ASHLAND, Wis. – Saturday night the Yellowjackets were playing their final game of the 2021-22 first half, and they were in need of a win. The first half of the schedule has been filled with inconsistency, and after a disappointing tie on home ice Friday, the 'Jackets needed to get off to a good start and head into the break feeling good, not to mention get healthy following a rash of injuries.
 
With a depleted lineup, the Yellowjackets accomplished the mission, getting goals early and often in a 5-0 win over Northland at the Bay Area Civic Center.
 
Freshman Reed Stark (Suffern, N.Y./Douglas County West) had a starring role Saturday, scoring his first collegiate goal and netting the first Yellowjacket hat trick of the campaign. Sophomore Landon Pavlisin (San Clemente, Calif./Pacific Coast) also had a big night, improving his record to 2-1-0 on the year and securing his first collegiate shutout with a 28-save performance. It was the third shutout of the season for the Yellowjackets (6-4-1, 4-2-1 WIAC).
 
The eventual game-winning goal came early, just 2:02 in when Gavin Rasmussen (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) won a faceoff and Stark fired a shot from the top of the right circle off the post and in to make it 1-0.

It stayed that way until early in the second period. Stark struck again, getting a rebound in the left circle and scoring into an awning cage to make it 2-0. C.J. Walker (Boise, Idaho/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) and John Stampohar (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids Senior) assisted. Stark completed the hat trick at 7:04, getting a pass from Rasmussen burying a shot from the left circle, making it 3-0. Charles Martin (Blainville, Quebec/École internationale Lucille-Teasdale) also earned an assist on the play.
 
Less than two minutes later the 'Jackets extended the lead when Coltyn Bates (Brandon, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate) scored his fourth of the year, burying a rebound in the slot off a shot from Austin Friesen (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Glenlawn Collegiate School), and it was 4-0 at 8:50 of the period. Ty Proffitt (Fairbanks, Alaska/Fairbanks BEST) also assisted.
 
The goal spelled the end of the night for Northland goaltender Taylor Unruh, who was relieved by Viktor Wennberg, but the Yellowjackets had a rude welcome for Wennberg, as well.
 
Just 16 seconds after the fourth goal the Yellowjackets went to the power play, and less than a minute in Jordan Martin (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate) made it a 5-0 game. Martin scored his first of the year on a wrist shot from the right circle, beating Wennberg low. Bradley Stonnell (Surrey, British Columbia/Tamanawis Secondary School) and Artur Terchiyev (Kiev, Ukraine/Everest Academy) assisted.
 
The Yellowjackets had chances to extend the lead further in the third period, especially during their three power play chances, but Northland kept them off the board in the second half of the game.
 
For the game, the Yellowjackets outshot Northland 37-28. On the power play the Yellowjackets went 1-for-5, while being a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
 
The Yellowjackets will now be off until they host the Fourth Annual Superior Showdown Sponsored by Subway. The Yellowjackets will open tournament play against Marian Thursday, Dec. 30. The opening faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. at Wessman Arena.