Utah opens PAC-8 Play

After an impressive 4-0 record to start the season, the Skatin’ Utes now shift their focus to conference play as they begin their defense of their PAC-8 Championship at home against California.

The Utes and Golden Bears meet for the first time in Salt Lake City after the Utes met their opponents twice in California last year. Utah was able to pick up a 13-2 and 9-6 win and lead the all-time series 4-0 (Cal forfeited twice in 2011-2012)

The Utes come into the weekend riding four straight wins, including wins over last year’s fourth ranked Weber State and last year’s West Division #1 and national semifinalist Utah State. In their four games this year, the Utes have outscored their opponents 21-5 and have put over 35 shots on goal in every contest.

As for the Golden Bears, the team is coming off a bye week after losing their pre-season opener on the road to D3 member Santa Rosa Junior College 7-2. The team’s top scorers from last year are back after the team made the PAC-8 tournament last year as a the fifth seed. In their lone game this season, the Bears struggled by giving up four straight goals after tying the game at one early in the first period.

Cal will be led offensively by sophomores Nic Kawasaki and Bryce Morisako, who led the team in scoring last year. Kawasaki received second team All-PAC-8 honors last year and Morisako had one of the two goals for Cal two weeks ago. The big change from last year will be their goaltending as the Golden Bears have replaced both of their goalies from last year. Junior Jacob Geskin and sophomore Kyle McAllister are expected to split time this year. Geskin got the first start and had 21 saves on 28 shots in their lone loss this year.

The Utes will look to attack a new goaltending crew as the Utes have found scoring this year from old faces and new ones as well. Sophomore Chase McDonald and freshman Andrew Wood share the team lead in goals with four each, with six other Utes just one point behind the team lead in points. Junior Ben Seastrand holds the team lead in assists with four on the year.

While the Utes have a potent offense, their defense had played well so far especially with several defensemen still out with injuries. Goaltenders Devan Betts and Chris Komma are both having great starts to their seasons as well. Both tenders are 2-0 this year and both have GAA’s below 2.00 and save percentages above .900.

The Utes and Golden Bears meet Friday night at the Utah Ice Sheet at 7pm. Saturday night’s game will be at 8:30pm. Tickets are still available for both games and both will be broadcasted on our upstream page.