One Last Clash with Idaho
It was a less than ideal start to January for the Western Washington University Club Ice Hockey team, losing twice on the weekend to one of the top ranked teams in the ACHA West in Loyola Marymount. Sunday’s late afternoon game saw the Vikings cough up the lead early and the Lions would never look back, losing 12-4. Monday morning was a similar story, even with the Vikings holding a lead at one point in the first period, but the Lions fast paced style of attack just wasn’t enough for the Vikings to catch, another loss at 10-2.
“It’s been rough for us right,” head coach Adam Segaar following Monday’s contest. “We have to keep pushing our guys to be better. We’ve got some big games coming up, and those games mean we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
A bright spot for the Vikings was yet another amazing weekend from captain Teddy Prior, with a hat-trick on Sunday night and accounting for four goals in total on the weekend.
“The biggest thing I like about Prior is just his leadership on and off ice,” Segaar said. “he’ll not just say the words but he performs and he will just do it.”
This weekend marks the last time the Vikings will meet ups with the Idaho Vandals this season. Both teams met near the beginning of the season in Bellingham, WA for a pair. The Vikings took care of business both nights in October, winning on Friday Oct. 20, and again on Saturday Oct. 21, 11-3.
The Vikings traveled to the Eagles Nest Showcase at Eastern Washington University, where they would run into the Vandals yet again. Despite being tied at one point, and two quick strikes from Bret Brumbaugh near the end of the game, it wasn’t enough to get passed the Vandals, falling 5-3.
Brumbaugh has been simply dominant against the Vandals this season, with six goals and four assists in the three games he’s played against the Vandals this season. Brumbaugh leads the Vikings with assists and points on the season.
Western begins their weekend at Palouse Ice Rink in Moscow, Friday night at 8:00 p.m, then again the following Saturday at the same time.
For more stats on the Vikings: https://www.achahockey.org/stats/player-stats/376/34?playertype=skater&position=skaters&rookie=no&sort=points&statstype=standard&page=1&league=1&division=-1
Cameron Riggers
