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Bryce Fink
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Men's Hockey

Yellowjackets, Pointers Tie; Winner Takes All Saturday

Bryce Fink makes one of his 26 saves against UW-Stevens Point Friday.
Box Score

Yellowjackets 1, Stevens Point 1 (OT)

Last Saturday, to be blunt, the Yellowjacket men's hockey team was thumped by Stevens Point in the regular season finale. So it's hardly out of the realm of possibility that people would think this weekend's WIAC semifinal series would be a rout for the for Pointers.

The Yellowjackets had other ideas, however.

Employing a stingy defensive scheme, the Yellowjackets limited the number of quality opportunities the Pointers had Friday night, and when they did have a quality chance Bryce Fink (Tacoma, Wash./Keystone) was there to shut the door, as the teams skated to a 1-1 overtime tie at K.B. Willett in Stevens Point.

The tie score sets up a winner-takes-all contest Saturday night. In the event that the teams tie, then a 20-minute mini-game following Saturday's overtime will decide which team heads to the WIAC Championship.

Stevens Point drew first blood early Friday night, conjuring up memories of last Saturday's lopsided first period. With 5:22 gone in the first period, a scramble for a loose puck ensued in front of the Yellowjacket goal. Fink sprawled, attempting to poke the puck out of the scramble and away from trouble, but Kyle Sharkey beat him to it and his shot beat Fink to give the Pointers the 1-0 lead.

Later in the period the Yellowjackets had a great chance to tie on a shot by Jordan Neduzak (Morden, Manitoba/Morden Collegiate Institute), but Pointer goaltender Brandon Jaeger made the save at the right side of the goal.

The Yellowjackets were essentially on the power play for the first six minutes of the second period, but again they were unable to generate any offense. As the period went on the Yellowjackets got better and outshot the Pointers 12-7 in the period, but the teams went to the locker after 40 minutes with the score still 1-0.

Early in the third the Yellowjackets finally broke through. Eric Shand (San Dimas, Calif./San Dimas) got the puck at the right point and snapped a wrist shot that beat a screened Jaeger high on the glove side, tying the score at 1-1. For Shand, it was his fourth goal of the year, all four of which have come against the Pointers. The goal also broke Jaeger's shutout streak against the Yellowjackets at 120:22.

Each team had chances throughout the rest of the period, including a late Pointer flurry late, but both goalies came up big. In the overtime the Yellowjackets had the best chance to get the win, but Anton Svensson (Soldertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) was denied by Jaeger from point-blank range with under two minutes to play.

Jaeger made 28 saves for the Pointers, while Fink made 26 saves for the Yellowjackets.

The game was a hard-hitting affair, but also clean, as the teams were called for just five penalties in the game. The Yellowjackets took two penalties for four minutes while Stevens Point took three for six minutes. The Yellowjackets were scoreless in three power play chances, and the Pointers went 0-for-2.

The Yellowjackets (9-17-1) and the Pointers will play game two of their WIAC semifinal series Saturday, February 28. Game time from K.B. Willett Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard live locally on 91.3 FM in Superior beginning right at 7:00 p.m. Jon Garver will have the call.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Neduzak

#9 Jordan Neduzak

F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Eric Shand

#5 Eric Shand

D
6' 1"
Sophomore
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

F
5' 8"
Sophomore
Bryce Fink

#1 Bryce Fink

G
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jordan Neduzak

#9 Jordan Neduzak

5' 11"
Sophomore
F
Eric Shand

#5 Eric Shand

6' 1"
Sophomore
D
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

5' 8"
Sophomore
F
Bryce Fink

#1 Bryce Fink

5' 8"
Freshman
G