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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Ian Ecklund
Jade Jensen

Men's Hockey

Ecklund Scores Twice, Yellowjackets Down Lions

Ian Ecklund scored twice for the Yellowjackets in Saturday's win over Finlandia.
Box Score

Yellowjackets 4, Finlandia 1

After Friday's road win at Northland, the Yellowjackets were looking to make it a weekend sweep, and get off to a 2-0 start for the second year in a row. To get there they would need to get a victory over Finlandia in Hancock, Michigan.

The Lions play at the Houghton County Arena, a building that hasn't been kind to the Yellowjackets over the years. Heading into Saturday the Yellowjackets were 2-2-1 there all time, and two seasons ago they came to town and suffered a tie and a loss at the hands of a winless Finlandia team.

Saturday things went much more according to plan.

The Yellowjackets scored the first three goals of the game Saturday afternoon and cruised to a 4-1 win.

The first period unfolded much the way Friday's did, with the Yellowjackets holding a strong territorial advantage but unable to get on the board despite several golden opportunities early. A power play in the latter stages of the period came up empty, but second after its expiration the Yellowjackets finally broke through. Eric Shand (San Dimas, Calif./San Dimas) rifled a shot from the right circle that hit the crossbar and caromed into the left corner. Seconds later Shand had the puck again, and this time he made no mistake, sending a rocket from the right circle past Finlandia goaltender Walker Enstad to give the Yellowjackets the 1-0 lead. Matt Audette (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) and Anton Svensson (Sodertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) assisted on the goal at 17:41.

In the second the Yellowjackets stretched the lead, and both times it was courtesy of Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor). The sophomore center made it a 2-0 game when he picked up a loose puck at the top of the Finlandia goal crease and drove it into net for his first of the year to make it 2-0 at 13:01 of the second period. Owen Stauber (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) and Daniel Litchke (Superior, Wis./Superior) assisted. The final minute of the period saw Ecklund strike again, this time tipping a shot from the left point past Enstad for a 3-0 Yellowjacket lead. Audette and Svensson each earned their second assists of the game on the play.

Finlandia got on the board early in the third when Bryce Mitzel scored on a rebound at 2:13 to pull to within 3-1. The Yellowjackets got that goal back at 15:18 of the period when freshman David Kenney (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) scored his first as a Yellowjacket, following up a play and banging in a rebound to make the final score 4-1.

Bryce Fink (Tacoma, Wash./Keystone) got his first start of the year and earned the win, finishing with 13 saves. His biggest of the night came in the third when, with Finlandia carrying the play, the Lions turned a 2-on-1 into a one-timer from between the circles, but Fink moved quickly from his right to his left and got his left pad on the shot, preserving the two-goal lead. Fink now stands at 1-0-0 on the year. At the other end Enstad made 22 saves in his first action of the year.

It was a clean game, with only three penalties being called in the game. The Yellowjackets took two penalties for four minutes, while the Lions were whistled just once for two minutes. Neither team converted on the power play.

The Yellowjackets (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) will have their home opener Friday, November 6 when they host Augsburg College at Wessman Arena. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m., and the game can be heard live on 91.3 FM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. The video stream of the game will be provided by UW-Superior's official online partner, the iFan Sports Network. Jon Garver will have the call.
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Players Mentioned

Matt Audette

#3 Matt Audette

D
5' 10"
Junior
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

F
6' 3"
Sophomore
Bryce Fink

#1 Bryce Fink

G
5' 8"
Sophomore
Eric Shand

#5 Eric Shand

D
6' 1"
Junior
Owen Stauber

#22 Owen Stauber

D
6' 0"
Junior
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

F
5' 8"
Junior
Daniel Litchke

#10 Daniel Litchke

F
5' 9"
Freshman
David Kenney

#20 David Kenney

F
5' 11"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Matt Audette

#3 Matt Audette

5' 10"
Junior
D
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

6' 3"
Sophomore
F
Bryce Fink

#1 Bryce Fink

5' 8"
Sophomore
G
Eric Shand

#5 Eric Shand

6' 1"
Junior
D
Owen Stauber

#22 Owen Stauber

6' 0"
Junior
D
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

5' 8"
Junior
F
Daniel Litchke

#10 Daniel Litchke

5' 9"
Freshman
F
David Kenney

#20 David Kenney

5' 11"
Freshman
F