With the 2012 American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II Nationals less than a month away, Utah State University’s hockey team is ranked second — trailing only Arizona State University, which beat the Aggies in a December match in the Grand Canyon State.
“We are very excited,” said head coach John Eccles. “It's a good feeling because it will be a new experience for almost everybody on the team.”
The USU team reached the national tournament last year for the first time in six seasons. Although the Aggies did not do as well as they had hoped, Eccles said they feel better prepared this year.
“Right now we are staying motivated and focused,” Eccles said. “Everyone is pushing each other to be better.”
The Arizona game was the only loss in 30 matches played through Feb. 17 this season. Utah State has outscored its opponents 276 to 79, including a 20-0 drubbing of instate rival Brigham Young University.
But Eccles thinks his team can be even better. In preparation for nationals, he said, his players are focusing on conditioning and fine-tuning their game.
“We are doing many different things right now to help them stay focused and excited,” Eccles said. “The team leaders are setting the bar for the rest to follow so it has been a great couple of weeks of hard practices.”
“There is more focus for sure at practice,” said Alys Staten, the team's athletic trainer. “The boys have a goal to play five games in a row at nationals. That places us in the championship game. In order for them to accomplish this goal they must be able to keep the energy level up and get their cardio in top shape.”
But between now and then, the team’s members have no game scheduled, so during practice they’re playing inter-squad games.
“We divide the boys up in teams of three and they play each other which keeps them in shape and alert,” Eccles said.
"This time around we have taken a different approach to training,” said defenseman Tyler Johns. “We are fairly comfortable with executing our game plan so we are trying to create an atmosphere of competition at our practices. I think it will really help us when we get there."
USU will be put into Pool B for the tournament, which includes William Patterson University, Virginia Tech and Lindenwood University. The Aggies beat the latter team in a 3-2 match on Oct. 7 in Belleville, Ill.
USU will need to beat these teams in order to move into the semi-finals. With another win in that game the team they could be stick-to-stick, once again, with ASU.
"With the way we are coming together,” Johns said, “we have a very good shot at bringing home a national title.”
Abbie Lewis, Adam Barkley, Amanda Morgan, Amy Nelson, Danielle Hayes and Katelyn Swain contributed to this report.
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