Utah M2 finishes 2025-26 training camp

August 18, 2025
Salt Lake City, Utah

The University of Utah Men’s Division 2 team (M2) has concluded training camp for 2025-26 season.

This year’s training camp occurred from August 12-15, 2025 in McCall, Idaho. The annual event is scheduled prior to the first day of classes at the University of Utah, which began today.

Utah M2 will be looking for consecutive ACHA National Tournament appearances, after they qualified with the auto-bid last February.

“Once again, training camp was a huge success for us this year. It’s so much fun for our guys to get together the week before school starts to get the team bonding and work on the ice started early. We’re excited about our rookie class this year and looking forward to watching them develop and make a huge impact for us on and off the ice this season,” said Utah M2 Head Coach Nick Fornelius.

This last season Captain Zeke Endy, Forward Garrett Jackson, Assistant Captain Zach Monaco, Forward Luke Ossola, Forward Braxton Porter, Forward Evan Richards, Defenseman Hayden Tomechak, and Defenseman Jack Umina are now classified as Utah Hockey Alumni. With 8 graduating seniors and 11 incoming rookies this training camp certainly has a different feel.

But when asked about the year over year feel, Utah Veteran Benjamin LaDuke said, “Training camp has been very productive so far. It’s a great opportunity for our program to be here and the coaches have done an excellent job putting together purposeful skates and workouts with the team. This year’s team has a very high ceiling, especially with our talented new rookies.”

The Skatin’ Utes will enter their fifth season (2021-2025) at the Division 2 level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. The Utes are coming off a fantastic season with their 2025 Mountain West Collegiate Championship and their first trip to Nationals since the previous team moved to Division 1 back in 2016. The team actually has two back to back conference championships after winning their third PAC-8 Conference Championship in February of 2024.

Forward Benjamin Wiener added, “This year’s training camp has been more intense, fast paced, and physical than years past. It has been great for the team to build off of the success of last year’s group and create an improved identity and culture. Every year the incoming rookie class becomes deeper and more skilled which pushes the upper class man to compete even harder. Being in McCall for training camp is a privilege and great opportunity to lay the foundation for this years success.”

Utah’s kicks off the season with a two game road weekend against in-state rivals Weber State and Utah Valley University on September 18th and 19th, 2025.

Click here for the full 2025-26 Utah Hockey Men’s Division 2 schedule.

Veteran Goaltender Marcello De Antunano also mentioned, “This is my fourth training camp in McCall, and there’s truly no better way to kick off the season. Every year, I look forward to coming back, reconnecting with familiar faces, and meeting the new rookies from all the teams. This year, the compete level, pace, and energy right from day one have been the most impressive I’ve seen. I believe this week is setting the tone for the season ahead, where we can build on last year’s breakout success and make our push back to the national championship tournament.” De Antunano, was awarded all ACHA honors last spring.

Utah Hockey Season tickets went on sale on August 1, 2025.