EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The 12th ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey was back on home ice Friday evening for a nonconference matchup with Hamline University. The Blugolds fell to the Pipers on home ice after surrendering five goals in the final two periods of play. Two Blugold rookies earned career firsts during the team's sixth loss of the season.
The opening period saw both teams create opportunities through fast paced play and counterattack opportunities. Neither team found the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes of play. UW-Eau Claire controlled things from the faceoff dot early winning 10 of the 19 draws in the first frame. The Blugolds also killed the lone Hamline powerplay attempt as both teams hit the first intermission tied at 0-0.
The second and third periods found a shift in momentum as the Blugolds surrendered three goals in the opening half of the second frame and two more in the third period.
Charlie Erickson (Fr. – Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) netted the lone goal for the Blugolds in the final minute of the middle frame. Erickson's first collegiate goal was assisted by
Colin Stein (Jr. – Pewaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial) and
Willy Stauber (Sr. – Duluth, Minn./Marshall).
Max Gutjahr (So. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 8 of the 11 shots he faced in his 33 minutes of play and was credited with his sixth loss of the season. Gutjahr is now 8-6-1 on the season.
Keaton French (Fr. – Fairbanks, Alaska) entered the game in the 2
nd period, earning his first career collegiate minutes in a Blugold uniform. French stopped 5 of the 7 shots in his 27 minutes of play.
The Blugolds (9-6-1, WIAC 4-3) will be back at home on Saturday, January 13
th when they host the #6 ranked St. Scholastica Saints. Puck drop from Hobbs Ice Arena is set for 7 p.m.
