UW-Stevens Point Selected To Win Men’s Ice Hockey Championship
MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has been selected to secure the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men’s ice hockey championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Pointers return 22 letterwinners and their top-nine scorers from last season’s squad that finished as the national runner-up for the third time in program history (1992, 1998) and posted the most wins (22) since the 1999-2000 campaign. UW-Stevens Point also finished third in NCAA Division III with 4.43 goals scored per game and seventh with 1.93 goals allowed per contest.
Returning players accounted for 119 of the 133 goals scored, including senior Garrett Ladd, who received WIAC Player of the Year accolades after recording a conference-leading 42 points, 20 goals and 22 assists. Senior Brandon Jaeger was the first Pointer goalie to register at least 20 wins since 1999-2000. The Pointers begin the season with five of their first seven contests at K.B. Willett Arena.
UW-River Falls is slotted for second in the five-team league race. The Falcons have four of their top-five scorers returning, including senior Blake Huppert, who posted a team-leading 21 points. Sophomore Christian George had a team-best 14 assists, while classmates Ryan Doner and Mitch Kontny contributed 19 and 16 points, respectively. UW-River Falls has finished no lower than third in the WIAC standings in the last five years and had a below .500 overall record just twice in the last 22 years. The Falcons will play five of their last eight games at Hunt Arena this season.
UW-Eau Claire welcomes back its top-three scorers from the 2013-14 campaign, including senior Joe Krause, who posted a team-high 21 points, and senior Jack Callahan, who contributed a team-best 14 assists. Junior Tyler Green and sophomore Jay Deo are both tied for third place on the program’s career list with five shutouts each. A season ago, UW-Eau Claire established NCAA Division III records with five consecutive shutouts and 354:25 consecutive shutout minutes. In addition, they ranked fifth in NCAA Division III with 1.79 goals allowed per game and topped the WIAC in save percentage, fewest goals allowed and shutouts. The Blugolds will play just five of their final 12 games at Hobbs Ice Center.
UW-Superior has turned over almost half of its roster from last year and must replace 61.4 percent of its scoring. Sophomore Eric Shand leads the returners after compiling two goals, 12 assists and 14 points. The Yellowjackets will play seven of their first 10 contests at Wessman Arena. This season marks 50 years since UW-Superior reinstated its hockey program. Head coach Dan Stauber needs nine victories to become the program’s all-time winningest coach, surpassing the 248 wins compiled by Steve Nelson from 1987-2000.
UW-Stout’s 2014-15 roster includes six freshmen, 14 sophomores, two juniors and four seniors. The Blue Devils lost three of their top-five scorers from last year’s squad that ranked second in the WIAC with 21 power play goals. A season ago, senior Jordan Tredinnick was third on the team with eight goals and 16 points, while placing fourth with eight assists. The Blue Devils will play 10 of their final 14 games at Dunn County Ice Arena, where significant changes have been made, including new locker rooms for both home and visitor, relocation of the Zamboni garage and an improved viewing area for spectators.
2014-15 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
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2013-14 Record |
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1. UW-Stevens Point |
22-6-2 overall, 7-4-1 WIAC |
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2. UW-River Falls |
15-9-3, 8-4 |
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3. UW-Eau Claire |
19-8-1, 6-5-1 |
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4. UW-Superior |
11-15-3, 3-7-2 |
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5. UW-Stout |
8-18,4-8 |
Team Tidbits
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Matt Loen; 8th season at UWEC; 103-80-13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 20/9
Goalies Returning/Lost: 3/0
Returning All-WIAC: Ross Andersen, Sr., F (2012-Honorable); Jack Callahan, Sr., D (2013-First, 2014-Honorable); Tyler Green, Jr., G (2014-First); Joe Krause, Sr., F (2014-Honorable)
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Steve Freeman; 19th season at UWRF; 320-165-40
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 19/9
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Blake Huppert, Sr., F (2013-Honorable, 2014-First); Mitch Kotny, So., F (2014-Honorable)
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Chris Brooks; 4th season at UWSP; 51-28-7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 22/5
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Kyle Brodie, Sr., D (2014-First); Alex Brooks, Jr., D (2013-First); Josh Daley, Jr., F (2013-Honorable); Kevin Gibson, Sr., D (2012-Honorable, 2013-Honorable, 2014-First); Scott Henegar, Sr., F (2013-Honorable, 2014-Honorable); Brandon Jaeger, Sr., G (2012-First, 2013-Honorable, 2014-First); Andrew Kolb, Sr., F (2013-Honorable); Garrett Ladd, Sr., F (2013-Honorable, 2014-First/Player of the Year); Kyle Sharkey, So., F (2014-Honorable)
UW-Stout
Head Coach: Terry Watkins; 19th season at UWST; 215-251-28
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 18/7
Goalies Returning/Lost: 1/1
Returning All-WIAC: Jordan Tredinnick, Sr., F/D (2012-First, 2013-Honorable, 2014-Honorable)
UW-Superior
Head Coach: Dan Stauber; 15th season at UWS; 240-115-54
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/14
Goalies Returning/Lost: 1/2
Returning All-WIAC: Eric Shand, So., D (2014-First)
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