EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey was back on home ice on Friday night, this time hosting Northland College for the First Round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship (presented by Culver's). It was another physical game between the two squads, but the Blugolds would score early and often for an 8-1 win.

Box Score | WIAC Tournament Webpage

Simon Sagissor (Sr. – Stillwater, MN) took advantage of an early powerplay to open up the scoring, putting one home at the 7:20 mark to give Eau Claire the lead. Kyle Oleksiuk (Fr. – Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Ty Readman (Sr. – Edmonton, Alberta/Vimy Ridge Academy) would earn assists on Sagissor's six goal of the season.

Ryan Green (So. – Muskego, WI) would then score two goals minutes apart, both times assisted by Readman to give Eau Claire a 3-0 lead after one period of play.

In the second, Jon Richards (Sr. – Callaway, MN/Detroit Lakes) would tally a goal at 18:27 off Derek Hammer (Sr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) and Blake Kryska (So. - Grand Blanc, MI) assists. Readman would follow with a goal of his own seconds later to give Eau Claire a 5-0 lead. Sammy Martel (So. – Bolingbrook, IL/Neuqua Valley) and Colin Stein (Fr. – Pewaukee, WI/Catholic Memorial) would be credited with assists on Readman's eighth goal of the season.

The Blugolds didn't let up in the third, as Hammer lit the lamp just 40 seconds into the frame (Andrew McGlynn (Sr. – St. Louis, MO/Christian Brothers College) assist) and Charles Weiand (Sr. – Rosemount, MN) tacked on goal number seven at 7:39 with an unassisted goal.

The Lumberjacks were able to get on the board at the 8:19 mark, but Jordan Randall (Fr. – Maple Grove, MN) would score another Eau Claire goal at 17:37 to seal the 8-1 victory. Austin Becker (Fr. – Amery, WI) and Weiand would each earn an assist on the final goal.

Readman would lead the way with four points on the night while Hammer and Weiand each tallied two.

Ryan Ouellette (Fr. – Colorado Springs, CO/Liberty) picked up the win in net and moves to 13-6-1 on the season after recording 17 saves.

Eau Claire (14-11-1) and Northland (4-19-3) will be back on the ice Saturday night for game two of the series with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.

Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on the app, UWEC Blugolds.