Two key home games await USU hockey club
One problem for the Utah State hockey club was discovered, but the solution is still a work in progress.
Last weekend, the Aggies found out one of the main reasons the team has struggled to play 60 minutes of solid hockey is because most of the guys on the team have never played 60 minutes of hockey, said USU assistant coach Ty Newberry.
“Most of these guys played high school hockey or midget’s which is 12 or 15 minute periods,” he said.
And to keep its No. 2 ranking in the latest Rocky Mountain College Hockey Association polls, the Aggies must have a strong showing at home this weekend.
The Aggies will face in-state rival the University of Utah for the fourth time this season Friday night, a series USU leads 2-0-1.
Then comes the big one. Colorado State University, the No. 1 ranked team in the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Hockey Association, will visit Logan Saturday night in a matchup that has been a dogfight the last couple of games.
CSU came away with a 5-4 home victory Oct. 12. Newberry said that was the first game this season USU walked away feeling they played as good as they possibly could.
So, how confident is this Aggie team after being drubbed 12-3 last Saturday?
“Our game against AU had us down pretty good,” said USU left wing Aaron Burrell. “[But] if we can get the ball rolling heading into Saturday’s game, I think we will be in great shape.”
The Aggies will be without two pivotal players this weekend as USU center Nick Thiros, one of the Aggies’ best setup players and scorers, will be out because of a broken right index finger.
Center Paul Amidon is taking time off from the team to catch up on school work and will be out indefinitely, Newberry said.
“As a coaching staff we’re very pleased with Paul,” Newberry said. “He’s getting his priorities in order. Hockey isn’t life. He’s definitely gonna be missed, and we’re anxious for him to come back.”
Jumping to Division I has been considered
Newberry said there has been talk of USU, Weber State, Colorado and Colorado State all making the leap from Division II to Division I.
This is the first year CSU and Weber said they will make the transition to Division 1 if they could get two other schools to join with them.
But Newberry said the Aggies aren’t sold on the idea.
There are many, perhaps countless reasons the Aggies are hindered to make a move. The team has a limited budget, relies on its fifth and sixth year players, and simply doesn’t have the great speed, depth and transition play of D1 teams, he said.
“We’re just not ready for that level yet,” Newberry said. “To make a jump just for the sake of making a jump just isn’t worth it.”
Last weekend’s losses to Arizona and Arizona State -two D1 teams – serve as more prime examples.
After the Aggies went down 6-0 against ASU, Newberry said the Sun Devils went into a trap and “called the dogs off.” If it weren’t for this and the Aggies getting a five-minute power play to score a couple goals, the game wouldn’t have been as close as it was.
“We’ve proven we [can get] to Nationals on a consistent basis,” he said. “Once we have proven to ourselves we’ve gone to Nationals on a consistent basis, and made a statement while we’re there, then it’s time to look [to going Division I].”
-samhis@cc.usu.edu