On March 15, the Indiana State University men’s ice hockey team celebrated on the ice at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The Hoosiers had just won the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II National Championship, culminating all their hard work during the season. As they celebrated, they looked up to the stands and saw Weber State University’s hockey team cheering them on.
Weber State also competes in the ACHA in Division II. The ACHA is divided into four regions: Central, Southeast, Northeast and West. The top two teams in each region at the end of the season automatically qualify for the national tournament, while the remaining teams must compete in a regional tournament. The final two teams from each regional tournament also qualify for the national tournament, meaning each region sends four teams. The 16 teams are then divided into four pools, each with four teams. After round-robin play within the pools, the winner of each pool advances to the Final Four, where a single-elimination bracket determines the champion.
Weber State finished last season ranking No. 2 in the West Region, earning an automatic bid to the national tournament and bypassing the regional tournament, which has historically been a challenge for the Wildcats.
In the national tournament, Weber State was placed in a pool with Michigan State University, Northeastern University and Indiana. The Wildcats were eliminated from championship contention after losing to Indiana and Michigan State. However, in their final game against Northeastern, forward Rob Simmons connected with forward Jacobi Clark, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime. This victory allowed Indiana to advance to the Final Four. Following their overtime win over Miami University in the championship game, the Hoosiers thanked the Wildcats for helping them reach that point.
As the Wildcats enter this season, they will be without a few key players. Captain Bryon Fobair, who was named to the All-Region First Team last season, along with his alternate captains Cole VanOrman and Jacob Besnilian, all graduated. However, due to their success last season, the Wildcats were able to recruit some talented new players. Jack Jones, who succeeded Fobair as captain, is excited about the new additions to the team.
“It’s just one of those kinds of gaps that you have to try and fill with new guys on the roster,” Jones said. “But I mean, our coaching staff — especially Yosh — they are so good at recruiting and bringing in the right guys that fit and can fill those shoes of the guys on the rosters that we did lose.”
The Wildcats will kick off their season on Sept. 13 against their rival, Utah State University, at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice Sheet. Admission is free for students.
