'Cats start season 1-1

The Weber State University hockey season started with some high points and some low points.

The Wildcats lost 3-2 Friday night in Logan to Utah State University. WSU trailed for the majority of the game before scoring with 1:26 left in regulation to tie the game 2-2. The game appeared to be heading to overtime, but the Aggies scored with less than 30 seconds left in the game to put them up 3-2 and secure the victory. The Wildcats couldn't muster a final-second comeback.

The next night, University of Utah came to Ogden to face the Wildcats. The Utes put up a fight early in the game, escaping the first period down 2-1. The Wildcats dominated the remainder of the game, scoring 10 goals in the final two periods. The final score was 12-1.

Things got chippy late in th game against Utah, not allowing the referees to put away their whistles. There were numerous penalties, resulting in game misconducts on both sides.

Both games over the weekend gave the Wildcats a lot to think about.

"We've got to improve on our systems and discipline," said WSU Head Coach Zak Treasure. "We have a bunch of new guys now. It's getting them to buy into what we were doing the second half of last year. If we can apply that, with the whole team buying into that, we should be fine."

Not everything Treasure saw was negative.

"What I'm liking so far is the new, young guys," he said. "They've come to play. They've really stepped it up. Our two freshmen: Kyle Becci goes full speed every time, Colter [Knapton] makes plays happen."

Both rookies were involved in many of the 12 goals Saturday night. They both said their first games as Wildcats were fun.

"We're looking pretty good," Knapton said. "There's still some things we need to work on early in the season, but so far things are looking pretty good."

The games over the weekend have to be put into perspective for the Wildcats. WSU plays in Division I of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, USU and Utah both play in the lower Division II.

"This win doesn't mean anything," said WSU's Chris Cotsillis Saturday night, "we have a lot of work to do to get ready for better teams, but we're starting to gel together and figure out who's playing good with who. We just want to gel and go from there."

Some of that gelling has come out of necessity. Cotsillis' regular linemates of Dane Ludolph and Anton Volkov both sat out of Saturday's game. Ludolph broke a bone in his hand in practice a couple weeks ago and is expected to miss some more time, while Volkov was serving a suspension. Cotsillis lined up alongside Nick Micek and Michael Spawton. The three found a lot of success, scoring some goals on pretty passing plays.

Cotsillis scored three goals for the hat trick. WSU fans failed to throw any hats on the ice, but Cotsillis was OK with that.

"I wasn't disappointed," Cotsillis said, "definitely not. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to put the puck in the net."

WSU's Dave Lorenzen also scored a hat trick in the game. Spawton scored two goals. WSU's Kyle Gover was solid in net, making some big kick saves.

Other than not honoring the hat tricks, WSU fans were into the game. A lot showed up, making the Ice Sheet very loud at times.

"I thought it was pretty good," Treasure said, "especially for a homecoming game. I thought we had a good turnout. It looks like people had fun out there."

A lot of the fans were on their feet for the majority of the game.

"I didn't know what to expect," Becci said. "I heard the crowds get pretty stacked. I didn't expect it to be that big. It was just a lot of fun playing out there on the home ice."

The Wildcats have the coming weekend off, their next game will be Oct. 5 when Utah State comes to Ogden to face WSU.

The Wildcats aren't looking past Utah State, but have bigger games to worry about in the near future. DI-powerhouse University of Oklahoma comes to town Oct. 12. The Wildcats wont be facing as many DI teams this season as in past seasons and will need to show their stuff against the Sooners.