By Kyle Aldous
The IceCats returned to Eccles Ice Arena over the weekend for the ACHA Western Regional Tournament, coming back with a win and a loss.
The IceCats went into the tournament ranked No. 10 and began play with a tough draw against No. 3 Colorado.
The IceCats were not expected to be able to keep up with Colorado; however, they proved to be quite a challenge for the Buffaloes. Colorado got the scoring started with a goal just five minutes into the game.
The IceCats quickly responded with a goal from forward Ben Shugart just two minutes later. Colorado got one more goal in during the first period to put them up 2-1.
In the second period of play, the IceCats and Buffaloes exchanged goals putting the score at 3-2 going into the third.
The IceCats got the scoring started in the third with a goal by forward Jason Griffiths after just five minutes, putting the pressure on the Buffaloes.
Colorado responded with three unanswered goals, putting them up 6-3 with only ten minutes of play remaining.
The IceCats maintained their composure, responding with two goals of their own by defenseman Adam Farero and forward Mike Nathan. With the goalie pulled for the last minute, the IceCats pushed one last time but came up just shy, keeping the final score at 6-5.
“Everyone played with a lot of heart and intensity, and it showed in our ability to play close with one of the best teams in the entire Western Region,” IceCats coach Ed Gantt said. “We were clearly the underdogs in this one, but we did a lot to raise some eyebrows and earn some respect.”
After their tremendous performance against such a tough opponent, the IceCats carried over their confidence into their Saturday game against No. 7 USC. The last time they met up with USC, they split two games.
The IceCats went into the game looking to show everyone in the league they were clearly the better team.
USC got the first couple goals on the board late in the first period, putting them up 2-0. The IceCats quickly responded with two goals of their own in about two and a half minutes, just before the close of the first period.
In the second period the IceCats continued the scoring with another two unanswered goals. USC responded with a goal of its own before the end of the period to cut the lead to 4-3.
At the start of the third period, forward Derek Battisti scored to put the IceCats up 5-3 before another USC goal made it 5-4.
With only 53 seconds left in the game, forward Brandon Holmes put a shot in the back of an empty net, making the final score 6-4 and giving Holmes, a mid-season acquisition from Weber State, a hat-trick for the evening.
“We felt that this game would not only be an opportunity for us to salvage a win at the Regional Tournament and strengthen our final standings in the Western Region for this season, but also be an opportunity to show USC, and the rest of the league, that we were the better team,” Gantt said.
