The BYU hockey team hosts its second annual recruiting tournament this weekend, starting off with a scrimmage against Westminster College on Friday, followed by two games Saturday in Salt Lake City.
The Halloween Classic is an opportunity for the local schools — Utah State, Utah Valley and Utah — to invite high school recruits out and see them in competition, as well as continue their offseason development.
The tournament has been a successful way to introduce recruits to BYU, the lacrosse team and the culture of the program, according to coach Matt Schneck.
“Nine of our freshman on this year’s team attended the tournament last season,” Schneck said. “We have invited 45 kids from across the nation for this weekend and are excited to see them in action. We are having a clinic with the players, as well as a tour of campus and the athletic facilities the team uses.”
The recruits arrive Friday from across the nation, with athletes traveling from Georgia, New York, Tennessee and other western states, such as California and Nevada.
The tournament consists of 12 high school teams that play in the morning. BYU will compete with their recruit team.
“We feel like many of the kids have a good shot of making the team,” Schneck said. “We have a few preseason All-Americans coming, so there is a lot of talent that will be on the field.”
BYU plays against the University of Utah at 2:00 p.m. After the conclusion of that game, the team will have a Blue on White game, with a projected start time at 3:30pm.
The team continues its offseason training in two weeks in Las Vegas at the Best of the West tournament on Nov. 11 and 12. The tournament features teams from 16 colleges in a single-elimination format. BYU will be fielding two squads in the tournament.
