Blugold Men’s Hockey 2013 NCAA Division III Championship March 15-16 - Lake Placid, NY Overview: History Built Around Three Things: The UW-Eau Claire men’s hockey team is making its The Blugolds’ hockey history for the previous 35 2012-13 Schedule/Results first appearance in the NCAA Division III Frozen Four. years had been built around three things: Date Opponent Time/Result This year is just the second time in program history the 1) The 1984 team won the NAIA national 10/26 UW-Stout * W 4-2 Blugolds have competed in the NCAA playoffs, with the championship, the final championship hosted by 10/27 UW-Stout * W 4-1 last time being 1989. Eau Claire will face Utica College the NAIA (N.Y.) Friday at 7:30 p.m. (Eastern) in the semifinal 2) The 1988-89 team advanced to the NCAA 11/2 at Hamline W 5-4 round and the winner will move on to face either quarterfinals for the only previous time the team 11/3 at Bethel Univ. W 3-2 Norwich University (Conn.) or Oswego State (N.Y.), had reached the NCAA playoffs while the 1989- 11/9 at St. Scholastica * W 5-1 which play at 4 p.m. Friday, in the championship game 90 team finished with an 18-13-3 record, 11/10 at St. Scholastica * W 7-5 Saturday at 7 p.m. Eau Claire has never faced any of the best previous record in school history 11/16 at St. Norbert * W 5-3 the teams in this year’s Frozen Four previously. 3) Alex Hicks was MVP of the league in 1990 and 11/17 at St. Norbert * T 3-3 (OT) went on to play 15 seasons of professional 11/24 Concordia (Wis.) W 12-4 A Magical Season for the Blugolds hockey including five seasons in the NHL with 11/25 Concordia (Wis.) W 6-3 When you’ve been picked to finish fifth in a seven- the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, San 11/30 UW-Stevens Point * W 5-2 team league and you win the league championship, the Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers. season becomes magical! 12/1 UW-Stevens Point * L 3-4 (OT) When your institution has never won more than 18 Remodeled Facilities: 12/7 at UW-River Falls * W 5-1 games in a season or lost fewer than 11 and you win The Blugolds’ success the past three seasons 12/8 at UW-River Falls * L 1-2 22 games and lose only five, the season becomes has been in lock-step with the city of Eau Claire’s magical! renovation of the Hobbs Ice Center which the Blugolds 1/4 Saint John’s W 5-1 That is the case with the 2012-13 UW-Eau Claire call home. The Blugolds have their own new locker 1/5 Concordia-Moorhead L 1-2 (OT) men’s hockey team. The Blugolds have produced a lot room, training room and weight facility in Hobbs which 1/12 at St. Olaf T 2-2 (OT) of excitement on campus and in the city of Eau Claire, has benefitted Loen’s recruiting efforts. 1/18 UW-Superior * W 5-2 which also boasts the state of Wisconsin’s high school 1/19 UW-Superior * W 3-1 state champs this year – Eau Claire Memorial High A Look at the Team: 1/25 St. Norbert * W 3-0 School (coached by Blugold alum Mike Schwengler). This year’s squad includes nine transfers, seven 1/26 at UW-Stevens Point * W 3-2 of whom were at Division I programs. The roster Success Against the Green Knights: is diversified with players from 11 states and two 2/1 at UW-Stout * W 4-3 Two-time defending NCAA Division III champion St. Canadian provinces. While the majority of the athletes 2/2 UW-River Falls * W 3-2 Norbert was picked to repeat as league champion are from Wisconsin (8) and Minnesota (7), there are 2/8 St. Scholastica * L 0-3 in 2012-13 but the Blugolds gave early notice that two from Michigan and one each from New Jersey, 2/9 at UW-Superior * W 4-1 they were a team to be reckoned with. The Blugolds North Dakota, Massachusetts, Illinois, Iowa, California, 2/23 NCHA Semifinal - W 7-2 stormed out of the gate with seven consecutive Alaska and Indiana plus Alberta and Ontario across the vs. UW-River Falls victories and did not lose until their 12th game of the border. season. Included in their fast start were a win and a tie The roster includes 10 seniors, 10 juniors, three 3/2 NCHA Final - L 0-3 against St. Norbert on the Green Knights’ home ice. sophomores and four freshmen. Among the vs. St. Norbert College Earning a spot in the DIII Frozen Four came at a players who have been with Loen for four years are 3/6 NCAA First Round - W 4-2 site where the Blugolds had been the Green Knights’ Stephenson, Alex Olson, Travis Peckskamp, Singer vs. Saint John’s whipping boy over the years. Heading into this season, and Kurt Weston. Eight more players have been 3/9 NCAA Quarterfinal - W 3-1 the Blugolds were 4-45-3 versus St. Norbert in the together for three years. at St. Norbert College all-time series and just 1-44-3 since the start of the Depth and the ability to stay away from injuries have 3/15 NCAA Semifinal - 7:30 PM EDT 1995-96 season. The Blugolds finished the year 3-1-1 been crucial to the Blugold success this season. No vs. Utica College (N.Y.) versus St. Norbert with a 2-0-1 mark at Cornerstone less than 10 players have contributed 17 or more 3/16 NCAA Final - 7:00 PM EDT Arena in Ashwaubenon. Coming into the season, the points led by Singer’s 33, third most in the NCHA. vs. Norwich or Oswego St. Norbert led the Blugolds 32-1-1 when Eau Claire Seven players have either two or three game-winning was away from their home rink. goals. Thirteen players have appeared in 26 or more *Blugolds received NCHA Quarterfinal bye games including six who played in all 29. after securing No. 1 seed in NCHA playoffs Quick Look at the Season: In the 36 years since the Blugolds began varsity Honors, Records & Awards: hockey, this is only the ninth winning season (plus one The outstanding season was capped with the 2012-13 NCHA Standings .500 season) but the third consecutive under sixth-year Blugolds collecting the three major awards in the (through 3/14/13 games) head coach Matt Loen. NCHA with coach of the year honors going to Loen, After their great start, the Blugolds faltered slightly player of the year to goalie Brandon Stephenson and Team (overall) W L T Pts at mid-season, going 2-3-1 during a six-game stretch Scholar-Athlete of the year to Jordan Singer. Loen from Dec. 1 through Jan. 12. But since then, with the earned the CoY honor for the second time in his six- *UW-Eau Claire (22-5-2) 14 3 1 29 bulls-eye squarely on their back, they have won 10 of year stint as head coach. He is the only person to be 12 down the stretch. named both the player of the year (1995) and coach of St. Norbert (23-6-1) 13 4 1 27 Maybe as evidence of their maturity, the Blugolds the year in the league. did not let down following a 3-0 home victory over St. Earning All-Conference first team honors were Singer, UW-Stevens Point (15-11-1) 8 9 1 17 Norbert on January 25, but went on the road the next Stephenson and defenseman Jack Callahan while night to claim a 3-2 triumph over UW-Stevens Point Isaiah Bennis, Andrew McCabe and Dave Donnellan St. Scholastica (13-14-1) 7 10 1 15 before a packed house at Point. all were honorable mention. The latter three are all Then when they were bounced by St. Scholastica, products of Eau Claire Memorial High School. UW-Superior (11-14-2) 6 10 2 14 3-0, at home on Feb. 8, they went on the road the next This year’s team is sure to break the school records night for a 4-1 triumph over UW-Superior to clinch the for most goals scored and fewest goals allowed in UW-River Falls (13-11-4) 5 9 4 14 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association title, their first a season. They may also set a record for fewest ever. penalties in a season. In addition, Stephenson has UW-Stout (10-15-2) 5 13 0 10 shattered the school standards for single season and career wins in goal. *NCHA Champion Final Year for the NCHA: USCHO.COM TOP 15 This was the final year of existence for the Northern Collegiate D3HOCKEY.COM TOP 15 Hockey Association which over the years included current (March 4) Division I programs Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and Minnesota (March 4) No. School Record Points State-Mankota and also included Olympic coach Herb Brooks No. School Record Points Prev 1 St. Norbert (5) 23- 5-1 276 4 as a head coach in the league. The five University of Wisconsin 1 St. Norbert (9) 23-5-1 286 3 2 Norwich (7) 23- 3-1 268 1 schools in the NCHA will continue as members of the Wisconsin 2 Norwich (8) 23-3-1 284 1 Intercollegiate Athletic Conference which is the conference for all 3 Oswego (7) 23- 4-0 256 3 other Blugold sports.