2014-2015 Season Preview

September 16, 2015 Salt Lake City, UT Another season of Utah Hockey is here! With the new season ready to start this Friday at home against Weber State, the University of Utah hockey team is getting ready for what could be one of the biggest years in club history. With 16 games scheduled against top ten opponents from one year ago, a new tournament to decide in-state bragging rights, a weekend trip against an ACHA Division I opponent, and ACHA Showcase appearance, and an automatic berth to the 2015 ACHA National Championships as host, all on the docket this season, this year sets up to be one that could pave the way forward for the program for years to come. The Utes will face this daunting task with the same core group as last year’s squad with 19 players returning to play for Utah this year including nine of their top ten scorers on offense and goaltenders Chris Komma and Devan Betts between the pipes. Adding to an already stout team will be nine rookies, which come from all over the country to play for the Utes this season. Defensemen Tyler Pendill, Shane Storer, Eric Gausseres, Noah Beery, David Barnes, and Jackson Barlocker and forwards Nick Fornelius, Lane Bridges, and Ryan Jones will all look to make their mark during the upcoming hockey season. As for those returning to the team, Josh Dangel and Shaymus Beratgnolli lead an outstanding group that was top ten in the nation in scoring last season while between the pipes Chris Komma returns after posting top five numbers in the nation for GAA and save percentage last year. With the Utes already heading to Nationals for the first time in club history, the focus has been put on the schedule in order to prepare the team to go up against the nation’s elite come March. The Utes will take on an ACHA Division I opponent for the first time as they’ll take on Arizona who finished ranked 18th in the nation last year. They’ll also play three teams from other divisions at the ACHA Showcase in Mentor, OH, which annually showcases some of the top teams in the nation. The upcoming season will also feature the First Annual Wasatch Cup, which will pit Utah, BYU, Utah State, and Weber State against each other for the title of best team in Utah. The Utes will start the season this weekend at home as they take on Weber State and Utah State at the Utah Ice Sheet. Stay tuned for more info on this weekend’s games later this week.