Montana Tech Hockey Faces Tough Utah Utes in Post-Holiday Matchups
Montana Tech University’s ‘Diggers hockey team is back on the ice after the holiday break. In their first two games back, the ‘Diggers battled 3rd Ranked Utah University Utes club. The games marked Tech’s first since December 8.
Friday night’s series opener featured a special Military Appreciation Night, which included limited-release military sweaters that hosted unique military unit patches and flags on each jersey. A raffle for a special edition sweater was also auctioned off with the number 988, recognizing the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and the Veterans Crisis Lifeline (988+1). The club plans to donate all game and jersey sales proceeds to the Veterans Association of Montana Tech.
Kazmierczak in net
(BNO Photo)
Game 1: Utah at Tech, Friday, Jan. 17
In the first game, Utah scored just 19 seconds into the contest and added three more goals, one of which came on the power play. The Utes fired 25 shots on goal, making for a busy start for Tech goalie Edward Kazmierczak, who stood tall.
After managing just six shots in the first period, Tech rebounded in the second, outshooting Utah 22-13. However, the Utes slipped two more goals past Tech’s defense, one of which came on a power play. The other was at full strength.
The third period was another busy one for Kazmierczak, as the Utes took 37 shots. He saved all but four, resulting in four additional Utah goals. In total, Kazmierczak made 66 saves on 75 shots, but the Utes won 9-0.
"I was definitely sore after the weekend, but personally, I think those were my best games of the season," Kazmierczak said. "The more shots I faced, the more comfortable I felt being in the net and making the next save."
Game 2: Utah at Tech, Friday, Jan. 18
The second game of the weekend saw Utah jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first period. Kazmierczak made his second-weekend start, turning away 20 of 24 shots in the opening frame.
As in the first game, the second period was Tech’s best, as they held the Utes to just two goals. Kazmierczak added 18 more saves, bringing his total to 67 saves by the end of the game.
The second period also featured a physical display, with both teams combining for 14 penalties. Tech saw two players, Mikey McKay, and Cade Holland, disqualified for fighting after a series of big hits led to a scrum in front of the Utah net.
(BNO Photo)
Utah would add three more goals in the third period, and Dyland Aberle would net Tech’s first goal of the series and his second of the season in the latter moments of the final frame.
“It’s always nice to score, wish we came out on top, obviously but given the circumstances,s it was good to see that one go in. I just made a read on the D-to-D pass [defense to defense pass] deflected the pass out to center and got on my horse. Their goalie left the top corner open and I had enough time on the breakaway to put it right where I wanted,” said Aberle. Aberle shared some more of his things after the game on the team's growth..”I think,k despite the tough losses, our team really began to come together. The conversation on the bench and in the locker room was positive. You could also see guys standing up for themselves and their teammates with some of the scuffles. We were doing things right and hung out with a really good team for much of the weekend, which is a big confidence boost for our team moving forward,” he said.
