BLAINE, Minn. - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team finished its weekend undefeated after beating the Bethel University Royals 3-1 tonight at the Bethel University Arena.

After the win tonight, the Blugolds move to 9-4-0 on the year and 4-2-0 on the road. UW-Eau Claire remains in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association with UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls.

The Blugolds sounded the alarm first with an even-strength goal from Nic Weight (Fr.-Eagle River, Wis. /Northland Pines) at 7:43 with assists from both Dustin Trail (Fr.-Albert Lea, Minn.) and Sean Garrity (Sr.-North St. Paul, Minn./North) to put Eau Claire up 1-0. The Royals fought back, however, scoring an even-strength goal four minutes later to tie the game 1-1.

In the second period, Tyler Trudell (Jr.-Waukesha, Wis./South) put the Blugolds in front once again by notching the second even-strength goal of the night with the assist from Jesse Vesel (Sr.-Hibbing, Minn.) at 7:29 to make the score 2-1.

The third period proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the Royals as Eau Claire's Dan Fina (Sr.-Fontana, Wis./Glenbard South) scored the final even-strength goal of the game at 8:53 with assists from Skylar Christoffersen (Jr.-Langley, B.C./Brookswood) and DJ Clark (Sr.-Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) to give the Blugolds their second straight win.

The Blugolds outshot the Royals tonight 31-21. Eau Claire goalkeeper Tyler Brigl (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) recorded 20 saves to his account and moves to 8-3-0 on the season for the Blugolds. The Bethel goalkeeper Aaron Damjanovich recorded 28 saves on the night after playing 59:27.

Eau Claire will take a break from the ice until it returns home January 2 and 3 against St. Olaf and Crookston. Both games are set to start at 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center.

Eau Claire-Bethel Box Score

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