USU can’t get past D-I Wildcats
The Utah State hockey club lost its final home game of the season 2-0 to the Weber State Division-I squad in its closest game with the upper-division Wildcats of the year.
Chris Webber saved 50 of 52 shots, but it was not enough as the Wildcats shut out the Aggies for the third time this season.
“I wanted it so bad tonight,” Webber said. “[WSU] is nothing special. We know we can hang with these guys. They just always get the lucky bounces.”
The score was tied 0-0 until 14:12 left in the game when Wildcat Nick Micek beat Webber right in front of the net. Wildcat Eric Milliron scored off a pass from Eric Johnson with 9:45 remaining to seal the win for WSU.
“All we were thinking about [going into the third period] was the last 20 minutes,” Webber said. “They were the ones with the pressure on them. They just had two lucky bounces go their way.”
Prior to last weekend, the closest USU had ever come to beating the upper-division ‘Cats was a 3-0 loss on Nov. 10. It was the third time this season the Aggies were shut out by the ‘Cats.
“We were playing really hard,” Webber said. “We took them off guard a few times. I definitely think we gave them a run for their money.”
Head coach Jerry Crossley said he was very proud of his team’s effort.
“It’s tough to lose a game when the guys played as hard as they did tonight,” he said. “But I’m damn proud of these guys. They played their hearts out.”
It was the final home game for seniors Aaron Burrell, Nick Thiros, Brandon Lang and Chris Webber. Nick Haase, who sat out Saturday with a knee injury, will also not be back next year.
“It’s an emotional night,” Crossley said. “Not only for the rivalry, but this was the last time they got to play on this sheet of ice. It’s a rough deal after the long haul.”
Crossley said the seniors should have no regrets about this game.
“I look at all those guys who are leaving at that’s the kind of game you want to see them go out on, playing like that,” Crossley said. “I told the guys that if they put that kind of effort into nationals, they can do some great stuff there. That’s the kind of effort we’ve been looking for all season.”
Crossley said the rivalry with WSU might cool off next year without this year’s seniors.
“That’s a possibility,” he said. “But I think Weber will always hold a special place for us.”
USU will hit the road next weekend for its final two games before nationals. The Aggies will play BYU in Provo on Friday and the WSU D-I team again on Saturday in Ogden.
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu