October 5, 2026
Salt Lake City, Utah
The Skating Utes beat Montana State on Thursday in the first of a three-game weekend, featuring the University of Providence and the University of Montana.
The University of Utah hockey M2 side opened their home schedule this last weekend! The Utes started off the weekend against Montana State University. Montana St. had the Utes number last season when they played in the MWCHL Championship and the ACHA Regional Playoff, both of which were won by Montana St.
In this first game however, the Utes came in looking to change the narrative and that they did! Early on Montana St. looked like they would start off the way they left it last season at Stiener Ice Sheet, Christian Crutcher got the Bobcats on the board three minutes into the game. The Utes struggled for a while in the first period but once they got their opportunity they took it, six seconds into a power play, Kai Tweten scored evening the game at one.
In the second period the Utes scored early on another power play goal by the freshman Brady Bennett. Utah then maintained most of the puck through the second period, until Bobcat captain Wes Innes scored evening the game 17 minutes into the period. It began to feel momentum couldn’t find a side, then with 15 seconds left in the period Daniel Madison off the faceoff scored a amazing goal giving the Utes momentum.
In the third period the Utes controlled possession and the shot column, ending in Jim Madden sealing the deal in the 16th minute! Winning the game 4-2!
On Friday the Utes picked up where they left off against Providence who the night before had beaten last season’s best regular season team Weber St. The Utes however didn’t care who they were playing they dominated the game from start to finish, with goals from Cole Turner, Adam Kural, Connor Beers and Aiden Umina. The did conceal at the end, but the standout player was freshman Jeremy Carpenter who almost netted a shutout for himself. The Utes won 4-2!
To round of the weekend the University of Montana came into Steiner to play the Utes. Montana coming into the game against the Utes, had been outscored 17-0. They lost to both Utah State and Weber State. The Utes looked early on like it was going to more of the same with a early breakaway goal from Connor Beers. That was it for the Utes, allowing four straight goals unanswered through the end of the first and into the second period. The Utes did tie the game up with a goal from Kai Tweten 10 minutes into the 3rd period. Then with one minute left, Gabe Shepard scored the game winner for Montana followed by a empty net goal from Quinn O’Connor to seal the 6-4 win for Montana.
The Utes will now recover and regroup and return to the Ice against in-state rival Utah Valley in a home and away series October 16th. You can catch all the home game on our website utahhockey.com or watch the stream on YouTube!