SUPERIOR, Wis. – If the early returns are any indication, there's something special happening with this year's edition of the Yellowjacket men's hockey team.
 
After a tough start, one that saw the Yellowjackets allow 16 goals in three games on the way to a 1-2-0 record, the Yellowjackets have begun to come into their own. The freshmen are playing like anything but newcomers, and no matter the player or the situation, the Yellowjackets are getting the job done, and collecting wins along the way.
 
Entering play Friday, the Yellowjackets won three straight, with the latter two coming via the shutout, marking the first time since 2008 the Yellowjackets won back-to-back games without allowing a goal.
 
Friday's opponent, UW-Eau Claire, came to town riding a four-game winning streak, and along the way swept St. Norbert on the road, which in itself is no small feat. For their efforts last weekend, the Blugolds were named the No. 11 team in the country.
 
With two teams on a roll, something had to give Friday, and fortunately for the Yellowjackets, it gave in their direction.
 
The Yellowjackets scored early and the defense shut the Blugolds down, on the way to a 2-0 win Friday night at Wessman Arena.
 
With the victory, the Yellowjackets (8-3-0, 4-1-0 WIAC) have run their winning streak to four games, and they will head into Saturday's game with Stevens Point atop the conference standings by three points.
 
The win was the third straight shutout for the Yellowjackets, who tonight established a new program record by stretching their shutout streak to 187:21. The mark betters the previous record, set in 2008, by more than 10 minutes.

Freshman goaltender Dylan Meilun (Morden, Manitoba/Morden Collegiate Institute) earned the win in goal for the Yellowjackets tonight, becoming the first goaltender since Dave Graichen (1992-97) to start his career at UW-Superior 6-0-0. He made 28 saves, and in the process picked up his fourth shutout of the season.
 
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring early in the first period, putting a charge into the crowd right away. A turnover in the Eau Claire zone led to Tristan Therrien (Prévost, Québec/Newbridge Academy) taking the puck and sliding a pass to the right circle, where John Stampohar (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids Senior) received it and lasered a shot into the top corner for his first of the year, making it 1-0 just 1:47 into the game.
 
Therrien and Colton Friesen (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Dakota Collegiate), who now has points in seven straight games, earned the assists.
 
In the second period the Yellowjackets extended the lead with a little bit of good luck. Eau Claire again turned the puck over in the left corner, and Friesen found Therrien, who from a sharp angle near the goal line scored his fourth of the year, and with 12:39 to go in the second, the 'Jackets led 2-0. Therrien, who went goalless through the first five games, now has goals in four of the past five contests.
 
The Yellowjackets clamped down on defense in the third period, limiting the Blugolds to just seven shots on goal, and in the process preserved their fifth shutout of the season. Of the eight wins the Yellowjackets have posted this season, seven have come with the team allowing one or fewer goals.
 
For the game, the Yellowjackets outshot Eau Claire 31-28.
 
The Yellowjackets will hit the road and stay in WIAC play Saturday, when they travel to Stevens Point for a date with the Pointers. The opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at K.B. Willett Arena.