Hockey heads out on tough road trip
Aggie hockey has rolled over opponents this season by a combined score of 54-6. The match-ups with Brigham Young University and Weber State University have secured USU’s position as the best team in Utah. Now it’s time to take their talents out of state.
The Aggie skaters travel to St. Louis for a three-game stint at the annual American College Hockey Association Division II showcase, Oct. 7. The Aggies open up the weekend with a match up against the University of Minnesota-Crookston, before facing off with DePaul University Saturday and Michigan State University, Sunday.
“We’ve basically been preparing for this weekend since the season started,” said USU captain Brendan MacDonald.
Simply put, the team’s first out-of-state match ups of the season are big.
Coming home with three wins would have a great influence on an Aggie season that is based on how many points they pick up.
“The whole season is based on a points system, so this weekend could be very good for our season,” McDonald said.
The showcase is not only an opportunity for the Aggies to help out their points standing. It’s no secret Utah State has talent, but how that talent stands up against quality opponents remains to be seen.
“We’re playing great teams on the East Coast that we haven’t seen before,” said Utah State head coach Jon Eccles.
The Aggies are undefeated but have not faced off against a team like Michigan State, which played for the ACHA DII Championship last season. The Spartans lost to Grand Valley State 6-1 in the championship game.
“This weekend will be a very good yardstick for us to measure ourselves with,” Eccles said. “It will give us an idea of what we really need to work on and help set the tone for the rest of the season.”
Eccles said the home and away match ups with in-state foes Brigham Young University and Weber State University haven’t provided the challenge he expected.
“It’s been a little disappointing,” Eccles said. “We were expecting them to be better than they are.”
The out-matched opponents haven’t dampened Aggie intensity. MacDonald said he expects the road trip to be the same.
“We haven’t stopped working,” MacDonald said. “The scores may be closer, but we’re still going out there working just as hard as we have all season.”
While the lack of competition has been a challenge, it is something Utah State can overcome as a team.
“We are more focused, more talented and more disciplined than we have been in the past,” Eccles said.
Aggie defenseman Ty Johns agreed.
“I think our team is mature enough that we’re going to be ready for it,” Johns said.
If the team continues on its hot streak, MacDonald said he expects this weekend to be successful.
“I think we’re going to win,” Macdonald said.
Johns echoed his captain’s words.
“There’s no reason for us to not come back with three wins,” Johns said.
USU will play three games but the Aggies’ biggest challenge will come Sunday when they face off against Michigan State.
Although all three teams play a high level of hockey, the ACHA DII runners up are on a different level. MacDonald said he isn’t looking too far ahead, but his teammates are definitely aware of what awaits them.
“You can’t look past the first game, but I think Michigan State is definitely going to be a challenge for us,” MacDonald said.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu