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.
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 with about 16 minutes left and again with just over five minutes remaining — around Delici’s second goal of the game, sending the contest into overtime, tied at 3.
Holland delivered the game-winner in OT, scoring with 4:50 left on another setup from Delici to seal a 4-3 victory for Tech.
“We won our forecheck and pressure was way better than the first game, so I feel like that made the difference,” Holland said.
Boise State at Montana Tech — Game 1
In their season opener, Tech hosted Boise State, which stormed out to a 4-0 first-period lead. Tech responded with its first goal of the season, as Luke Benoit scored off a Mike McKay pass. 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.
MT Tech and Boise State
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 finally broke through with two goals, while Holland added one more for Tech. The Broncos held on for a 4-3 win and the series sweep.
“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.
