Box Score

Coach Nichol B104.9 Post-game interview

ASHLAND – The UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team opened the 2009-10 season on Saturday evening with a 6-1 win over the Lumberjacks of Northland College at the Bay Area Civic Center.

The Pointers, who had just one veteran in their starting line on the evening, struck first at the 4:33 mark of the first period, as Jon Madden (Brighton, MI) scored on the backhanded shot off a Alex Handy (Carmel, IN) and Garrett Suter (Madison) assist, giving the Pointers the early 1-0 lead.

Northland struck back at the 8:21 mark, as Ryan Pageau snuck the puck past Pointer netminder Nick Graves (Hewitt) knotting the score at a goal apiece.

In the second period, the Nic Polaski (Delafield) put the Pointers in front for good, taking the Donnie Hallmark (Ontario, CA) pass and sending it home at the 2:47 mark of the second period. Polaski scored again at the 4:28 mark, this time on the power play, again from Hallmark, pushing the Pointer advantage to 3-1 after two periods.

In the third, newcomer Johnny Meo (Vernon Hills, IL) recorded his first two goals as a Pointer, scoring at the 1:32 mark of the third period on a power play opportunity off a Sutter and Sean McNeely (Brooklyn Park, MN) pass. Meo struck again at the 4:26 mark of the third on an assist from Chris Annunziato (Alto Loma, CA) and Sam Graham (Los Angeles, CA), giving the Pointers the 5-1 edge.

With time winding down, the Pointers struck again on the 5-on-3 power-play, as Hallmark recored his first goal of the season off a Harrison Niemann (Lanton, MI) and Justin Johnson (Eau Claire) pass, putting the Pointers in front the by the final of 6-1.

The Pointers open Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) action on Friday, Oct. 30 when they host St. Scholastica for a weekend series at K.B. Willett Arena.  Friday's game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.