Aggies sweep Boise State, remain perfect after break
The Utah State hockey club swept a pair of games from the Boise State Broncos Friday and Saturday and defeated the Weber State Division II team Thursday.
Saturday, the Aggies beat the Broncos 4-1 in a game featuring assistant coach Jon Eccles, 43, suiting up and playing with the team.
“It was so much fun,” Eccles said. “It’s been a life-long dream to play and these guys made it possible. This was the only time [it will happen]. I’ve been waiting for this to happen and the window was right. I thought I did all right.”
Head Coach Jerry Crossley said, “That’s one of those things that the team was really excited to just give him an opportunity to do something like that. It’s one of those things you can check off on a life list.”
Eccles was eligible to play because he registered for school this semester. He said he has about a year and a half left before he gets his degree in human resource management.
Crossley said he thought the team let down after posting a 13-1 win over the Broncos Friday.
“You wish that wouldn’t happen, but a lot of times it does,” Crossley said. “I think they just back off a little. We talk about it, but it doesn’t change anything.”
The team was playing with a different lineup, featuring players who normally do not get much playing time in.
“We got a couple guys in the lineup that we don’t usually have,” said Jordan Frankom. “We got them in, gave them a chance to play, got them some ice-time.”
Frankom is new to the team this semester. He said he played junior-A hockey in Toledo, Ohio but was talked into coming to USU by some friends he had on the team.
The Aggies were led by two goals from Aaron Burrell, giving him five goals between the two games with Boise State.
USU defeated the Division II Weber State Wildcats 6-1 Thursday in a game where six different Aggies found the back of the net.
Overall, 13 USU players had at least one point.
The Aggies were still not satisfied with their effort.
“I don’t think the score really reflected our play,” said Aggie Brandon Latham. “I think we could have played a lot harder. We need to step it up against better teams. It was fortunate that that wasn’t a very good team.”
Crossley said, “I was really unhappy with the first period. I was a little disappointed with the way we started the game. But we got the job done. I think this is probably the best lineup we’ve had of the season. That’s why I was little disappointed.”
Defender Nate Pierce said, “It wasn’t our best showing. I think we could pick it up a lot. I think we should have played a lot
better.”
This was the first game Pierce has played in since November. He had been sidelined with a shoulder injury from hitting the boards wrong, he said.
“It sucks watching when you know you could be playing,” Pierce said. “Oh, it’s terrible. It kills me.”
Pierce was satisfied with his first performance in eight weeks.
“First game back, you’re never 100 percent. I was a little rust,” he said.
The team acknowledged that the rivalry that once was with Weber State has lost its luster this season as Weber State has split its team between Division I and Division II.
“Instead of a rivalry with one team, we got it with two teams,” Latham said. “It isn’t as strong.”
Pierce said, “The Weber D-II team has kind of gone downhill. I don’t think it’s as big of a rivalry anymore, because they’re not as good. Of course we want to come out and kill them, but they’re lacking in talent. It’s not as much of a challenge. It’s not as exciting as it was.”
The Aggies will host the Denver University Pioneers Friday.
USU will bring a 13-10-1 record into the game, riding a four-game winning streak since Winter Break. The Pioneers have a 3-4 record with only two games against Division II opponents, according to the American Collegiate Hockey Association Web site.
“We just want to keep taking it one game at a time and get a win,” Crossley said.
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu