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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Tanner Dion
Jade Jensen

Men's Hockey

Yellowjackets Lose Lead in Third, Fall to Stout

Tanner Dion scored his ninth goal of the season Saturday vs. UW-Stout.
Box Score
Stout 3, Yellowjackets 2

There's something plaguing the Yellowjacket men's hockey team, and over the first two weekends of 2015 it has reared its ugly head on more than one occasion. They have played well, as was seen in the win over Concordia Wisconsin. They played well for two periods last Saturday versus the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and again last night on the road at UW-Stout. Unfortunately in the latter two games, there was one period where they didn't play well and the results were disastrous.

Saturday night at Wessman Arena the Yellowjackets came out and played strong in the first and second periods, looking like they would avenge Friday's loss to the Blue Devils. But then the third period commenced, and for the third straight game the Yellowjackets had an off period. And again it cost them.

UW-Stout scored pair of goals in the third period, the last one coming late, and they defeated the Yellowjackets 3-2 Saturday night at Wessman Arena.

The loss is a tough one to swallow, as the Yellowjackets have now dropped three straight games, are winless in the conference and are four points back of fourth place, meaning there is a good chance they finish the season in the WIAC cellar.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom Saturday, especially early, as the Yellowjackets jumped out to an early lead.

Just 3:22 into the game the Yellowjackets converted on a Stout turnover to take the 1-0 lead. The neutral zone gaffe ended up on the stick of Anton Svensson (Soldertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium), and the sophomore skated into the Stout zone and blasted a shot past Friday night's star, Stout goaltender Chase Hollander, for his fourth goal of the year. Dylan Nelson (Clearwater, Minn./Annandale) and Luke Karakas (Green Bay, Wis./East) assisted on the play.

Seconds later the Blue Devils took a penalty and the Yellowjackets capitalized on the power play. Wes Judnick (Virginia, Minn./Virginia) had the puck at the right point and sent a pass to the right corner for Tom Paine (Superior, Wis./Marshall School). Paine quickly moved the puck into the slot and Tanner Dion (Hardisty, Alberta/Central Sedgewick) one-timed it past Hollander for his team-leading ninth goal of the year and a 2-0 Yellowjacket lead. The goal came less than a minute after the first goal of the game, at 4:08.

Midway through the first period the Blue Devils countered with a power play goal of their own. With Judnick in the penalty box the Yellowjackets cleared the zone and the killers left the ice for a line change. Hollander played the puck up the right boards to Danny Ray at the Yellowjacket line. Ray skated in and from the right circle snapped a shot through the pads of Cory Simons (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) to cut the lead in half at 2-1. The power play goal came at 9:10 of the period.

In the first minute of the second period the Blue Devils nearly tied it, but a sprawling save by Simons kept the Yellowjackets ahead.

Through two periods the Yellowjackets maintained the one-goal lead, and were handily outshooting the Blue Devils, 31-13.

Then in the third period Stout flipped the script.

At the 4:27 mark the Blue Devils tied the score, as Justin Moody scored his eighth of the year, taking a pass between the circles and rifling a one-timer off the crossbar and in to make it a 2-2 game.

From there the Blue Devils continued to press offensively, and the Yellowjacket defensive play grew more and more ragged. Then late in the period Stout got the break they were looking for and broke the tie. Karl Andersen took the shot from the right side that was denied, but he continued to follow the play. From the right of the goal Andersen sent a pass across the goal mouth to a streaking Matt Millis, and his shot beat Simons on the stick side to put Stout ahead 3-2 with just 3:09 left in regulation.

Following the goal Stout took a penalty, but the Yellowjackets were unable to capitalize on the power play, even with the goaltender pulled and the team on a two-man advantage. Stout weathered the storm in the closing seconds and secured the win and the series sweep.

Simons played well in goal for the Yellowjackets, particularly in the third period when he was under siege. He finished the night wtih 25 saves, but his record falls to 4-5-0 on the year. At the other end Hollander had another outstanding game. Entering the weekend Hollander's goals against average was hovering near 7.00 and his save percentage was below .850. He finished Saturday night with 36 saves, and for the weekend went 2-0, allowed just two goals and stopped 73 of 75 shots he faced, a save percentage of .973. The sophomore goaltender is a virtual lock to earn WIAC Athlete of the Week honors.

Each team went 1-for-4 on the power play Saturday. The Yellowjackets took five penalties for 18 minutes, while Stout took four penalties for eight minutes.

The Yellowjackets (7-10-0, 0-4-0 WIAC) will look to halt their losing skid on Friday, January 23, but it isn't going to be easy, as they play host to UW-Stevens Point at Wessman Arena. The Pointers have been ranked in the top five nationally throughout the season. Game time on Friday is set for 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live locally on 91.3 FM in Superior, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. If you are outside the local listening area you can tune in online through the iFan Sports Network. Jon Garver will be on the call.
 
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Players Mentioned

Tanner Dion

#12 Tanner Dion

F
6' 1"
Senior
Wes Judnick

#8 Wes Judnick

D
6' 3"
Junior
Tom Paine

#19 Tom Paine

F
6' 0"
Senior
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

F
5' 8"
Sophomore
Luke Karakas

#26 Luke Karakas

F
5' 9"
Freshman
Dylan Nelson

#18 Dylan Nelson

D
5' 11"
Freshman
Cory Simons

#30 Cory Simons

G
5' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Tanner Dion

#12 Tanner Dion

6' 1"
Senior
F
Wes Judnick

#8 Wes Judnick

6' 3"
Junior
D
Tom Paine

#19 Tom Paine

6' 0"
Senior
F
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

5' 8"
Sophomore
F
Luke Karakas

#26 Luke Karakas

5' 9"
Freshman
F
Dylan Nelson

#18 Dylan Nelson

5' 11"
Freshman
D
Cory Simons

#30 Cory Simons

5' 10"
Sophomore
G