Men's hockey team ends winless skid

2/8/2010
By Joe Stark
Sports Editor

The University of Wisconsin - Superior men’s hockey team ended its seven game winless streak this weekend, earning a 5-2 win on Friday night against UW-Stevens Point and a 1-1 tie on Saturday against St. Norbert’s College. 

Friday night’s game against Stevens Point was a high scoring affair, with UWS getting out of their recent scoring funk.  Although the Pointers scored first, the ‘Jackets responded and tied the game at one going into the third period, where most of the scoring took place.   

UWS got off to a quick start in the third, taking a 2-1 lead 1:18 into the period on a goal by senior Braden Desmet.  Junior Jesse Junkermeier would light the lamp soon after to make it 3-1.  That lead would diminish shortly after, with former Yellowjacket Kent Detlefsen scoring less than a minute later for the Pointers and making the score 3-2.  Junkermeier would answer back quickly with his second goal, to take a 2 goal lead once again with just a couple of minutes remaining.  Then, with less than a minute left, junior Talon Berlando would seal the 5-2 victory with and empty netter. 

Sophomore goaltender Bryan Dalbec played well once again, and it seems the ‘Jackets have found their answer in net, getting consistent play from the Superior native.  He turned away 24 of the 26 shots he faced in the game, earning the win. 

With UWS splurging for five goals in the game, they had a few players with multiple points.  Junkermeier had 2 goals, Desmet and freshman Kyle Clement had a goal and an assist each, and senior Chris Wilson and freshman Derek Stauber both added two helpers. 

On Saturday afternoon in the “Pink the Rink” game, St. Norbert’s College would strike first, scoring 3:30 into the first period.  The rest of the game was a hard fought battle with power plays coming up short for both teams.  St. Norbert’s held the early lead for almost the entire game, until Justin Farnya scored with 2:07 left in the third period to tie the game at one.  Both teams would come up empty in overtime, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.   

This was a big game for UWS, tying the first place team in the NCHA to try to get out of last place.  Dalbec played solid in net once again, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced in the game. 

This three-point weekend for the Yellowjackets brings their record to 9-10-4 overall and 3-10-3 in NCHA play.  Although they only have two games left in the regular season, they have a chance to make up a little bit of ground in the NCHA.  They host their rival, College of Saint Scholastica, on Thursday night at 7:00 pm before traveling to UW-Eau Claire on Saturday to take on the Bluegolds.