Aggies sweep Ice Cats to end regular season
The Utah State hockey club won its final two regular season games of the year by sweeping the Provo Icecats in North Logan and Provo last weekend.
The Aggies won Saturday in Provo 6-2 and Friday in North Logan 5-2.
USU now has a week off before traveling to Laurel, Md. for the national tournament.
“We’re ready as we’re going to be,” said Aggie Nick Haase. “There’s a few things we’re going to need to touch up on this week in practice, but we’re ready.”
The Aggies have been on a roll since Winter Break, going 12-1 with their only loss coming against defending national champion Colorado.
“That was a fantastic second half for us,” said Aggie Head Coach Jerry Crossley. “That’s perfect, going into where we’re going.”
USU dominated BYU down the stretch, with three goals in the final period.
“This was a very good win,” said Aggie Roberto Leo. “We owned them. Everyone played good. This is what we want going to nationals.”
The Aggies broke a 1-1 tie in the second period Saturday by scoring two shorthanded goals by Mike Lewandowski and Brett Fryslie on the same penalty, giving USU the lead for good.
“Those two goals were huge,” Haase said. “Momentum is everything in this game.”
Crossley said, “Those are emotional backbreakers when you’re on a power play and the team scores against you. And then when you do it twice, that’s got to be emotional suicide for a team.”
Leading 3-2 going into the third period, the Aggies immediately put the pressure on the Icecats by scoring only 41 seconds into the final period. The Icecats did not score after the second period.
Overall, six different Aggies found the back of the net Saturday.
Friday, the Aggies won their final home game of the year 5-2 behind four goals from all-time USU goals leader Aaron Burrell.
“Some nights the puck just bounces your way I guess,” Burrell said. “I was just throwing garbage at the net and it was going in.”
The Eccles Ice Arena easily sold out Friday night.
“In front of a fantastic crown, a sellout on your last night in town, that’s beautiful,” Burrell said. “That just shows what our fans have meant to us all year long.”
Robert Hashimoto had three assists and Dave Langlois and Brandon Lang each added two more.
Jordan Francom limped off the ice late in the first period after blocking a shot with his foot, but returned to finish the game in the second period.
“It hurts pretty bad,” he said. “My foot was a little shaky, but I was ready to go.”
Francom said he was excited to see Thad Nicholls get some playing time in his last game.
“It made me really excited to get him in,” Francom said. “It was his last game and hadn’t been getting in much. We decided to put him in the rotation when we scored our fifth goal. It got me real excited just to put him in there.”
The Aggies’ next game will be Wednesday, March 3 against Davenport at the national tournament.
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu