SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket men's hockey team has reached the stretch run of the 2023-24 season. Entering play Friday, the Yellowjackets had eight games remaining in the regular season, and all of them within the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The first test of the stretch pitted the Yellowjackets against UW-Eau Claire.
The two teams met in Eau Claire Dec. 1, with the Blugolds winning the game 4-0. Unfortunately for the Yellowjackets, the offensive struggles continued Friday, with Eau Claire claiming a 2-0 win over the Yellowjackets at Wessman Arena.
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With Friday's result, Eau Claire moved into a tie for second place in the WIAC with the Yellowjackets (10-8-0, 5-3-0 WIAC), but the Blugolds own the tiebreaker with two wins over the Yellowjackets on the year.
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Game Notes
- After a scoreless first period, UW-Eau Claire got a goal just 12 seconds into the second period to break the tie. The Blugolds added another goal with three minutes left in the second to close out the scoring.
- Kobe Grant (Vernon, British Columbia/South Kamloops Secondary) got the start in goal and took the loss for the Yellowjackets, despite making 22 saves.
- Grant has allowed just 15 goals in his eight appearances this season, but the Yellowjackets have provided just 14 goals of offensive support in those games.
- With the game scoreless in the first, the Yellowjackets' best chance to open the scoring came midway through the period when Blake Holmes (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) hit the crossbar.
- The Yellowjacket penalty kill, which allowed at least one power play goal in four straight games was perfect in four kills Friday.
- Friday marked the fifth time this season the Yellowjackets have been shut out, and the second time they have been shut out in back-to-back games.
- In seven of the eight Yellowjacket losses this season they have scored one or fewer goals.
- The Yellowjackets outshot Eau Claire 21-15 over the final two periods.
- Jordan Guiney (Victoria, British Columbia/Belmont Secondary School), Carson Riddle (Ortonville, Mich./Brandon) and Gavin Rasmussen (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) all won more than 63 percent of their faceoffs Friday.
The Yellowjackets and the Blugolds will play the second game of their weekend series Saturday at Wessman Arena. The opening faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
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