Mr. 206
206 goals. With one shot, Utah State captain Kent Arsenault shattered the all-time scoring record on Feb. 3 against Northern Arizona University. That goal sealed the game for the Aggies and capped off an impressive career for the senior.
When Arsenault stepped onto USU ice as a freshman five years ago, he took note of the record and planned on breaking it before he was finished playing.
“It’s something that I’ve been working on for five years,” Arsenault said. “To be able to accomplish it this year in front of a home crowd and in a big game is a special feeling. It’s definitely the way that I wanted to do it.”
And with at least two games left in the Aggies’ season, there is still time for him to add padding to his record.
Arsenault’s career at Utah State is one that many will remember for a long time. When he came to USU as a freshman, he dominated the ice so much so that the Aggies felt pressure to bring in other players of his caliber.
“When he came in, we had to scramble and build a good base around him,” USU coach Jon Eccles said.
This year has been no different. He has continued his dominance and is one point away from leading all players in the league this season. Arsenault has also led the Aggies to their current No. 2 ranking in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s West region.
Arsenault and the other Utah State seniors will play in their final home game Friday against the University of Utah. This year the team will graduate six players: Arsenault, Dave Wyman, Jay McFadden, Matt Ferris, Seth Armitage and Jeremy Madigan.
This year marks the end of an era for Aggie hockey. Four of the seniors have been at Utah State for their entire careers and are part of a core that many hoped would never graduate.
“It’s been five years of playing on the same rink for the same school. It’s going to be weird.” McFadden said.
McFadden and Ferris have been playing hockey together since they were 15. For them, the senior game marks the end of a decade-long career together.
Wyman and Armitage also have their history together. The two have shared the ice for seven years.
Both Wyman and Armitage began their college play at Utah Valley University and then transferred to Utah State when their hockey team folded three years ago. When they joined the Aggies, they did so as bitter rivals to the USU squad, but quickly found their spots on the team.
“Before they transferred we hated to play them,” Eccles said. “When we got the opportunity to have them on our team we realized how great of guys they are.”
None of the Aggies are looking back at their careers just yet. With the end of the season quickly approaching, Utah State is busy preparing for their final games. This year, USU is hosting the regional tournament, and the Aggies are setting their expectations high.
“It’s all or nothing at regionals this year,” Arsenault said. “Two games then we go to nationals and we feel like we should be able to do that.”
After four years of losing in the first or second round of regionals, the Aggies are looking to make it to nationals this year. All of the players, especially the seniors, are feeling the pressure.
“I think everyone one wants it, but the seniors who have been to regionals the past four years probably want it a little more and are going to push a little harder.” McFadden said.
Utah State will have the advantage next week during the regional tournament as they will be playing in front of a home town crowd. The Aggie fans are something that all the seniors will remember from their time at USU.
“The crowds that we got were always unbelievable,” Wyman said.
Following Friday’s game against the Utes, USU will take the ice again next Friday to face Texas A&M when the regional tournament begins.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu