MLK showcase to test Aggie hockey

As the regular season winds down, the USU hockey team has one last challenge before they begin postseason.

The Aggies (13-9-1) will travel to Greeley, Colorado to compete in the Martin Luther King Showcase. Similar to the Beehive Showcase hosted by the Aggies in November, the MLK Showcase will feature five teams that will play four games in four days.

According to USU head coach Jon Eccles, the showcase is an opportunity.

“(The showcase) is going to be a good test,” he said. “That’ll really tell us where we’re sitting. Hopefully move us up in the rankings also.”

Wins over quality opponents will surely be needed if the Aggies hope to climb up in the rankings after losing to lowly BYU (7-7-2) on Saturday. Eccles said showcases like these help prepare the team for the grind of nationals, where a team could play five games in five days if they go all the way.

USU will start the weekend off against Colorado-Boulder University (5-11-0). But on Sunday, will face a familiar western foe in fifth-ranked Northern Colorado (16-6-0). UNC and Utah State have faced off twice so far this season with the Aggies defeating the Bears 10-0 and 8-3 in those contests.

Following the game against Northern Colorado, Utah State will face Colorado University (5-11-0) on Sunday and Metropolitan State University of Denver (6-10-1) on Monday.