DULUTH, Minn. - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team wins its season opener tonight in Duluth in a non-conference game against St. Scholastica (MN) by the score of 5-3.

The Blugolds, who were picked to finish sixth in the NCHA Pre-season Coaches' poll, start the season 1-0-0. The Saints, who were picked to finish fourth in NCHA Pre-season Coaches' poll drop to 0-1-0.

Eau Claire's Greg Petersen (Jr.- Maple Grove, MN/Totino-Grace) scored the fist goal of the game at the 12:00 mark in the first period. Andrew Johnson (Jr.- Andover, MN/Anoka) and Jesse Vesel (Jr.- Hibbing, MN) had the assists on the goal.

The Blugolds Sean Garrity (Sr.- North St. Paul, MN/North) scored the second goal of the contest on a Blugold power play 1:58 seconds into the second period. Petersen and Dan Fina (Jr.- Fontana, WI/ Glenbard South, IL) had the assists. The Blugolds were not done as Johnson increased the lead to 3-0 about 1:51 later with the assist going to Fina and Vesel.

Eau Claire entered the third period with a 3-0 lead. Garrity would add to that lead 5:43 into the third making the score 4-0. Ross Janecyke (Fr.- Grand Rapids, MI) and Tyler Trudell (So.- Waukesha, WI/South) had the assist on the Garrity's second goal of the game.

Aaron Spotts got the Saints on the board 7:02 into the third period. After a Saints two minutes hooking penalty on the Kelly Reynolds the score quickly became 4-3. Spotts got his second goal of the contest at the 14:36 mark on a short-handed goal. Jordan Baird scored the Saints third goal of the game 1:34 later also on a short-handed goal on the same Saints penalty.

The Blugolds quickly answered the short-handed goals by the Saints when Sam Bauler (Jr.- Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) scored the fifth goal of the game to make the score 5-3 Eau Claire.

Tyler Brigl (So.- Eagan, MN) was strong in-between the pipes for the Blugolds. Brigl had 40 saves in the game with 13 in both the first and the second period and 14 in the third. Brigl allowed three Saints goals in the game, two of which were short-handed.

The Blugolds had 30 shots on goal and the Saints had 43. Eau Claire was one for five on the power play and allowed no power play goals on the Saints seven attempts.

Eau Claire will play in its home opener Friday night against Concordia (MN) and Saturday they will take on St. John's (MN). The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center on both Friday and Saturday

Eau Claire-St. Scholastica Box Score

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