A quick game in the second period – Badgers senior winger Roman Ahcan and Bulldogs junior winger Quinn Olson both received a major penalty and game misconduct at the end of the period after Ahcan bumped into Olson in the boards at the buzzer, and Olson hit back – and an intense, close third period game with the Bulldogs with one goal, UMD coach Scott Sandelin said his team got it. that she was looking for the 288 mile round trip down and up US Highway 53 on Sunday to a town made famous. by a family of brewers.

“There was emotion and passion, which is good because you’re going to see it throughout the season,” said Sandelin, whose team will open the regular season at 7:07 pm Friday in Bemidji. State before welcoming the Beavers. at 7:07 p.m. Saturday at the Amsoil Arena. “It was good to have a little of that. There are always fears that follow one another. I thought it was good for our guys and I’m sure it was good for their guys.

First-year forward Carter Loney, true senior defenseman Hunter Lellig and fifth-year senior transfer Casey Gilling of Miami scored for the Bulldogs in the second period – with true senior winger Tanner Laderoute assisting Lellig and Gilling – while the true senior center Jesse Jacques froze the game via a goal in an empty net with 2.2 seconds left.

UMD faced all three goalkeepers – in a match where official shots and stats weren’t kept – with red-shirted senior Ben Patt backing UMD in a scoreless first period. Junior Ryan Fanti allowed Badgers junior winger Ryder Donovan of Duluth a second goal, who tied the game at 1-1 for just 24 seconds. Lellig quickly recovered the UMD by one point, before Gilling pushed the lead to two before third.

“It was great,” Lellig said of the game. “The vibe was great, for one, and then coming here too, we wanted to play a fast game, a physical game. It’s a really good hockey team, but we performed well. We like the result, obviously. .

Second-year goalkeeper Zach Stejskal from Cohasset closed the UMD victory under heavy pressure, being crushed three times at the start of the third – resulting in a minor penalty on one of the hits he received.

The only goal Stejskal conceded with 12:17 left in the third period was controversial by Wisconsin second-year winger Sam Stange from nearby Eau Claire. The zone kid’s shot appeared to hit the bottom of the crossbar and rebounded, but it was ruled as a goal by the Big Ten officials team and the local goal judge behind the net – none Video replay review was only available at the home of the Association’s Chippewa Youth Hockey Chippewa Steel and the North American Hockey League.

Minnesota defenseman Duluth Jake Rosenbaum (27) is controlled by Wisconsin forward Tarek Baker (16) on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at Chippewa Area Ice Arena in Chippewa Falls. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune

In addition to getting closer to Stange’s goal, the Badgers took advantage of the power play – one of the two third-party advantages for the Badgers that the Bulldogs killed. Both teams finished 0-for-4 on the power play, with Stejskal making two big saves in the UMD’s final penalty which started with 4:18 to go.

“It got pretty intense,” Jacques said of the third period. “We’re pretty used to it. A lot of us older guys are used to tight games, keeping our heads.

“We knew Wisconsin would be a good team – fast, heavy. We were prepared all week, ready for them.

All proceeds from Sunday’s exhibit were donated to an endowment fund that helps children in the Chippewa Falls area play hockey. The event was organized by local volunteers and local sponsors covered all costs of the game.

hockey game on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena in Chippewa Falls. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune” width=”1140″ height=””/>

Fans wait to line up for the Wisconsin and Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey game on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena in Chippewa Falls. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune

Both coaches praised the experience and hospitality of the local community for hosting an event that unfolded in about a month following a temporary NCAA waiver that allowed NCAA teams to compete in exhibitions this season.

“Chippewa Falls and the organization here, what they did to make it happen really quickly, and to attract all of these enthusiastic hockey fans, it was a spectacular event,” said Badgers coach Tony Granato. “These are two teams that fought like crazy. You wouldn’t think it was the first game.

“It was great, it was nice to play in front of the fans,” said Sandelin. “Building is pretty fun. I haven’t played in a building like this (for a long time). … It was great to see how excited the community was and we are thankful that we were able to get Wisconsin to play.