USU hockey still looking for quick start
Losing the lead and then fighting back has become a common characteristic of this season’s Utah State University hockey club.
USU (3-2-1) will try to write a different story this weekend as it hosts the University of Colorado on Friday and the University of Utah on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. in the Eccles Ice Center.
The Aggies were down 4-2 Oct. 17 against San Jose State with 11 minutes remaining in the final period. USU ended up winning 6-4.
Two days later, the Utes took a 2-0 lead in the second period before USU answered with two goals late in the same period – the game ending in a 2-2 tie.
“It’s very characteristic of this team,” said Aggie assistant coach Ty Newberry. “A lot of it is [because] we’ve got a lot of young guys. I don’t want to use the term immature, but the team hasn’t matured enough to come prepared and focused game in and game out.”
To help try and fix this problem, Newberry said the team had a half-hour meeting before the beginning of Wednesday night’s practice to discuss what is going wrong with the team and how USU can fix it.
The matchup with Colorado will be the second this season for the Aggies. Colorado defeated USU 6-4 Oct. 11 in Boulder, Colo.
Newberry said the Buffalos are a tough team to go up against because of their efficiency putting the puck in the back of the net.
“They’re a pretty solid team,” he said. “They move the puck well and they bury the puck. That’s one area I think we’re struggling in a little bit. We’re getting a lot of Grade A opportunities [but] we’re just not cashing in on them.”
The Utes and Aggies will face off for the third time this season, USU holding a 1-0-1 advantage.
“It’s one of those things,” Newberry said. “It’s a double-edged sword having a team that knows they can come back and win hockey games, but it’s a hell of a lot easier if you don’t put yourself in that situation.”
Following the Aggies’ homestand, they will hit the road for two games, starting with a Nov. 1 game in Tempe, Ariz. against Arizona State University. USU will also play the University of Arizona Nov. 2 in Tuscon, Ariz.
-samhis@cc.usu.edu