Club hockey to host USC Trojans
The Utah State hockey club will look to climb over the mediocre mark this weekend with games against the Southern California Trojans and the Weber State Wildcat Division II team.
The Aggies will play the Trojans Friday in North Logan at 7:30 p.m. at the Eccles Ice Center. On Saturday, USU will then go to Ogden to face the Wildcats at the Ice Sheet at 8:15 p.m.
The Aggies are coming off a two-game sweep of the Wildcat’s Division II team last weekend. USU beat Weber State in Ogden last Friday 8-5 and then won again at home Saturday 5-4.
“[Last weekend] didn’t go as well as I’d hoped,” said Head Coach Jerry Crossley. “I didn’t think we played as well Saturday night as we did Friday night.”
Crossley said he doesn’t feel they are doing anything wrong as far as procedure is concerned, but rather the players aren’t excited enough to do the things they know how to.
Goalie Chris Webber thought the Aggies did just enough to win last weekend.
“I think it was a little close for us, but as long as we got the Ws, that’s what’s really important,” he said. “We need to focus on a little less breakdowns.”
Webber said little spurts of bad play have hurt the team all year, like the beginning of Saturday’s game against Weber State when the team gave up two goals in the first five minutes.
“I think Weber was just playing better that night, too,” Webber said.
The Weber State Division II team is still seeking its second win of the season. The Wildcats bring a 1-9 record into the weekend with three of their losses coming against the Aggies.
The Trojans have a 7-1-1 record and are currently ranked No. 7 in the West Region of Division II.
Crossley said the USC game will not be easy.
“They’re typically one of the better teams in Southern California, if not the best team down there,” he said. “For us, it’s a must win to stay in the ranking race.”
Crossley said the Aggies’ loss to USC last year is what ultimately cost them a trip to the national tournament.
USU is currently ranked second in the West. The top four teams in each region go to nationals.
“I will be really surprised if we’re still [second] after the Colorado trip,” Crossley said. “But hopefully we’re still up in the top four somewhere. I guess that’s the key – to be in that top four and be as high in that top four as you can be.”
The Aggies have been helped this season by the flood of newcomers to the team.
“All in all, I’ve been pretty pleased with the guys,” Crossley said. “A lot of it is experience and a lot of it is just decision making.”
Webber, who played at San Jose State last year, said he feels he is playing just as well this season, but he should be better by the end of the year.
“I think I have room for improvement,” he said.
Nick Haase has also been a crucial newcomer for the Aggies, despite him not playing hockey for the last three years.
“After high school, I hung up my skates and called it quits,” he said.
Haase is third on the team in total points.
“You can always do more than what you’re doing,” he said. “It just takes hard work and dedication.
Both Webber and Haase said USU is primed for nationals.
“We’ll go to nationals for sure,” Webber said.
Haase said, “I think we’re a good team. I think we’ll go all the way this year and take her to nationals.”
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu