The 2024-25 hockey season has come to an end. After a season that was filled with highs and lows, the team looks to learn from this year to improve for the next. The Wildcats finished the season with a 21–14 record.
The season began against in-state-rival Utah State University on Sept. 13. It became an eye-opener as Utah State overtook Weber with a 4–1 victory at Weber’s own Ice Sheet. Weber quickly bounced back with a 6–5 victory over another in-state-rival University of Utah on Sept. 20.
Wins and losses came and went for Weber. In the first 10 games, Weber State’s record was 4–6. One highlight was Weber State’s first victory against the University of Providence Argos on Oct. 3. One week later, on Oct. 11, the Wildcats put on a show, scoring 12 goals against Lake Region State College.
After the slow start, Weber caught fire and won 10 of the next 12 games before the end of the fall semester. Highlights in those 12 games included two victories against the University of Utah, one against Utah Valley and one against Utah State. During the Beehive Showcase on Nov. 21-24, Weber State faced off against Colorado State University, Loyola Marymount University, Boise State University and Northern Arizona University. Weber came out on top in all four games, ending 2024 with a 14–8 record.
The team went without defenseman Jack Jones for the second half of the season. Jack was the captain of the team and one of the players who had been around the program the longest on the team.
The first game of 2025 would yet again be against the Utah State Aggies. The previous meeting between the two clubs took place at the George S. Eccles Ice Center in Logan on Nov. 15. Weber took a 3–0 advantage in that game but then took their foot off the gas and let Utah State claw back and win 4–3.
“We had the game in control and then we let them back in, and they got that goal halfway through the third period and went up on us,” head coach Yosh Ryujin said. “After we went up 3–0, they were deflated, and we didn’t keep on the gas.”
Contrary to that loss in Logan, Utah State came out with a strong 3–0 lead over the Wildcats in the first period. Weber State made a comeback in the next two periods with defenseman Aiden Thede and Noah Takitani scoring one and two goals to tie the game up 3–3, but just like the last occasion in Logan, the Aggies took the late lead and stole the game from the Wildcats, winning 4–3.
“We were just running around in the first two periods; the effort was there, but we weren’t putting our energy into the right places,” Ryujin said. “Obviously, we were able to tie the game there, so it’s unfortunate that we gave up that one with five minutes left after we spent a lot of energy getting back to even being down 3–0. You know it’s the way it goes.”
The next five games prior to the Wasatch Cup were three wins and two losses. One of those wins was the Wildcats’ greatest margin of victory on the season with a 16–1 win over Montana Tech.
The Wasatch Cup arrived on Jan. 31; Weber was the current reigning champion. The Wildcats took on Utah Valley University in the semi-finals and won 2–1. For the finals, Weber went up against the University of Utah. Both teams fought back and forth, but Weber State pulled through and became back-to-back champions with a 4–3 victory.
“To win one of those trophies, especially the Wasatch Cup, playing a really good team in Utah, pretty much on their home ice — that was fun for us,” Ryujin said. “To be able to come into our locker room and see that trophy that we are going to keep for another year is just a reminder of the work that needs to go in to make this team successful.”
After the Wasatch Cup, the team played in the Mountain West Tournament from Feb. 6-8. The Wildcats played three games and won only against Boise State. The other two games were lop-sided victories for both Utah State and the U of U.
On senior night on Feb. 14, Utah State crashed the party and won 3–2. The very next night, Weber State crashed Utah State’s senior night and ended the regular season with a 6–4 win over the Aggies.
Grand Canyon University ended Weber’s season with a 2–1 win in the National Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 West Regionals matchup on Feb. 21. The Wildcats got off 54 shots but only hit the back of the net once. The Wildcats would now miss out on Nationals for the first time in three years.
The top point scorers on the season were Caden Hunter, who had 19 goals and 30 assists. Kevin Norwood came in second with 12 goals and 26 assists. Cory Mater placed third on the team with 17 goals and 18 assists.
The Wildcats finished the season with their highest winning tally taking place away from home. The team won 12 games away from the Weber County Ice Sheet with only eight losses on opposing ice. As for their home record, they went 9–6.
The 2025-26 season will start in September.
