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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Owen Stauber
Jade Jensen

Men's Hockey

Blugolds Rally to Beat, Sweep Yellowjackets

Owen Stauber scored the first goal just 38 seconds into Saturday's game with UW-Eau Claire.
Box Score

Eau Claire 5, Yellowjackets 3

Saturday night was a special night at Wessman Arena for the Yellowjacket men's hockey team. It was the final home game for 2014-15, and it was also "Stick it to Cancer" night, with the Yellowjackets wearing special breast cancer-themed jerseys that were auctioned off after the game. Following an emotion ceremonial puck drop, the Yellowjackets thrilled the crowd with an electric start to the game.

Unfortunately they couldn't sustain that electricity, and UW-Eau Claire battled back, earning a 5-3 win for the second night in a row and sweeping the reeling Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets wasted little time getting things started, scoring twice in the first 81 seconds of the game.

Just 38 seconds in they made it 1-0. Owen Stauber (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) jumped on the ice during a line change and charged for the net. Cody Hotchkin (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) sent a pass his way, and Stauber put the puck on his backhand and lifted it over the glove of Eau Claire goaltender Tyler Green. It was the second goal of the year for Stauber.

Before the crowd could quiet down and get back in their seats the Yellowjackets struck again. This time it was Anton Svensson (Soldertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) doing the damage. Svensson, who scored twice Friday, snapped a shot from the right circle that beat Green up high for his seventh of the season and a 2-0 Yellowjacket lead. Stauber and Jordan Neduzak (Morden, Manitoba/Morden Collegiate Institute) assisted on the goal.

Later in the period the Yellowjackets took a penalty, and although Eau Claire didn't score on the man advantage, the momentum began to swing in its favor.

The Blugolds cut the lead in half at 16:50 of the period when Ross Andersen wired a shot from the right circle over the glove of Simons to make it a 2-1 game. Andersen scored a beautiful goal on Friday, and may have topped it with this shot, putting it right under the bar for his 15th of the season.

Early in the second period the Blugolds tied it. Adam Knochenmus took a pass between the circle and slid a shot underneath Simons, scoring his third of the season and tying the game at 3:47. At 7:32 the Blugolds took the lead. Ethan Nauman had the puck in the right circle and made his way to the front of the net, flipping a backhand past Simons for his 17th. The lead bulged to 4-2 at 9:56 when Brandon Wahlin picked up a rebound at the foot of the goal crease and scored a power play marker.

The Yellowjackets stopped the bleeding at the 11:50 mark of the second. Neduzak sent a pass ahead Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor) on the right wing and Ecklund made the most of the feed. Using his body to shield the puck, Ecklund drove the net from the right wing. He waited for Green to commit, got around the sprawled goaltender and tucked the puck in the goal for his seventh of the year, and the Yellowjackets were back to within one at 4-3.

As the third period unfolded, the Blugolds went into clock-killing mode. Like a good running game in football, the Blugolds methodically killed time in the period without giving the Yellowjackets a quality scoring chance in the frame. Eau Claire closed out the scoring at 13:24 of the final period, with Andersen scoring his second of the game, picking up a rebound in the goal crease to make the final score 5-3.

Green earned his second win in as many nights, making 25 saves. At the other end Simons was hung with the loss against his former team, finishing the night with 30 stops.

After taking the final four penalties of Friday's game, all of them in the third period, the Yellowjackets were whistled for the first three of Saturday's contest. In all they took four penalties for eight minutes, while Eau Claire took just two for four minutes. The Yellowjackets were scoreless on their only power play chance, while Eau Claire went 1-for-3 with the man advantage.

The Yellowjackets (7-16-0, 0-10-0 WIAC) are now off until February 20, when they travel to Dunn County Arena for a meeting with UW-Stout. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be heard live on 91.3 FM in Superior, beginning with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. 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

Cody Hotchkin

#20 Cody Hotchkin

F
5' 9"
Senior
Jordan Neduzak

#9 Jordan Neduzak

F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Owen Stauber

#22 Owen Stauber

D
6' 0"
Sophomore
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

F
5' 8"
Sophomore
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

F
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Cody Hotchkin

#20 Cody Hotchkin

5' 9"
Senior
F
Jordan Neduzak

#9 Jordan Neduzak

5' 11"
Sophomore
F
Owen Stauber

#22 Owen Stauber

6' 0"
Sophomore
D
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

5' 8"
Sophomore
F
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

6' 3"
Freshman
F