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Issued: October 30, 2007

MEN’S HOCKEY HOME OPENER FRIDAY NIGHT

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Eau Claire men’s hockey team will host Concordia College (MN) at 7 p.m. Friday night at Hobbs Ice Center for its home opener and one of two home games this weekend.

The Blugolds 1-0-0 overall after winning its season opener last weekend in Duluth, where Eau Claire beat St. Scholastica in a non-conference game by the score of 5-3.

Eau Claire is looking to continue its winning ways in front of its home crowd Friday night against Concordia College. The Blugolds have won six of eight games against the Cobbers all-time with a 6-1-1 series record. During the 2006-07 season, Eau Claire beat Concordia by a score of 9-0 at Hobbs Ice Center. The Blugolds have won the last four times these two teams have met with scores of 9-0, 5-3, 4-1, and 4-2.

This will be the first game of the season for Concordia College who was 7-18-0 overall last season and 3-13-0 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).

Leading the Blugolds offensive attack is Sean Garrity (Sr. - North St. Paul, MN/North) who scored two goals in the first game of the season. Andrew Johnson (Jr.- Andover, MN/Anoka), Greg Petersen (Jr.- Maple Grove, MN/Totino-Grace), and Sam Bauler (Jr.- Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) each have one goal for the Blugolds. Jesse Vesel (Jr.- Hibbing, MN) and Dan Fina (Fontana, WI/Glenbard South, IL) lead the team with two assists each.

Leading the way between the pipes is goalie Tyler Brigl (So.- Eagan, MN), who was the winning goaltender in the Blugolds first game of the season. Brigl had 40 saves against St. Scholastica, giving him a save percentage of .930. Brigl also allowed three goals in the game, two of which were short-handed.

Eau Claire will continue it home opening weekend Saturday night with a game against St. John’s University. This will be St. John’s second game of the season, St. John’s will travel to UW-Stevens Point on Friday night for a game with the Pointers.

The Johnnies finished with an overall record of 9-14-2 and a 6-9-1 record in the MIAC last season. The Blugolds are 8-5-0 overall against the Johnnies. Eau Claire won last years match up between the two teams by a score of 3-1. Last year was the first time in 11 years that St. John’s did not make the MIAC playoffs.

The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. Friday night at Hobbs Ice Center where Eau Claire will take on Concordia in its home opener. On Saturday night the Blugolds will take on St. John’s at 7 p.m. also at Hobbs Ice Center.

- KD -

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