2006-07 WIAC Men's Ice Hockey Headlines

UW-La Crosse’s Lulloff and UW-River Falls’ Hansberry Earn Academic All-America Honors

RELEASED: Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Jason Lulloff and UW-River Falls’ Derek Hansberry have been named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team. Lulloff was a second team selection, while Hansberry claimed third team honors.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players throughout the country and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Lulloff, a senior from Kiel, Wis., is majoring in physical education and boasts a 3.84 grade point average. This year, he was named the WIAC Max Sparger Wrestling Scholar-Athlete and secured the conference championship at 184 pounds before finishing third at the NCAA Division III championship.

Hansberry, a junior from Arvada, Col., is member of the Falcon ice hockey team and maintains a 3.91 grade point average while majoring in business administration with a management emphasis. He earned AHCA/RBK West All-America Second Team, USCHO.com West All-America Second Team, All-NCHA First Team and All-WIAC First Team honors this year.

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Three Named to Men’s Academic All-District At-Large Team

RELEASED: Thursday, May 24, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men’s At-Large Team. UW-La Crosse’s Jason Lulloff and UW-River Falls’ Derek Hansberry were first team choices, while the Eagles’ Josh Chelf was a second team pick.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Lulloff, a senior from Kiel, Wis., was an academic all-district second team selection a year ago. He is majoring in physical education and boasts a 3.84 grade point average. Lulloff was named the WIAC Max Sparger Wrestling Scholar-Athlete this season and secured the conference championship at 184 pounds before finishing third at the NCAA Division III championship.

Lulloff and Hansberry are now eligible for the Academic All-America team, which will be announced on June 12.

Chelf, a junior from Irma, Wis. (Tomahawk H.S.) carries a 3.48 grade point average and is majoring in exercise and sports science-teaching. He was named the WIAC Wrestler of the Year this season after securing the national championship and conference title at 174 pounds.

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Nichol Named UW-Stevens Point Men’s Ice Hockey Coach

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Stevens Point, Wis.--A national search for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s ice hockey coach resulted in finding the perfect candidate just four blocks away.

Wil Nichol, a former UW-Stevens Point player who has coached the Stevens Point Area Senior High School boys’ hockey team the past two years, has been selected as the fourth coach in the Pointers’ 26-year hockey history.

Nichol, 33, takes over a UW-Stevens Point program that has one of the deepest traditions in Division III hockey with four national championships and two runner-up finishes in nine national tournament appearances.

“I expect excellence,” Nichol said. “I expect it academically, in the community and on the ice. I will do everything I can to uphold the great tradition of this program and hopefully add to it.”

“Based on Wil’s coaching experiences, his passion for Pointer hockey, this university and the Stevens Point community in general, he was a natural choice,” UW-Stevens Point Athletics Director Frank O’Brien said.

Nichol was a defenseman for the Pointers from 1994-98 and captained UW-Stevens Point’s NCAA Division III runner-up team in 1998 under former coach Joe Baldarotta, who recently resigned after 16 seasons. Nichol played in all 121 possible career games with the Pointers, totaling five goals and 20 assists.

“There’s nothing to describe the feeling I have right now,” said the Madison native, who attended Madison West High School. “It’s a huge honor. To coach at your alma mater, a team that you bled for, a university that you love and a community that you consider home, I don’t know how to put that into words.”

Most recently, Nichol coached Stevens Point Area Senior High to a pair of WIAA state tournament appearances and a 46-3 record over two seasons. The Panthers became the first team to complete an undefeated Wisconsin Valley Conference season, accomplishing the feat in both of Nichol’s seasons with 16-0 league records each year.

He spent the 1998-99 season as a student assistant coach with the Pointers and completed his degree in English. While at UW-Stevens Point, Nichol received the Chancellor’s Leadership Award and the athletic department’s citizenship award. Nichol was then a graduate assistant coach for two seasons at Miami University (Ohio), earning a master’s degree in Physical Education, Health and Sports Studies.

Nichol was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for one season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League before assuming head coach and general manager roles for the IMG Academy Midget AAA team in Bradenton, Fla. the following year. He returned to Chicago as the head coach and general manager for two seasons in 2003-05 and became the only rookie coach in USHL history to land league coach of the year honors after taking the Steel from ninth place to their only regular season Eastern Conference title in franchise history. Nichol coached 30 players who went on to play Division I college hockey.

He has also served as a head coach and assistant coach at several USA Hockey festivals for select 15, 16 and 17 players. Nichol has assisted with numerous hockey camps, including those at Miami and UW-Stevens Point.

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Six Earn USCHO.com All-America Honors

RELEASED: Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2007 NCAA Division III USCHO.com West All-America Team.

UW-River Falls’ A.J. Bucchino, Tyler Dahl and Jim Henkemeyer were first team picks, while UW-Stout’s Mike Stone, UW-Superior’s Derek Paige and the Falcons’ Derek Hansberry were second team choices.

UW-Eau Claire’s Greg Peterson, UW-Stevens Point’s Sean Fish and the Blue Devils’ Jack Wolgemuth were honorable mention selections.

USCHO.com also selected a West Rookie Team that included the Blue Devils’ Bobby Kuehl and Scott Motz and the Yellowjackets’ Braden Desmet.

UW-Stout head coach Terry Watkins earned honorable mention as the national Coach of the Year.

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Six Named to AHCA/RBK Hockey All-America Team

RELEASED: Thursday, March 29, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2007 NCAA Division III American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA)/RBK Hockey Men’s West Region All-America Team. The team is split into West and East regions.

UW-River Falls’ A.J. Bucchino, T.J. Dahl and Jim Henkemeyer and UW-Superior’s Derek Paige were named to the first team, while the Falcons’ Derek Hansberry and UW-Stout’s Mike Stone were second team choices.

Bucchino, a junior goalie from Bow, N.H., finished the season with a 21-6-2 record and a 2.12 goals against average with a .933 save percentage. He made a season-high 34 saves against St. Olaf College (Minn.) on Nov. 4, 2006. Bucchino has a career record of 31-11-5 with a 2.10 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

Dahl, a junior forward from Burnsville, Minn., registered 12 goals and 40 assists for 52 points. He scored at least one point in 26 of the team’s 29 games and has compiled 33 goals and 79 assists for 112 points in his career. Dahl was named the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Year this season.

Henkemeyer, a junior defenseman from St. Cloud, Minn., led all Falcon defensemen in scoring with eight goals and 24 points. He registered seven power-play goals and two game-winning efforts.

Paige, a junior defenseman from Logan Lake, British Columbia, scored two goals and added 14 assists for 16 points.

Hansberry, a sophomore forward from Arvada, Colo., compiled a team-leading 21 goals and was second on the squad with 35 points. He had 10 multiple-point games and has 39 career goals and 68 career points.

Stone, a junior goalie from West St. Paul, Minn. (Henry Sibley H.S.), put together a school record 15-5-1 overall record and registered a 2.11 goals against average, recording 517 saves with a save percentage of .927. He finished third nationally in save percentage, sixth in GAA and 10th in winning percentage (.728). Stone is the second Blue Devil to earn All-America honors, joining Jeff Dotson in 2004.

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Bethel Tops UW-River Falls in NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey First Round

RELEASED: Thursday, March 8, 2007

River Falls, Wis.--Benoit Duhamel’s goal at 11:48 of the third period lifted Bethel University (Minn.) to a 2-1 win over UW-River Falls in a NCAA Division III Tournament First Round game on March 7 at Hunt Arena.

UW-River Falls jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period when Joe Adams scored his first goal of the season with a snap shot from 20 feet in front of the Bethel goal. He was assisted by Cory Baldwin and Jared Sailer. Despite UW-River Falls’ quick start, the Royals out shot the Falcons, 14-7, in the first period.

It didn’t take the Royals long to tie the game in the second period. Just 30 seconds into the second stanza, Bill Menozzi scored his third goal of the year on an assist from Pat Dynan. Ten penalties were called in the period. Bethel was 0-3, and the Falcons were 0-2, with the man advantage. The Royals out shot the Falcons again - this time 11-8.

Bethel took a 2-1 lead at 11:48 of the third period when Duhamel scored his eighth goal of the season. He pounced on a rebound off a shot by Jon Kovacs to score from 15 feet out. The Falcons held a 15-13 advantage in shots in the period.

Both teams took eight minor penalties in the game and both teams finished 0-4 on the power play. Bethel had a 38-30 advantage in shots.

Bethel goalie Aaron Damjanovich made 29 saves and improved to 13-5-1 on the season, while UW-River Falls goalie AJ Bucchino stopped 36 shots and fell to 21-6-2.

Bethel, now 18-9-1 overall, will play at St. Norbert College in a NCAA quarterfinal game on March 10. The Falcons end their season with a 21-6-2 record.

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UW-River Falls Earns NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Bid

RELEASED: Monday, March 5, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls earned an at-large bid into the 2007 NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament and will host Bethel University (Minn.) in a first round game on March 7.

The Falcons (21-5-2) secured one of four at-large spots in the 10-team national field. Also receiving at-large bids were Manhattanville College (N.Y.) (20-1-5), SUNY-Oswego (20-3-3) and Norwich University (Vt.) (20-7).

This will be the 11th NCAA tournament appearance for the Falcons, who are 22-12 all-time in NCAA contests. UW-River Falls secured national titles in 1988 and 1994 with a runner-up finish in 1993 and third-place standing in 1995 and 1996.

The Falcons won the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association regular season championship, while Bethel secured the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship. UW-River Falls is 9-4-1 all-time against Bethel, including a 7-4 triumph on Jan. 6 this season.

The winner of the UW-River Falls and Bethel (17-9-1) first round matchup will travel to St. Norbert College (24-3-2) for a quarterfinal contest on March 10.

Quarterfinal winners will advance to the national semifinals and finals, which will be hosted by UW-Superior on March 17-18.

NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament
Wednesday, March 7
First Round
Bethel University (Minn.) (17-9-1) at UW-River Falls (21-5-2), 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 10
Quarterfinals
Bethel/UW-River Falls at St. Norbert College (24-3-2), TBA

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UW-Superior’s Bradley Receives Men’s Ice Hockey Scholar-Athlete Award

RELEASED: Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Baron Bradley has been named the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men’s Ice Hockey Scholar-Athlete.

Bradley, a senior from Neepawa, Manitoba, is majoring in broadfield science and carries a 3.63 grade point average. He has been named to the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) All-Academic Team the last two years and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Bradley has received recognition on UW-Superior’s Dean’s List numerous semesters.

He earned All-NCHA honorable mention honors in 2005 and ranks fourth on UW-Superior’s all-time list in goals against average, save percentage and shutouts.

Bradley has volunteered for Buddy Walk and as a high school ice hockey coach. He served as an arena student supervisor at Wessman Arena and earned Employee of the Year honors.

UW-Superior has now had seven men’s ice hockey student-athletes claim the conference’s scholar-athlete award.

UW-Eau Claire’s Brooks Lockwood (Sr., Hudson, Wis.) was also nominated for the award this year.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard. Sparger served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference from July, 1971 - July, 1993.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-River Falls’ Freeman Claims Fifth Straight Coach of the Year Honor

RELEASED: Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Madison, Wis.--For the fifth straight season, University of Wisconsin-River Falls men’s ice hockey head coach has been named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Coach of the Year based on a vote of the league coaches.

Freeman directed the Falcons to their fourth consecutive WIAC championship this year. He is in his 11th season with the squad and owns a 220-89-21 record (.698 winning percentage). The 220 wins rank third on the conference’s all-time wins list.

It marks the sixth time in his career Freeman has won the award after he also captured the prize in 1998.

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UW-River Falls Secures Fourth Consecutive Men’s Ice Hockey Championship

RELEASED: Sunday, February 11, 2007

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls secured its fourth consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men’s ice hockey championship with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over UW-Stout on Feb. 10 at Dunn County Ice Arena.

The conference title for the Falcons is the league-best 13th in program history. The four straight titles is the longest streak in conference history since the Falcons won seven consecutive from 1982-1988.

UW-River Falls (19-4-2 overall, 7-1-0 WIAC) earned its second win over UW-Stout (19-4-2, 5-3-0) in as many nights after Dustin Norman scored a power play goal just 46 seconds into overtime.

Pat Borgestad got the Falcons on the scoreboard with a goal at 3:42 of the first period. He was assisted by Derek Hansberry and T.J. Dahl. Late in the period, Borgestad struck again, registering a power play goal at 19:01 with assists from Tyler Kostiuk and Jim Henkemeyer.

UW-Stout came back just 38 seconds later to make it a 2-1 game when Matt Mlynarczyk scored on an assist from Jack Wolgemuth.

The Blue Devils tied the game when Paul Henderson scored at 4:16 of the third period. Mlynarczyk and Andrew Stearns were credited with assists on the goal.

The Falcons countered at the 10 minute mark when Hansberry tallied a power play goal on an assist by Dahl. UW-Stout answered just 22 second later when Mlynarczyk scored his second goal of the contest on another assist from Stearns.

UW-Stout took a minor penalty with 21 seconds to play in the third period. That set up Norman’s unassisted game-winning goal in overtime.

UW-Stout outshot the Falcons, 40-21, in the game and UW-River Falls was cited for five minor penalties and the Blue Devils for seven. The Falcon power play was the difference in the game, finishing 3-of-4, while UW-Stout was 0-for-2.

Falcon goalie AJ Bucchino made 37 saves and UW-Stout’s Mike Stone stopped 17 shots.

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UW-Stout’s Stearns Makes First Cut in Skills Challenge

RELEASED: Thursday, December 14, 2006

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout senior forward Andrew Stearns is one of 89 finalists announced for the 2007 NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge.

The finalists were pared down from an original list of 181 student-athletes who were submitted by their head coaches. From this list, the selection committee, consisting of NCAA staff members, members of the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey committee, representatives from the American Hockey Coaches Association, Nike Bauer Hockey and the six Division I men's ice hockey conferences, will select the 32 players that will compete in the event. All college players that will exhaust their eligibility this season were eligible to be nominated.

The finalists are from NCAA Division I and III schools, although Stearns is one of only three Division III finalists selected. The Skills Challenge competition will be held in an East vs. West format with each team having six male position players, six position female players, two male goaltenders and two female goaltenders. The competitions will include puck control relay, fastest skater, hardest shot, rapid fire shooting, accuracy shooting and penalty shot.

Stearns, a native of Wadena, Minn., currently has two goals and eight assists on the season for the Blue Devils (10-1-2, 5-0-1 NCHA), who are in first place in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) and are ranked seventh nationally in the latest USCHO.com Division III poll.

The second annual Skills Challenge will be held April 6 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., and will be shown live on ESPNU. The schedule of events for "Friday Night at the Frozen Four" will include the presentation of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the presentation of the Hockey Humanitarian Award and the NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge.

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UW-River Falls’ Freeman Secures 200th Career Victory

RELEASED: Tuesday, October 31, 2006

River Falls, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls men’s ice hockey head coach Steve Freeman secured his 200th career victory in the Falcons’ 6-4 win over Lawrence University on Oct. 28 at Hunt Arena.

Freeman is in his 11th season at UW-River Falls and owns an overall record of 200-86-19. His 200 wins rank third on the WIAC all-time list behind Steve Nelson’s 249 victories at UW-Superior from 1987-00 and Joe Baldarotta’s 258 wins at UW-Stevens Point.

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