Shilts nets hat trick, powers Men's Hockey to 8-2 win over Finlandia

HANCOCK, Mich. – Senior Dan Shilts returned from his injury strong, netting the third hat trick in Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Hockey history, aiding his team to an 8-2 victory over Finlandia University Saturday night in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association action.

The Falcons eight goals tied a program record for most in a game, while their 22 points set a new program mark. Shilts (New Richmond, Wis.) had the three goals, while sophomore Devin Stuermer (Milwaukee, Wis.) posted a career-best five points, scoring one goal and adding three assists. It was Shilts first game since November 9 against St. Scholastica. Stuermer's five points set a new Falcons record for most points in a contest. 

The second period proved to be the difference for CUW as they scored five times, building a 6-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. Four of those goals came within 5:47 of one another, the final three on the power play as the Falcons finished 3-for-6 with an extra skater in the game. Shilts scored two of his three goals in the second stanza.

It looked as if it may have been Finlandia's night early in the contest as Travis Armstrong put the home team up 1-0 just 35 seconds into play. The night would belong to the Falcons, however, as they evened things up before the first intermission with a goal from sophomore Kevin Michelcavage (Sterling Heights, Mich.) at the 14:02 mark. Sophomore Lawrence Childs (Silver Springs, Md.) and freshman Tanner Bull (Brooklin, Ontario) assisted on the Falcons first score.

The second stanza was all Falcons, beginning with Shilt's first goal at the 1:25 mark. Stuermer and sophomore Trammell Lynes (Edmonton, Alberta) assisted on that score, which pushed the Falcons in front, 2-1.

The score would remain 2-1 until the 11:11 mark, which started the CUW scoring streak of four goals over 5:47 of play. Sophomore Chris Hughes (Dundee, Mich.) scored the first of those goals with assists from freshman Michael Chen (Rockville, Md.) and Bull. The Falcons then added three straight power play goals from freshman Brandt Weldon (The Pas, Manitoba), Stuermer and Shilts. Freshman Kyle Fink (Milwaukee, Wis.) picked up assists on both Weldon's and Stuermer's goals, while Stuermer also assisted on the Weldon score. Sophomore Eli Riddle (Blissfield, Mich.) added an assist on the Stuermer goal and Chen got his second assist of the game on Shilt's power play goal.

Finlandia would get its second goal with 49 seconds remaining in the second period but CUW added two goals in the third to gain the 8-2 victory. Shilts completed the hat trick at the 7:52 mark of the final stanza, while freshman Riley Storzuk (Wynyard, Saskatchewan) scored just 38 seconds later. Stuermer added his third assist of the night on the Shilts goal, while Fink and senior Brandon Bayer (Milwaukee, Wis.) assisted the Storzuk score.

Sophomore Domingo Torrenueva (Oshawa, Ontario) picked up his second win in as many starts for the Falcons, tying a career high with 24 saves. CUW chased Finlandia starter Troy Chandler midway through the second period as he made 19 saves in 35:31 of action. Andrew Brownlee finished the game between the pipes for the Lions.

The only other team CUW has scored eight goals in a game came on December 13, 2008 against Minnesota Crookston. The last hat trick CUW recorded was by current Falcon Russell Johnson (Monticello, Minn.) as he accomplished the feat on November 12, 2011 against Lake Forest. 

These two teams will get together again tomorrow afternoon at the Houghton County Arena. Puck is set to drop at 1:15 CST and live video will be available courtesy of the Finlandia sports information department.