Utah M2 gears up for hard-nosed Montana weekend

October 29, 2026
Salt Lake City, Utah

The Utah M2 team will hit the road this weekend, heading to Montana for a tough MWCHL triple-header. The weekend is a rematch of the Utes homecoming weekend, as they will go head-to-head against Montana State University on October 29, University of Providence on October 30, and a Halloween matchup against the University of Montana.

The Utes will pack their bags and set off as they look to climb atop the Mountain West rankings.

LAST TIME OUT
The Utes entered last week’s bye week 4-2 and ranked #3 in the MWCHL. In their last outing, the Utes scored 25 goals and executed two shutouts in a two-game sweep of Utah Valley University. The M2 team gained some much-needed momentum to carry into their upcoming MWCHL gauntlet.

THURSDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Thursday, Oct. 29 | 8:30 p.m. MST
Utah (4-2-0) vs. Montana State (10-3-0)
Location: Haynes Pavilion | Bozeman, MT
Game Center:  Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
Instagram Updates: @utahM2hockey

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
The Montana State Bobcats are the #2-ranked team in the Mountain West and have had impressive performances so far this season. The Bobcats are already 0-1 against the Utes, after a 4-2 Utah win on October 1 (Game Center). After the Bobcats ended Utah’s season a year ago, the Utes came out with a chip on their shoulder and took down the defending division champs. Montana State looks to repeat as MWCHL champions, but will have to come out with more firepower than in their last meeting if they want to even the matchup at 1-1.

FRIDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Friday, Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. MST
Utah (4-2-0) vs. Providence (4-3-0)
Location: Great Falls Ice Plex | Great Falls, MT
Game Center:  Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
Instagram Updates: @utahM2hockey

SCOUTING THE ARGONAUTS
The University of Providence sits at 4-3 and is hot on the Utes tails in the MWCHL rankings, sitting just one spot behind. In their only meeting this season, the Utes had the Argonauts’ number in a 4-1 win on home ice (Game Center). Providence went 2-1 in their visit to Utah, with impressive wins over Utah State and Weber State, but were completely stifled by the Utes defense. They are coming off an eight-goal win against in-state opponent Montana and are going to need to keep up the momentum as they face three tough Utah teams.

SATURDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Saturday, Oct. 31 | 7:30 p.m. MST
Utah (4-2-0) vs. Montana (4-6-0)
Location: Glacier Ice Rink | Missoula, MT
Game Center:  Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
Instagram Updates: @utahM2hockey

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
The Montana Grizzlies were the only team to take down the Utes on home-opening weekend in a 6-4 thriller (Game Center). The Grizzlies took advantage of some sloppy Utah plays and had some late-game heroics to secure their win on the Utes home ice. Despite the losing record, the Grizzlies have been a formidable force in the MWCHL and look to put up another tough fight, this time on home ice.

LOOKING AHEAD AT THE 2026-27 SEASON
The Utes are currently 4-2 and still riding the high of their last two matchups. In a weekend double-header against Utah Valley, the Utes used the opportunity to build some early-season momentum with 16 different goal scorers, 25 total goals, and two shutouts from Richard Lucy and Jeremy Carpenter.

The Utah defense has been absolutely lights out this season, allowing the fewest goals against of any team in the division. The unit is allowing just 1.8 goals against on average and is backed up by the three-headed monster of a goalie unit for the Utes. The Utah defense is without a doubt the best unit in the Mountain West and has been instrumental in their success thus far.

Another early-season story has been the success of the Utah rookies. Forward Brayden Barker is leading the team in points with seven, and defender Brady Bennett has been on fire, scoring five goals and adding an assist. Perhaps the best showing has been netminder Jeremy Carpenter, who has allowed just one goal this season and has saved 97% of shots in his first two games as a Ute.

The Utes’ next five games are all against MWCHL opponents and will have major implications on the divisional rankings. The Utes are rested and ready to make a statement in Montana and see their name at the top of the Mountain West Rankings.