The Montana Tech Oredigger hockey team went to Ogden, UT this past weekend and swept a weekend series against the perennial powerhouse, Weber State University. Weber finished second in the West Region of ACHA Division 2 last year and are defending Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League (MWCHL) champions. The Orediggers finished second in the league playoffs last season. Prior to this weekend, the Diggers had only beaten Weber State once in team history and never on the Wildcats’ home ice in Ogden. The Diggers showed up to play this past weekend taking the Friday night game 5-3 and winning Saturday night with a score of 4-2.
The Diggers were powered to victory by an outstanding performance from senior goaltender, James Adamo, who came up with timely saves all weekend to keep the Diggers in front. "It makes your job a lot easier out there when you have a goalie like Adamo behind you," said Duncan Browne, a senior defenseman for Tech. "It's really nice when you can keep using all 4 lines deep into the game.” Browne went on to say, "It really takes the pressure off the top lines when you can keep everyone in the game."
The player of the game helmet, handed out by the players to a teammate who goes above and beyond his normal role, went to junior Dan Morris on Friday night. Dan started playing hockey for the Diggers after spending his first two years at Tech on the football team. Dan's line, which includes two former Canadian college players, Sam Mitchell and Ed Schmalz, contributed with two goals and were a physical force all night. On Saturday night, the player of the game went to senior assistant captain, Conrad Smith, for his outstanding defensive effort all game but especially late in the third when the Diggers got into a little penalty trouble.
The Diggers’ record this season climbed to 6-1 after the weekend, good enough for 1st in the MWCHL. Their season continues this Thursday, September 16, 2014 at the Butte Community Ice Center when the Montana State University Bobcats come to town. Puck drop will be at 7:30 p.m. and all Copper City Kings youth hockey players wearing their team jersey will receive free admission.