The Weber State University’s men’s hockey team traveled to Missouri to compete in a Division II National Championship. They had to compete in the pool play against the University of Wisconsin, Northeastern University and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Weber State vs. Wisconsin
The game started off well for Wisconsin as their forward Cole Laden scored 17 seconds into the game, giving them an early advantage over the Wildcats. The pressure was felt by the Wildcats and Wisconsin broke through the Wildcat defense once more by the stick of Shane Mettler to obtain a 2–0 lead after the first period.
In the second period, Weber State was finally able to get on the scoresheet thanks to forward Kevin Norwood. Norwood scored at the 9:53 mark with an assist from Makar Klochkov and a second assist from Luke Artukovich. There was still half of the period left for Weber to tie it up, but both goalies decided there was only enough room for one goal overall in the second period. The score going into the final period was 2–1.
As the third period arrived, Wisconsin looked to bury its opponent once and for all. They scored two more times in the period to Weber’s one and came out on top 4–2 in the first game of pool play.
Weber State vs. Northeastern
Just like in the previous game against Wisconsin, Weber State dug a 2-goal grave as they were scored on twice and went into the second period with a score of 2–0 in favor of Northeastern.
The Wildcats rose from the dead and scored three goals in the second period. Forward Caden Hunter had two of those goals, with Tim Mattingly having the other. Northeastern scored one and tied up at three going into the final period.
Both teams wouldn’t budge in the third period, as both goalies held the opposing team scoreless, and the game went into sudden-death overtime. In a physical battle with 16 penalties overall, it would all be decided by whoever had the most left in the tank.
Overtime stress can lead to one mistake that ruins the game. However, overtime jitters were not a problem for Weber State, as senior forward Andrew Alonzo answered the call his team needed and scored the winning goal to give Weber their first win in pool play with a score of 4–3.
Weber State vs. Florida Gulf Coast
For the first time in Nationals, Weber State were the ones to get on the scoresheet first. Hunter scored Weber’s first goal of the game. Weber State would then hold onto that lead for the rest of the first period, along with the second one as well. It would now all go down to the third period, with Weber needing a win to keep their National Champion hopes alive.
FGCU scored twice within the first five minutes to obtain a 2–1 lead. Hunter wasn’t done scoring and bagged another goal to tie the game up. Three minutes later, FGCU regained the lead. Mattingly scored a clutch goal for the Wildcats to send the game to overtime for the second game in a row.
In overtime, the sweet taste of victory was held by FGCU as Shayne Tomlinson ended Weber State’s hopes of becoming a National Champion this year.
Klochkov ended the season as the top pointsman for the Wildcats with 88 points. He had 47 goals and 41 assists and was second in the country in points for a season. Hunter was third in the country with 86 points, 26 goals and 60 assists. The season may have ended early, but the memories will live on in one of the best seasons for Weber State Hockey.
