UW-Stout 2, UW-Superior 1

The Yellowjacket men's hockey team returned to the scene of its classic 2017 WIAC playoff triumph, as it traveled to Menomonie to tangle with UW-Stout. You'll remember it was a goal by Bruno Birzitis (Riga, Latvia/Riga Distance Education Secondary) in overtime of the Saturday mini-game that gave the Yellowjackets the first round series win.

Friday, the Yellowjackets were looking to build on that by winning their second in a row versus UW-Stout, and in the process earn a share of first place in the WIAC. On the other side was a Blue Devil team that came into the game riding high, having upset UW-Eau Claire Wednesday to take the early conference lead.

And for 54 minutes Friday the Yellowjackets played like the better of the two teams, but it was the other six minutes that would be the team's undoing.

UW-Stout scored twice in the first six minutes of the third period on the way to a 2-1 win over the Yellowjackets at the Fanetti Community Center.

After a scoreless first period the Yellowjackets drew first blood with a goal early in the second. At 2:06 freshman defenseman Connor Hamonic (Winnipeg, Man./Vincent Massey Collegiate) scored his first collegiate goal, snapping a wrist shot from the top of the left circle past Stout goaltender Tommi Ahlgren to make it 1-0. Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor) and Evgeny Yakovlev (Belgorod, Russia) assisted.

It stayed that way until early in the third period when the Blue Devils drew even. Konnar Dechaine tied the game at 2:03, scoring on an odd-man rush for this third goal of the year. A few minutes later at 5:52 Lucas Carroll scored on a power play to give Stout the lead for good, at 2-1.

Cole Skinner (Lunenberg, N.S./Parkview Education Centre) made his fifth consecutive start in goal for the Yellowjackets and finished the game with 21 saves. His record dropped to 3-3-1 on the year. At the other end Ahlgren made 32 saves in the winning effort.

The Yellowjackets were called for three penalties totaling six minutes in the game, while Stout took four penalties for eight minutes. The Yellowjackets were 0-for-4 on the power play and killed off 2-of-3 shorthanded chances.

Up Next: The Yellowjackets (3-7-1, 0-1-0 WIAC) will take on UW-Stevens Point Saturday at K.B. Willett Arena in Stevens Point. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.