Montana Bounces Back Strong After Tough UVU Series
The Montana Tech University Digger Hockey Club traveled to Utah, opening their return-to-play season in a two-game series against Utah Valley University this weekend.
Montana Tech Hockey at Utah Valley University
To open their American Collegiate Hockey Association season, Montana Tech University (Tech) battled Utah Valley University (UVU) in a tough two-game series that saw Tech fall 20-2 on Friday,, September 13th. The following night, Tech came up short once again, losing 7-3 after coming out of the gate slow and allowing four goals in the first five minutes.
Friday night saw UVU get on the scoreboard 98 seconds into the opening frame - putting Tech on their heels. UVU’s offense was relentless, and Tech could not get on the scoreboard until halfway through the first period, when Cade Holland score at 10:26, assisted by Rory Petersen and Riley Kelly. Tech’s only other goal came at with just over 5 minutes left in the 3rd - a tally by Kelly, with a lone assist going to Petersen.
“It was a perfect storm of bad luck - the guys just weren’t ready to hit the ice after travel complications, and once UVU started rolling, we could never recover,” Head Coach Dave Rathgeber said.
Montana Tech's Coaching Staff (Rathgeber and Josh Coulombe) from the Bench
This was Tech’s first game away from their home rink with the new team, and the transition from NHL to the Olympic-sized ice in Provo, UT, definitely played a factor in the disorganization. “
On bigger ice, mistakes get magnified - getting pulled out of position opens up so much more room for mistakes to be capitalized, and we definitely failed to protect the front of the net”, Rathgeber commented, noting that most of UVU’s goals were scored in the slot or on rebounds that failed to be cleared.
Tech had high hopes to bounce back on Saturday feeling well-rested and ready to put the night before behind them, but UVU had other plans. For the second time in two nights, UVU opened the scoring in under two minutes - Saturday saw the team put the puck past starter Eddie Kazmierzcak just 17 seconds into the game. By the halfway point of the first period, Tech already trailed by four goals, and a repeat of Friday seemed inevitable. However, Petersen sparked life into the team by capitalizing on a rush just past the halfway point of the first period, netting his second goal in as many games, and Tech seemed to settle into a game plan that saw much more even play for the rest of the game. “The guys started buying into the system, and the dividends were immediate - the game tightened up considerably after that goal, and we were happy with the progression the team made as the game went on” said Rathgeber. After a fith UVU goal with 2:45 left in the opening frame, Rye Vincent scored one minute later, on an assist by Cade Holland.
Despite being outshot 52 - 20, the Diggers kept UVU to only one goal in the second, and one in the third - with Holland scoring an unassisted goal with just under 90 seconds to go. After 2 games, both Petersen and Kelly tallied one goal and two assists, and Holland two goals, one assist.
Montana Tech's Michael McKay (BNO Photo)
“ [We were] very disappointed. We were surprised. I do believe that we progressed from the first game to the second. We bought into our system in the second game, and it felt better overall,” Michael McKay said. Tech’s coaching staff acknowledged it was not the start to the season they wanted, but liked the progression through games.
“Seeing the guys buy into our system in the second game, and making the adjustments as quickly as they did is extremely promising”, coach Rathgeber noted. “We have a ton of talent here, and there is no doubt that when UVU comes to Butte at the end of October, they’ll be facing a better team”.
A Look Ahead for Tech Hockey
Montana Tech will return to Butte for an Alumni Game on Friday, September 20th. The following weekend, Tech will travel to Boise to play a doubleheader against Boise State University on September 27th and 28th.
“I believe it’s [the next games against Boise State] less about the rebounding and more about gaining chemistry and working on our systems to develop. We’re just going to get better with more practice and being around each other more,” said McKay. Coach Rathgeber agrees - “These guys, the majority of which have never played together before, have only been skating together for 3 weeks. We’re still adjusting the lineup, but we are starting to see the chemistry develop. We’re excited to see the progression as the season rolls on, and expect to improve rapidly.”
