State Your Case: Arizona State Hockey
Until this weekend, Utah State Hockey dominated the ice and had not recorded a loss. At the Winter Classic 2011 held at Colorado State University, USU fell to No.2-ranked Arizona State University 6-1. Once thought of as the top team in the West, doubts are now being raised about whether or not this is the golden team we all thought it was.
USU boasts the top goal scorers and goalies in the region, but failed to hold the Sun Devils off in the first game for both teams in the tournament.
The loss could be blamed on coming off a long road trip to the tournament, but this is equally true for ASU, or the fact that USU has not been really tested by a team since the St. Louis exhibition in Missouri, way back when.
But excuses for the lack in mental toughness and motivation cannot be discarded. To be the best means beating all others and being the best at all times, no matter the conditions.
Future games will show whether USU hockey is the national championship team we have hoped for or just another first-round loss at nationals. But until then, USU lost to the next-best thing and showed that we may not be the best in the West, but perhaps second best — to the ASU Sun Devils.
– mega.bodi@aggiemail.usu.edu