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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Dan Kovar
Jade Jensen

Men's Hockey Bryce Harp

Mini Game Dooms Yellowjackets

Box Score

Yellowjackets 5, UW-Stout 3
 
The Yellowjacket men's hockey team found themselves in a must-win situation Saturday night against UW-Stout. The previous night the Yellowjackets lost to Stout, for only the second time in program history, to come into Saturday against the ropes.

It took some late game heroics, but the Yellowjackets ultimately came out on top against the Blue Devils to force a mini game.

Things did not look good early for the Yellowjackets, as they once again found themselves down a goal to the Blue Devils in the first period. Jake Useldinger's shot found its way into the back of the net, giving the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead at 13:26 in the first.

The Yellowjackets were able to respond in the second period. First, Stout's Dylan Zins went to the penalty box for elbowing at 6:35. Then, at 7:19 Stout's Danny Ray took a roughing penalty to put the Yellowjackets on the 5-on-3. Dan Kovar (Bismarck, N.D./St. Mary's Central) made the Blue Devils pay for their penalty, as he netted his second of the year at 7:27. Eric Shand (San Dimas, Calif./San Dimas) and Jordan Neduzak (Morden, Manitoba/Morden Collegiate Institute) assisted on the goal.

The Blue Devils wasted little time to regain the lead, as Zins netted his third of the season at 11:21 to give Stout a 2-1 lead. Sam Naegele and Gavin Smith assisted on the even strength goal.

Once again the Yellowjackets responded. Jordan Neduzak (Morden, Manitoba/Morden Collegiate Institute)'s shot found the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season. Anton Svensson (Sodertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) and Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor) assisted on the even strength tally.

Stout took back the lead at 18:41, when Joe Kleven fired a shot that made its way past Yellowjacket goaltender Bryce Fink (Tacoma, Wash./Keystone), giving the Blue Devils a 3-2 lead. Useldinger and Craig Lindegard had the assists on the even strength goal.

Jimmy Hughes (Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial)' shot at 1:13 tied it up at 3-3 for the Yellowjackets, and they didn't look back from there. Daniel Litchke (Superior, Wis./Superior) gave the Yellowjackets the lead at 8:45 on his eight goal of the season. Owen Stauber (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) had the assist on the goal. The scoring was capped off by Neduzak's empty netter at 19:53 as the Yellowjackets defeated the Blue Devils 5-3.

Fink got the start in net for the Yellowjackets, allowing three goals while making 24 saves. He finishes the season at 3-5-3.

Nick Schmit started in net for the Blue Devils, allowing four goals while making 38 saves. Schmit is now 4-6-2 on the season.

The Yellowjackets took two penalties for four minutes. The Blue Devils took four penalties for eight minutes.
 
Mini Game

UW-Stout 3, Yellowjackets 2
Box Score
 
The victory meant that the Yellowjackets and Blue Devils would have to play a 20 minutes mini game to determine who would advance in the WIAC playoffs. The Yellowjackets have not had much success in mini games, with their last win coming in the 2000 season.

It looks like that trend will continue, as the Yellowjackets dropped the mini game 3-2 to end the 2015-16 season.

As they had in all the games this series, Stout struck first. Tom Schmidt fired a shot that found its way past Fink, and just like that the Blue Devils had a 1-0 lead 1:28 into the mini game. The Yellowjackets were able to tie the game up 1-1 at 4:48 on Svensson's goal.

The tie was short lived however. Lindegard's shot with 5:27 got by Fink, and just like that the Blue Devils had a 2-1 lead. Lindegard would score again at 12:48 to push the Stout lead to 3-1, once again putting the Yellowjackets back against the wall.

Down two goals, the Yellowjackets were forced to pull Fink for the extra attacker. It paid off, as Svensson scored his second of the mini game at 19:56, but it was too little, too late as the Yellowjackets fell to Stout.

Fink started the mini game for the Yellowjackets, allowing three goals while making 11 saves.

Schmit started the mini game for the Blue Devils, allowing two goals while making 11 saves.

There were no penalties in the mini game.

The Yellowjackets finish the 2015-16 season with a record of 9-15-3, 2-5-1 WIAC.
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Players Mentioned

Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

F
6' 3"
Sophomore
Bryce Fink

#1 Bryce Fink

G
5' 8"
Sophomore
Jimmy Hughes

#24 Jimmy Hughes

F
5' 8"
Junior
Dan Kovar

#13 Dan Kovar

D
5' 9"
Sophomore
Jordan Neduzak

#9 Jordan Neduzak

F
5' 11"
Junior
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

Players Mentioned

Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

6' 3"
Sophomore
F
Bryce Fink

#1 Bryce Fink

5' 8"
Sophomore
G
Jimmy Hughes

#24 Jimmy Hughes

5' 8"
Junior
F
Dan Kovar

#13 Dan Kovar

5' 9"
Sophomore
D
Jordan Neduzak

#9 Jordan Neduzak

5' 11"
Junior
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