Montana Tech vs Idaho State University: Exciting Hockey Clash Unfolds
Montana Tech University (Tech) Hockey Club concluded their impressive comeback season on a high note this past weekend following their home series against Idaho State University (ISU).
The Diggers kicked off the two-game series at the Butte Community Ice Center with a thrilling 10-7 victory on Friday (March 1, 2024), led by J.R. Small's remarkable five-goal performance.
Tech celebrates a goal against Idaho State
(BNO)
"Experiencing such tremendous support at the games this weekend was truly remarkable. I'm immensely grateful for the opportunity to lace up my skates alongside such a fantastic group of guys," expressed Small.
Brad Rutherford secured two goals in the contest, with Chris Collings, Karl Faber, and Sam Demelo each contributing one goal. Notably, Butte goalie Trent Harrison put on an impressive display with a 48-save performance.
In their second game, Tech secured an 8-5 triumph against the ISU Bengals on Saturday (March 2) in a matinee afternoon showdown. Small continued his stellar performance by adding two goals to his tally from the previous night, while local talent Mathew Flanick also netted a pair of goals. Rutherford, Demelo, Mikey McKay, and Max Triepke each added one goal to the scoreboard.
"We executed our offensive strategies brilliantly. We created space and capitalized on every opportunity," remarked McKay. "Our success hinged on breaking the deadlock. Once we achieved that, the momentum was firmly in our favor," he added.
Tech's defense held strong, limiting ISU to just one goal in the first and second periods. Although ISU staged a comeback in the third period, scoring three goals,
Eddie Kazmierzcak stood tall in net had a 41 save performance on Saturday; one of the most important of those saves was near the end of the third period when ISU was pressing hard to tie the game. Kazmierzcak smothered the puck in the chaos, and on the resulting defensive draw, Collings forced the puck to Mathew Flanick who sent it to the empty net, effectively sealing the victory for Tech.
"We, as the coaching staff, are extremely pleased with the outcomes of this weekend. Securing two wins against an established ACHA team has injected a new energy into the program, and the overwhelming community support at both games was phenomenal. It's safe to say that Montana Tech Hockey is back," affirmed Head Coach Dave Rathgeber.
Montana Tech and Idaho State University Faceoff
(BNO)
Montana Tech concludes their competitive hockey comeback with three consecutive victories. Following their win against the Moose Knuckles at the end of January, they achieved a sweep against the Bengals in their recent competition. Looking ahead, Tech plans to re-enter the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) next season as a member of the Mountain West College Hockey League. The upcoming season will see Tech facing ISU in the league, alongside Providence, the University of Montana, and Montana State. Additionally, the Diggers will compete against teams from Utah and potentially engage in inter-league matches against teams from Washington State.
"It's evident that we still have work to do to ensure we emerge as strong contenders in our inaugural season. These games serve as valuable tools to enhance our recruiting efforts, and we're already witnessing positive outcomes," concluded Rathgeber.
