Looking forward to nationals
Over the course of the 2011-12 season, the Utah State hockey team beat in-state opponents by a combined score of 180-40, picked wins over well-known American Collegiate Hockey Association D-I programs, and finished second in the Western division.
Next week the Aggies will put their almost perfect record on the line, when they head to Florida for the ACHA National tournament.
Aggie defenseman Jordan Kerr said the team will play hard no matter what stage its on.
“When it comes down to it, we are going to play hard,” Kerr said. “It’s nationals. We know what’s on the line.”
Kerr and the rest of the Aggie defense will get a big boost when the 6-foot-2, 210-pound defenseman Ty Johns returns to the lineup after missing much of the regular season with a leg injury.
“He’s a big part of our defense core, so having him back will be a huge step for us,” USU forward Matt Hamilton said.
USU head coach Jon Eccles said the Aggies work hard in practice.
“Everyone’s on the same page. Everyone is working hard to push each other,” Eccles said. “We really believe that this is our year.”
The Aggies open up pool play with a matchup against Lindonwood University. The Lions are 24-5-4 on the season, and Eccles said they are not to be underestimated.
“They’ve had a very strong team,” Eccles said. “We really need to come and set the tone in that game.”
Two of Lindonwood’s ties came at the hands of Colorado State University, a team the Aggies have beaten three times this season. The Lions are led by Dettrick Pierzinski, a forward with 52 goals on the season.
USU’s second matchup of the tournament pits the Aggies against Virginia Tech University. Eccles said he thinks the Hokies may be USU’s easier opponents.
“Virginia Tech is probably the softer of the teams in our pool,” Eccles said.
Hamilton said, though Virginia Tech may not have the most talent, the Aggies can’t fixate on that.
“Once playoff hockey comes around, anything can happen,” Hamilton said. “You can’t really take anything too lightly.”
The Aggies’ third matchup of the weekend is against William Patterson University, which won the Northeast Division to make it into the tournament.
“I don’t really know how strong of a team they are — number one,” Eccles said. “To get that spot, you have to be pretty good.”
If the Aggies make it through pool play, they will move on to final rounds March 19.
“We are excited,” Eccles said. “We can hardly wait. We can’t believe we still have another week.”
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu