USU loses tough game to Utah Valley
Don’t blame Mackenzie York for Utah State’s latest hockey loss, a 7-4 demoralization at the hands of the team’s biggest in-state rival, Utah Valley State College.
With USU down 1-0 early in the first period, Aggie star Kent Arsenault was planted on his hindquarters by a blow from Wolverine center Jeff Jaren. USU’s York didn’t hesitate for an instant, lighting into Jaren. Jaren belly-crawled like a worm on the ice to try and get away from the furious barrage of punches, but York stayed on him, raining down blows until the referees bailed Jaren out.
“If a guy’s not willing to face up to what he’s doing, you can’t really hurt him as bad as you want,” York said. “Kent got runned really cheap for no reason. He got elbowed really hard, and I’ve grown up playing hockey where you take exception to guys on your team getting hit like that.”
Penalties were a major feature of this hard-fought and bitterly contested game. USU never led in the game, falling back 2-0 on two Wolverines power play goals before Arsenault scored while the teams were even-handed to make it 2-1.
It took a long time to clear the ice after the first period, as the two teams seemed to be a hair’s breadth away from brawling. USU team manager John Eccles had some strong words for the UVSC coaching staff.
The second period began with three UVSC skaters in the penalty box for roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct and delay of game. USU’s Scotty John was also hit for unsportsmanlike conduct stemming from the gong show at the end of the first period.
The second period was as intense as the Eccles Ice Arena has seen this year. Jay McFadden tied the game with a power-play goal assisted by Arsenault and William Winsa. Then Jeremy Martin put the visitors back up, 3-2, with a power-play goal of his own. Mike Douguliz then blasted John into the boards and was disqualified for boarding. Two more UVSC players were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct while arguing against Douguliz’ ejection, resulting in a lengthy 5-on-3 for Utah State. Arsenault got his third point of the game, scoring early in the power play with assists from Brendan MacDonald and Matt Ferris. But just when it appeared the teams would go into the third knotted up at 3-3, UVSC’s Chris Glen shot a puck past Greg Finatti with 0.9 seconds left.
Winsa said he was disappointed USU only scored one goal while enjoying the lengthy power play in the second.
“We didn’t capitalize when we needed to,” he said. “We had a long power play there in the second period, and we just didn’t score.”
In the third period, the Aggies wilted like violets in a blizzard. The hard forecheck that had been a major presence in the first period was gone. UVSC seemed to gain energy from having Douguliz DQed and scored on Finatti twice early in the period. USU didn’t get another goal until just two minutes remained, when Winsa got to Wolverine goalie Colin Stebner. The USU coaches called a timeout and pulled Finatti from the goal, but playing 6-on-5, the Aggies couldn’t keep the puck deep in the UVSC zone. UVSC’s David Wyman broke away and wristed a shot into the empty Aggie net. As Wyman skated back toward his bench in celebration, Mike “Bishop” Walker took out a little of the frustration his team was feeling, tackling Wyman. The referees quickly pulled Bishop off, leaving Wyman unscathed. It was Bishop’s second fight in as many weeks.
“They gained because their goalie was playing really well tonight,” Winsa said. “We could not get it in. We had rebounds and open shots, but we could not get it in. That brought them a lot of confidence. They played a really good game.” A large police presence in the rink was necessary with all the bad blood between the team’s fans.
With regionals looming, USU has only two games remaining before busing to Stockton, Calif., to try and salvage some self-respect. The University of Utah is a virtually assured win this Friday, and on Saturday, the Ags will be in Ogden to face Weber State D1.
When asked if UVSC is the best team in Utah, Winsa said, “I don’t want to answer that. I don’t know. We’re so close, and I think we pressure them pretty hard.”
-graham.terry@aggiemail.usu.edu