The UW-Eau Claire club guys were geared up for their first real test of the season. The Tommies of the University of St. Thomas came to town for the Blugolds’ second series of the year. The EC guys were extra motivated since the Tommies were the only team to sweep EC a year prior. Not only did they sweep, they also beat Eau Claire in the WCCHA Tourney to keep them out of the championship. Friday the puck dropped at seven and the boys were ready to rock. The Blugolds were flying dominating play and in the first Michael Preskar (2) and Austin Oungst (2) gave the Blugolds a two to nothing edge. Keeping the pressure up Captain Austin King (4) added a hat-trick in the second, followed by Chad Smith (2) to put the Blugolds in the driver seat six-nil. Ben Boldenow (1) and Alex Zitske (1) added a couple more in the third before the Tommies scored a few garbage goals late in the third. The first game belonged to the Blugolds in an eight to two rout of the defending WCCHA Champs.
Revenge would not be complete until the Blugolds swept their conference rivals. A much slower Eau Claire team played a hotly contested Saturday game. In the first Alex Zitske (2) wired a top shelf rocket to give Eau Claire the early lead. However, this game would prove to be the Blugolds’ greatest challenge thus far in the young season. Only up by one in the second Eau Claire found themselves in penalty trouble early and often. A five-minute-major for head-contact followed by a two-minute tripping minor put the Blugolds in a tough five on three penalty kill. Fortunately, a crossbar, some great defensive zone work and some puck-luck yielded one goal on the extended St. Thomas PP. After two periods the two were deadlocked at one a piece. Finally, the score was broken when Austin King threw a puck low off the pillows of UST goaltender and freshman Ben Rauschnot (1) banged in the rebound for his first goal of the season and it was a big one to give Eau Claire a one goal lead late. The Tommies weren’t going away quietly and brought the game even at two a piece with less than five minutes in regulation. We were going to overtime. After trading chances the decider was finally had with less than a minute remaining in overtime Andy Mlynar (2) scored the winner with fellow Eden Prairie brothers Ben and Brad Boldenow on the assists. Goaltender Ryan Laughlin played well turning away forty-four of forty-six shots earning the win. The sweep was complete and the Blugolds moved their perfect record to 4-0 on the year.
Revenge would not be complete until the Blugolds swept their conference rivals. A much slower Eau Claire team played a hotly contested Saturday game. In the first Alex Zitske (2) wired a top shelf rocket to give Eau Claire the early lead. However, this game would prove to be the Blugolds’ greatest challenge thus far in the young season. Only up by one in the second Eau Claire found themselves in penalty trouble early and often. A five-minute-major for head-contact followed by a two-minute tripping minor put the Blugolds in a tough five on three penalty kill. Fortunately, a crossbar, some great defensive zone work and some puck-luck yielded one goal on the extended St. Thomas PP. After two periods the two were deadlocked at one a piece. Finally, the score was broken when Austin King threw a puck low off the pillows of UST goaltender and freshman Ben Rauschnot (1) banged in the rebound for his first goal of the season and it was a big one to give Eau Claire a one goal lead late. The Tommies weren’t going away quietly and brought the game even at two a piece with less than five minutes in regulation. We were going to overtime. After trading chances the decider was finally had with less than a minute remaining in overtime Andy Mlynar (2) scored the winner with fellow Eden Prairie brothers Ben and Brad Boldenow on the assists. Goaltender Ryan Laughlin played well turning away forty-four of forty-six shots earning the win. The sweep was complete and the Blugolds moved their perfect record to 4-0 on the year.