Over the weekend, Wildcat hockey came back to the Berry for the 2024-2025 home opener. The Wildcats took on Alaska Anchorage. The Wildcats got the job done on night one with a win over Alaska 2-1. Alaska took the next game from the Wildcats 3-5.
“It was our first game at the Berry Event Center with this new group, new coaches and everything else. The guys were a little nervous early. It was a great weekend and I thought we’re a little nervous earlier. Puck play was sloppy but on once it settled in, I thought it was an evenly played game and when we got the lead, we dug in in the third we still continue to pressure pucks and play the right way,” Head Coach Dan Shyiak said.
In the first game win over Alaska Anchorage, senior Goalie Ryan Ouellette had 31 saves on the net and one goal. The two goals in the game came from sophomore Forward Tanner Latsch and freshman Forward Medrick Bolduc.
“If we were to pick a person that played very well, I thought Ryan Ouellette was really good for us in the net so it was nice to get the first game obviously under our belt. It’s nice for a group because we talked about being up and down but it’s always good to get the first one” Shyiak said.
On Saturday night the Wildcats weren’t as lucky as the night before falling to Alaska 3-5.
“College hockey is different you can win one night, and not do well the next night. We told the guys our mindset it’s going to be tougher to win the second game, it always is after you win the first game, and they came out. I thought they played on their toes all night long and made it difficult for us. We did fight back,” Shyiak said.
Back in the net for the Wildcats was Ouellette who gave up four goals, but saved 44, earning a .917 save percentage on the night. Ouellette was later pulled from the game.
The three Wildcat goals came from freshman Forward Aidyn Hutchinson, freshman Defenseman Anthony Cliche, and sophomore Defenseman Tynan Ewart.
“We lost momentum and then when you’re chasing the game as we did and we were sloppy with our passing, and we gave up a lot of shots because of all the turnovers. That takes a lot of energy out of your game and we really couldn’t get anything going offensively even though we scored three. The one positive thing out of our group we’ve always responded and made it a game,” Shyiak said.
Tynan Ewart was named this week’s CCHA defensive player of the week.
“He’s playing in all situations he skates well really good IQ can move a puck, He’s learned to play stronger defensively and he does bring, I think, 30 games of college experience last year in the NCHC. I think that says a lot,” Shayiak said.
This weekend, the Wildcats are back home in the Berry hosting Arizona State. Arizona State is currently 1-4-1 on the season.
“Continually improve it this is going to be a real challenge this weekend. They got some really speedy forwards, and our job is to contain that speed,” Shayiak said.
