Montana Tech Hockey Opens Season Against Boise State, Eastern Washington

Montana Tech hockey is back on the ice, beginning its 2025-26 American Collegiate Hockey Association campaign with a challenging slate against Boise State in Week 1 (Sept. 17 and Sept. 20) and Eastern Washington on the road the following week (Sept. 26-27) in Cheney, Washington.

Montana Tech at Eastern Washington — Game 1

In the series opener Friday night in Cheney, Tech’s Cade Holland opened the scoring in the first period off a pass from Colin McCarthy, giving the Orediggers an early 1-0 lead. Eastern Washington tied the game on a power play 16 minutes in, then added a go-ahead goal with just over a minute remaining to take a 2-1 lead after the first period.

Tech tied the game 2-2 in the second period when Holland set up Tye Carriere, but EWU reclaimed the lead late in the frame. The Eagles scored three unanswered goals in the third — including one on the power play and one shorthanded — to pull away for a 6-2 victory for their home opener. 

Montana Tech at Eastern Washington — Game 2

In Game 2, Tech held EWU to one goal in the first period before finding its offense in the second. McCarthy tied the game on a Jack Delici assist during a power play, and Delici later scored his own power-play goal off a McCarthy feed to give Tech a 2-1 lead.

The third period was a back-and-forth affair. EWU scored twice — once early, and again late. The Diggers kept pressing, forget, and we're rewarded with Delici’s second goal of the game, sending the contest into overtime tied at 3.

Holland delivered the game-winner in OT, scoring just 10 seconds into the frame on another setup from Delici to seal a 4-3 victory for Tech. 

Delici would finish the game with 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists). 

“We won our forecheck and pressure was way better than the first game, so I feel like that made the difference,” Holland said.

MT Tech and Boise State (Photo: Michelle Kase

Boise State at Montana Tech — Game 1

In their season opener, Tech hosted Boise State in a raucous affair that saw several ejections and 66 penalty minutes (42 of which against Tech). The lack of playing time was noticeable really for Tech, as Boise controlled much of the first, heading to the locker room with a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes. Luke Benoit would get the Diggers first goal of the 2025/2026 season at 6:42 into the second, scoring off a Mike McKay pass. However penalties took over the game in the second half, and Boise added four more goals in the third period to take a 9-1 win.

Goaltender Carson Burkhart made 58 saves before being relieved by Charlie Lang, who stopped 13 of 14 shots in his appearance.

“I believe that we improved tremendously compared to last year. We played a Boise team that has played together for a couple of years, and we played amazingly, only after practicing together for a couple of weeks,” McKay said.

Boise State at Montana Tech — Game 2

The rematch proved more competitive. Carriere tied the game 1-1 late in the first period, and Benoit added a second-period goal to keep Tech level after Boise retook the lead.

“We knew what to expect coming into the second game. It takes some time for us to adjust and to understand what kind of game we need to play to be competitive,” McKay said.

In the third, Boise pulled away with two goals in the second half of the frame. Tech would make a push to even it up late, with Holland putting in the net for Tech on a 6 on 4 power play with the net empty - however, the Broncos would hold on for a 4-3 win and the series sweep.

Take Aways

“Even though we have lost three of the four games, I feel like our team is starting to come together and gain some chemistry, which is what we need. Our team can only get better from here!” Holland said.

“We're a new team with some great pieces - but we're still trying to find chemistry and get it conditioning up.” Coach David Rathgeber said.  “It's a unique challenge, as we have plenty of a Canadian imports this year that are adjusting to American game and NCAA rules”. 

Techs next games are an exhibition series October 3rd and 4th against the Logan Lake Miners, a BCIHL team made up of skaters attending Thompson Rivers University and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.