Hockey club departs for final road trip prior to beginning play in Logan
In its last trip of the season, the Utah State University hockey team will play the University of Colorado in a game which will determine the top-ranked team in the conference.
The Aggies begin their final road trip by playing Colorado on Thursday, followed by Colorado State University on Friday and the University of Wyoming on Saturday.
Although the team had a three-game weekend, the Aggies are mostly focusing on Colorado, team captain Paul Amidon said, even though CSU and Wyoming are respectable teams.
“The University of Colorado is ranked No. 2,” Amidon said. “This game will determine who’s number one. If we lose, we’re not number one anymore. If we win, we’ll definitely stay involved. It’s all coming down to this.”
In order to defeat Colorado, the Aggies will rely on their forward line, which Amidon said is one of the best forward lines around.
“Deryk Anderson, Greg Howard and Nick Thiros are our No. 1 line (forwards) right now and they’re just tearing it up,” Amidon said. “They’re working so well together, they always seem to know where each other are.”
Together, Anderson, Howard and Thiros have a total of 59 goals and 55 assists.
Despite playing in a game which means so much to the rankings, having this final road trip means more to the Aggies than what some might think, Amidon said. It also means when the Aggies return home they can begin playing their games at their own arena in Logan, the George S. Eccles Ice Center.
“Our biggest asset right now is the new rink,” Amidon said. “It’s so much more exciting going to practice when you know you don’t have to fight going to sleep or bad weather in the canyon,” he said.
With the exception of a few recent practices, the Aggies have been traveling to Ogden – the nearest ice arena they could use – to hold practice and play their games.
Even with their games in Ogden, Aggie fans came and filled the stands, Amidon said, and the team can’t wait for the next seven-in-a-row home games to get even more fan support.
Tickets to Aggie home games are available in advance at the Taggart Student Center Ticket Office or the Spectrum. A limited amount of tickets will be available at the door on game day.
“We have little doubt we’ll sell out, so get them early,” Amidon said.