Hockey team upsets Denver
Six different Aggies scored as the Utah State hockey club routed Denver, the second-ranked team in the region, 8-1 last Saturday at the Eccles Ice Center in North Logan.
Robert Hashimoto and Scotty John both scored twice for the Aggies and William Winsa had one goal and four assists.
“The pieces of the puzzle are coming together,” Head Coach Jerry Crossley said. “The guys are positioning better on defense. A one-goal game is something you need.”
Greg Finatti, the Aggies’ backup goalie, got the start and saved 18 of the 19 shots taken on him.
“Finatti stood on his head,” John said. “Both our goalies are sick. It doesn’t matter who’s in net.”
Finatti got the start over Adam Lain, who normally is the USU goalie for big games.
“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Finatti said after the game. “This was my biggest game in college so far.”
Crossley said the reason Finatti started was because it was simply his turn.
“We want all our goaltenders prepared,” he said. “You don’t know who you’re going to have at the end.”
After finishing the first period tied 1-1, the Aggies scored three times in the second period and then another four times in the third to put the game away.
“I don’t think they wanted it [in the third],” John said. “They kind of rolled over on us. It was a road game for them and you’re always a little sluggish on the road.”
John said he does not think the Pioneers were ready for the game.
“After the first, they were more prepared,” he said. “But it’s tough when teams get ahead of you on the road.”
In the third period, Aggie Jay Obmerga scored his first goal for USU. As he was leaving the penalty box, Winsa stole the puck from a Denver player and passed it to Obmerga who was all alone at the other end of the ice.
“I was in the right place at the right time,” he said. “Swede [Winsa] so happened to see me and I was like ‘oh my gosh.’ I knew I had to score it or I would get made fun of.”
Obmerga, who is in his second season as an Aggie, said it is good just to be getting playing time.
“It feels good to finally get in the lineup,” he said. “I was on an internship last semester and I was surprised the coaches even took me back. It’s been a long battle.”
USU will go on the road next week, taking on Washington Thursday and Eastern Washington on Friday and Saturday.
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu
Utah State’s Mikel Roy attempts to skate the puck through two Denver players during last Friday’s game. The tenth-ranked Aggies upet the second-ranked Pioneers 8-1.