Diggers Pick Up 4 of 6 Points in 3-Game Weekend

The Montana Tech Diggers (Tech) hosted Montana State University (MSU) and Utah Valley University (UVU) in a 3-game weekend, October 9th, 10th, and 11th. After a lopsided 15 - 1 loss to MSU, the Diggers would bounce back by sweeping UVU 8 - 1 and 4 - 3 (OTW).

Tech vs MSU - Thursday, October 9th (1 - 15)

Tech gave up a quick goal under 1 minute into the opening frame, but pushed back, holding MSU to just one additional Power Play goal in the first period.

MSU’s depth and experience would be on full display, however, in the second period, as Tech found themselves scrambling for 20 minutes with no answers to the continuous onslaught from MSU, who put up seven goals in the second.  Tech would get on the board late in the second on a goal from Jack Delici off a pass from Riley Kelly; however, MSU would respond 13 seconds later with a late-period goal.

Although Tech would settle down somewhat in the third, MSU continued to apply pressure and found the back of the net six more times through the period, besting Tech by a score of 15 - 1. 

Special teams were relatively ineffective in the game, with Tech killing 2 of 3 penalties and going 0/4 on the Power Play.

Starter Goalie Carson Burkart would stop 43 of 50 shots faced before being relieved by Joe Rolfson, who stopped 20 of 25.

Montana Tech and Montana State University

Tech vs UVU - Friday, October 10th (8 - 1)

Tech demonstrated a short memory from the night before against Utah Valley University UVU and stormed out of the gate, putting 25 shots on net in the opening frame.  Tech would find the next for the first time shortly before the halfway point on a goal by Captain Tye Carriere, who would add a second goal at 5:22.  Tech would add a third goal to the board in the opening frame when defenseman Ethan Elam would pick off a pass and charge in alone on the penalty kill.

Tech continued their momentum in the second period, with goals from Riley Kelly and Cade Holland, once again dominating play and outshooting UVU 17 - 8.

UVU showed some resilience in the third period, getting on the board first at 14:08 when a scramble in front of goalie Joe Rolfson led to a rebound getting by.  However, Tech would respond just a few moments later with a goal from Delici.  Delici would add his second of the night to the score sheet less than 2 minutes later on a power play.  Cade Holland would put the final goal of the night past UVU on another power play, and Tech would finish the night with an 8 - 1 win over UVU.

Rolfson stopped 29 of 30 shots faced, and several players would finish with multi-point nights (Carriere [2G, 1A], Holland [2G, 2A], Delici [2G, 2A], Benoit [3A]). Rolfson would stop 29 of 30 shots faced.

Tech vs UVU - Saturday, Oct 11th (4 - 3 OTW)

Tech would come out flat in the opening frame against UVU, who returned to the ice with a much stronger effort.  After 20 minutes, UVU would be the only team to find the back of the net, scoring at 10.35 after both Tech defensemen were caught pinching on a play. Unlike the matchup the night before, the first period of play was even with both teams earning 10 shots on net.

Tech would regroup during the intermission and begin to control the play.  At one point, Tech appeared to score to tie the game, but the official quickly waived the goal off.  UVU would get on the board first at 8:04, when a puck deflected off 2 Tech players before finding the back of the net behind goalie Rhett Engel.  The Diggers would respond just 32 seconds later, however, with a goal by Tye Carriere.  Tech would keep pushing and found the equalizer 3 minutes later on a power play goal by Jack Delici.  Tech Continued to apply firm pressure at the end of the second period, which resulted in 2 late penalties against UVU.

Tech would enter the third period with a 2-man advantage, as Carriere would take a shot from the high slot through heavy traffic. Colin McCarthy would get a stick on the puck, deflecting it to the back of the net to give Tech the early 3rd period lead.  However, late penalty troubles put Tech on the kill after consecutive penalties by Liam Beer and Luke Benoit, and UVU would tie the game late on the power play. After 60 minutes, the teams were deadlocked at 3, with Tech outshooting UVU by a count of 46 - 32.

Overtime would see an early push by UVU, who would get a shot on Engel, who easily controlled the rebound, and on the ensuing draw, Tech would carry the puck to the UVU end for the final time.  Cade Holland would move the puck to Benoit, who capitalized on a miscommunication and put the puck by UVU’s netminder just 1:18 seconds into the overtime frame to give Tech the win and the home sweep.

Takeaways

Tech would show resilience and a short memory with a dominant rebound performance between Thursday and Friday Night.

Delici continues to remain hot, picking up another 6 points (4G, 2A) in 3 games, bringing his season total to 10 points in 7 games.

Benoit would redeem himself after the late penalty that led to the equalizer against UVU on Saturday, netting the game-winner in Overtime.

Although less consistent, Tech's special teams continue to be a key factor in play, killing 19 of 21 penalties (1 short-handed goal).