Pat Dalbec scored twice and Dayn Belfour picked up the shutout as the University of Wisconsin-Superior men's hockey team defeated the Norwich Cadets 3-0 in the third-place game of the Prime Link Great Northern Shootout in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
The Yellowjackets were the first western team invited to the tournament to win a game in the tournament. Teams from the west are now a combined 1-11 in the event.
The Yellowjackets opened the tournament with a 4-1 loss Friday night to the host Plattsburgh State Cardinals. The tournament was played at the Stafford Ice Arena.
Dalbec's first goal came on a power play with 1:30 remaining in the first period. Jordan Neduzak and Nick Stoskopf assisted.
After a scoreless second period, Cody Hotchkin gave UWS a 2-0 lead at 12:53 of the third period with help from Michael Rey and Belfour.
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Dalbec's second goal of the game, fifth of the season, was scored into an empty net with 1:47 remaining.
Besides picking up his first assist of the season, Belfour picked up his first shutout with 27 saves in handing Norwich its first loss of the season.
Matic Marinsek had 15 saves for Norwich (5-1-2)
UWS (4-5) plays at UW-River Falls Friday and hosts UW-Eau Claire Saturday. Both games begin at 7 p.m. and may be heard locally at KUWS 91.3 FM.
All-tournament team
Dalbec was named to the all-tournament team. He was Superior's leading scorer in the tournament with two goals and an assist. Plattsburgh State goaltender Mathieu Cadieux was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He stopped 39-of-41 shots on the weekend as the Cardinals won the event for the first time since 2010 and the fourth time overall.
Rounding out the all-tournament team were Plattsburgh's Michael Radisa and Barry Roytman and Middlebury's Brendan McGovern and Louis Belisle. Plattsburgh's Patrick Hermans was named the tournament's top rookie.
'JACKET JOTTINGS: St. John's went 0-2 in 2007 and 2010, St. Thomas went 0-2 in 2008 and 2012, and UW-Stout was 0-2 in 2009. ... The tournament was a rematch of the 2002 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championships when UWS won the championship by defeating Norwich 3-2 in overtime.
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PSU 4, UWS 1
The Yellowjackets began the tournament with a 4-1 loss to the Plattsburgh State Cardinals Friday night before a Stafford Ice Arena crowd of 2,034.
Middlebury and Norwich skated to a 1-1 overtime tie before Middlebury advanced with a 2-0 win in the second round of the shootout.
Plattsburgh (7-0-1) and Middlebury (3-0-2) played in the championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Michael Cassidy and Alex Brenton scored to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the first period.
Anton Svensson scored Superior's goal with 7:03 left in the first period with an assist from Dalbec.
Drew Strandberg had 24 saves for UWS and Mathieu Cadieux had 19 for Plattsburgh State.
UWS was called for five minor penalties and was 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Cardinals had three penalties and were 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
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Saturday's Game
UW-Superior 1 0 2 --3
Norwich University 0 0 0 -- 0
First Period: 1. UWS, Pat Dalbec 4 (Jordan Neduzak, Nick Stoskopf), 18:30 (pp).
Second Period: No scoring.
Third Period: 2. UWS Cody Hotchkin 3 (Michael Rey, Dayn Belfour), 12:53. 3. UWS, Dalbec 5 (en).
Saves: Dayn Belfour, UWS 6-12-9--27. Matic Marinsek, NU, 6-6-4--16. Att: 639.
Friday's Game
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UW-Superior 1 0 0 -- 1
Plattsburgh State 2 1 1 -- 4
First Period: 1. PS, Michael Cassidy 1 (Alex Brenton), 6:31. 2. PS, Brenton 1 (Michael Radisa, Anthony Calabrese), 9:43. 3. UWS, Anton Svensson 1 (Pat Dalbec), 12:57.
Second Period: 4. PS, Dillan Fox 6 (Mark Constantine), 1:10.
Third Period: 5. PS, Alex Jenson 3 (Luke Baleshta), 19:14.
Saves: Drew Strandberg, UWS 6-11-7--24. Mathieu Cadieux, PS 7-6-6--19.
