, British Columbia/Timberline Secondary), who now has points in four straight games, also assisted on the play.

Belfour earned his third win of the season with 32 saves in the game. He is now 3-5-1 for the season. Lewan was equally as good, stopping 32 shots (and 70 for the weekend). He falls to 8-4-0.

River Falls took six penalties for 12 minutes while the Yellowjackets took five for ten minutes. The Yellowjackets were 0-for-6 on the power play and the Falcons were 0-for-5.

The Yellowjackets (7-11-3, 2-4-2 WIAC) will hit the road for a two-game series at UW-Eau Claire. The series opens on Friday, February 7 at the Hobbs Ice Center beginning at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard live locally on 91.3 FM KUWS beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. If you are outside the local listening area you can listen online through the iFan Sports Network or KUWS. Jon Garver will have the call.
Print Friendly Version