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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Ethan Wood
Jade Jensen

Men's Hockey

Bad Luck Continues for Yellowjackets in Loss to MSOE

Ethan Wood
Box Score

MSOE 4, Yellowjackets 2

If it weren't for bad luck, the Yellowjacket men's hockey team would have no luck at all. It's one thing to have bad luck when your team isn't playing well, and it's something completely different when you play well and still can't get a bounce.

That was the story of Saturday for the Yellowjackets.

It was a festive day at Wessman Arena, as Yellowjacket Athletics collected toys for the local Toys for Tots drive, and the Yellowjackets wore special ugly sweater jerseys that would be auctioned off after the game. But that's where the festivities ended.

The Yellowjackets played a good game Saturday, unfortunately they couldn't buy a break and watched their winless skid reach double digits, as they dropped the second game in as many days to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, this time by a score of 4-2.

In the first period the Yellowjackets came out flying, outshooting the Raiders 11-6 and holding a strong advantage territorially. They had the best of the scoring chances as well, with the best opportunities coming off the stick of Viktor Sallhag (Vasteras, Sweden), but the freshman Swede clanged two shots off the post and the Yellowjackets stayed scoreless.

MSOE drew first blood late in the period when Christian Elsborg picked up a rebound to the left of the Yellowjacket goal and slid his first goal of the season past Yellowjacket goaltender Ethan Wood (Jasper, Alberta/Paul Kane) to make it 1-0 with just 1:21 to play in the period.

As the second period unfolded the Yellowjackets picked up where they left off, again carrying the play for long stretches but unable to beat Raider goaltender Zach Woodman. Following a power play chance midway through the period Tyler Nystrom (Superior, Wis./Superior) had a great chance from the left circle, but his shot also found the goal post and the Yellowjackets continued to trail.

MSOE added to its lead at 11:41 of the second period when the Yellowjacket defense lost sight of Jordan Guth in the slot and he put a shot underneath Wood to push the score to 2-0.

After the goal the Raiders controlled the play for the remainder of the period, and carried that momentum into the third. They had the best of the chances early, but the Yellowjackets didn't break. They were finally able to break through at 11:10 of the third period when Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor) wired a shot from the right circle over the shoulder of Woodman, scoring his fifth of the year to make it a 2-1 game. Owen Stauber (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) and Olle Sedelius (Gothenburg, Sweden/Hvitfeldtska Gymnasiet), who was playing his first game as a Yellowjacket assisted.

The Yellowjackets continued to press and had chances but weren't able to tie the game. With 90 seconds to play Eric Shand (San Dimas, Calif./San Dimas) had his stick slashed out of his hands, normally a penalty, but on this occasion the officials let it go. The Yellowjacket bench erupted and were promptly issued a bench minor. MSOE converted on the power play as Omar Mullan scored from between the circles wtih 53 seconds to play to make it 3-1.

With Wood pulled for an extra attacker the Yellowjackets started pressing again, and this time Sallhag was not denied, by the post or by Woodman. He took a pass from Anton Svensson (Sodertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) between the circles and wristed a shot over Woodman's glove with 34 seconds to play to again pull the Yellowjackets to within one at 3-2. Daniel Litchke (Superior, Wis./Superior) also had an assist.

MSOE put an end ot the drama as Gabe Christianson, from just inside his own blue line, scored into an empty net to make the final score 4-2.

Wood played well in goal again for the Yellowjackets, unfortunately his record dropped to 0-3 on the year. He finished with 15 saves. At the other end Woodman was seeing his first action of the year and he got the win, making 32 stops.

It was a game where the chippiness, and in turn the penalties increased as the game went on. The Yellowjackets took seven penalties for 41 minutes, fueled by a trio of 10-minute misconducts. MSOE meanwhile took four penalties for eight minutes. The Yellowjackets continued to struggle on the power play, going 0-for-2 in the game. They are now scored once in their last 19 power play chances. MSOE went 1-for-2 on the power play.

The break couldn't come at a better time for the Yellowjackets who are now 0-8-2 in their last 10 outings. They are off until January 5 when they will host Finlandia University at Wessman Arena. The two teams met on the season's opening weekend, with the Yellowjackets winning 4-1. Game time from Wessman Arena is set for 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live on 91.3 FM in Superior. If you are outside the local listening area you can tune in online through the iFan Sports Network. Jon Garver will have the call.
 
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Players Mentioned

Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

F
6' 3"
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
Olle Sedelius

#14 Olle Sedelius

F
5' 9"
Freshman
Viktor Sallhag

#21 Viktor Sallhag

F
6' 0"
Freshman
Ethan Wood

#35 Ethan Wood

G
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

6' 3"
Sophomore
F
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
Olle Sedelius

#14 Olle Sedelius

5' 9"
Freshman
F
Viktor Sallhag

#21 Viktor Sallhag

6' 0"
Freshman
F
Ethan Wood

#35 Ethan Wood

6' 1"
Freshman
G