SUPERIOR, Wis. – When last the Yellowjacket men's hockey team took on UW-Stevens Point, the 2021 WIAC Championship was on the line. That night, the Yellowjackets scored three straight goals on the way to a 3-2 win and the program's first conference title in a decade.

That meeting was at K.B. Willett Arena in Stevens Point. Saturday night, the Yellowjackets and Pointers met for the first time since that championship game, and this time the site was Wessman Arena. It just so happened Saturday's tilt was the first home game of the 2021-22 season for the Yellowjackets, as well.
 
And for the second time in as many meetings the Yellowjackets scored three straight goals, giving them all the offense they would need on the way to a 3-0 shutout of the Pointers.
 
Myles Hektor (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest), who came on in relief for the third period of Friday's game was the man of the hour Saturday night, picking up his second shutout of the season for the Yellowjackets (4-2-0, 2-1-0 WIAC) by making 27 saves, including 12 in a third period when the Pointers applied heavy pressure.
 
It was a tight first period, with Stevens Point having an 8-6 edge in shots on goal, but the teams went to the locker room scoreless.
 
That changed midway through the second period when senior Levi Cudmore (Park River, N.D./Park River) slid a puck underneath Stevens Point goaltender Ryan Wagner for his first of the season at 10:55 making it 1-0. Bradley Stonnell (Surrey, British Columbia/Tamanawis Secondary School) made a great play to hold the zone and get the puck to the net for Cudmore.
 
Later in the period the Yellowjackets extended the lead. Off a faceoff, Reed Stark (Suffern, N.Y./Douglas County West) moved the puck to John Stampohar (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids Senior) at the right point whose shot hit traffic in front, but David Kaplan (Vernon Hills, Ill./Bishop Eustace Prep) was there to lift a backhand past Wagner at 17:21 to put the 'Jackets up by two.

Just 25 seconds later the lead increased again. This time it was Zach Bannister (Grande Prairie, Alberta/St. Joseph Catholic), who took a pass from C.J. Walker (Boise, Idaho/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) and put a backhand past Wagner for his second goal in as many games.
 
At the end of the second period Stevens Point was assessed a five-minute major, giving the Yellowjackets an extended power play to start the third period. The struggles continued for the 'Jackets, however, and the Pointers killed the major off while surrendering just two shots on goal.
 
The penalty gave the Pointers momentum, and they spent most of the third period in the offensive zone. They had multiple point-blank chances, but each time Hektor was there to make the save. Stevens Point pulled its goaltender with five minutes to play in the period, but the Yellowjacket defense held and picked up the win over the No. 10 team in the country.
 
Nine different players had points in the game for the Yellowjackets, who were outshot 27-24 in the game.
 
It's a quick turnaround for the Yellowjackets, who will be back in action Tuesday, Nov. 23 on the road in Crystal Lake, Ill., where they will play Marian in non-conference action. The opening faceoff against the Sabres is set for 7 p.m. at the Crystal Ice House.