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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Anton Svensson
Jade Jensen

Men's Hockey

Eau Claire Keeps Yellowjackets Reeling

Anton Svensson scores the first goal of the game Friday for the Yellowjackets.
Box Score

Eau Claire 5, Yellowjackets 3

To say that the Yellowjacket men's hockey team is struggling would be an understatement. On January 9 the Yellowjackets routed Concordia University Wisconsin at Wessman Arena to climb back to the .500 mark. Since that time, every conceivable thing that could go wrong for the Yellowjackets has, and as a result they have yet to return to the win column.

It was more of the same for the team Friday night, as it dropped its eighth game in a row, falling at home to UW-Eau Claire by a 5-3 score.

The loss in addition to extending the current losing streak and keeping the team winless in conference play, also marred the night when the Yellowjackets celebrated the careers of three graduating seniors - Tanner Dion (Hardisty, Alberta/Central Sedgewick), Tom Paine (Superior, Wis./Marshall School), and Cody Hotchkin (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld), who were honored by the team and the home crowd prior to the game.

After the festivities concluded, the game began and as has been the case too often in 2014-15, the Yellowjackets fell behind early. Just 5:34 into the game the Blugolds took a 1-0 lead when Brandon Wahlin scooped up a rebound in the right circle and fired it home for his ninth goal of the year.

It stayed that way until early in the second when the Yellowjackets broke through. Wes Judnick (Virginia, Minn./Virginia) made a perfect lead pass that sent Anton Svensson (Soldertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) in on a breakaway. The sophomore faked Eau Claire goaltender Tyler Green and slid the puck between the pads for his fifth of the year, evening the game at 1-1.

A few minutes later the Yellowjackets grabbed the lead, and again it was Svensson doing the damage.

This time Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor) moved the puck ahead to Svensson, who crossed the Eau Claire line and let a wrist shot go that beat Green up high to make it a 2-1 game at 7:30 of the second period.

Minutes later the Blugolds tied the game, as David Henry poked a puck home to the right of the goal. Eau Claire regained the lead at 3-2 at 15:46 of the middle frame. This time Ross Andersen fired a shot from the left circle that beat Yellowjacket goaltender Cory Simons (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) high on the glove side. The perfectly placed shot was Andersen's 14th goal of the year.

Down a goal entering the third, the Yellowjackets again struck early to tie the game. Ecklund carried the puck into the Eau Claire zone on the left wing, looked off the defender, waited out the goaltender and then tucked the puck into the empty net, scoring his sixth of the year just two minutes into the third period, evening the game at 3-3.

But Eau Claire regained the lead for good at 10:50 of the period when Patrick Moore, who had a four-point game, scoring from the left wing, making it 4-2. Eau Claire closed out the scoring on the power play, as Adam Knochenmus scored at 13:43 to make the final score 5-3.

Simons, making the start against his old team, finished the night with 31 saves. His record on the year falls to 4-6-0. At the other end Green made 18 saves to earn the win for the Blugolds.

The Yellowjackets took four penalties for eight minutes, all of them coming in the third period. Eau Claire took just two penalties for four minutes. The Yellowjackets were scoreless in two power play chances, while Eau Claire went 1-for-4 on the man advantage.

The Yellowjackets (7-15-0, 0-9-0 WIAC) will close out the home portion of their schedule Saturday night when they host the Blugolds in the second game of their weekend series. It's "Stick it to Cancer" night at Wessman Arena, with the Yellowjackets wearing special, one-time breast cancer themed jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live on 91.3 FM in Superior, beginning with the pre-game show at the conclusion of the Yellowjacket women's basketball broadcast. 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

Tanner Dion

#12 Tanner Dion

F
6' 1"
Senior
Cody Hotchkin

#20 Cody Hotchkin

F
5' 9"
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
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

F
6' 3"
Freshman
Cory Simons

#30 Cory Simons

G
5' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Tanner Dion

#12 Tanner Dion

6' 1"
Senior
F
Cody Hotchkin

#20 Cody Hotchkin

5' 9"
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
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

6' 3"
Freshman
F
Cory Simons

#30 Cory Simons

5' 10"
Sophomore
G