Utah M2 wins 2025 MWCHL Championship

February 8, 2025
Missoula, Montana

Hockey seasons are notoriously unpredictable and unforgiving. They giveth and taketh away in the many moments, periods, games, and weeks of the season. This season was no different for the University of Utah Men’s Division 2 Skatin’ Utes.

After falling to Weber State 4-3 in the Wasatch Cup Championship game on February 1st, Utah took their first appearance in the Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League Conference Championships as an opportunity to set the record straight against the best teams in the West.

The Utes entered the tournament as the third seed based on the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s Division 2 Rankings from the January 15th, 2025 ranking. Utah had climbed to #2 in subsequent rankings, but the tournament seeding is completed with enough time for teams to plan accordingly for travel.

2025 Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League Tournament Seeding:
#1 Montana State University
#2 Weber State University
#3 University of Utah
#4 University of Providence
#5 Utah State University
#6 University of Montana
#7 Boise State University
#8 Utah Valley University

Thursday, February 6, 2025
In the first game of the tournament, #3 Utah played the home town favorites #6 Montana at 7:00 PM. The game was scoreless after one, but Utah came alive in the second for two goals. The first from #24 Donovan O’Shea with an assist from freshman #35 Cole Turner. The second goal was scored by freshman#4 Owen Melson with assists from #28 Captain Ezekiel Endy and #35 Cole Turner.

Utah allowed a goal with 1:55 remaining in the second and took a one goal lead into the third period.

Midway through the final frame freshman #36 Ethan Overman scored the game winning goal with assists from freshman #4 Owen Melson, and freshman #12 Connor Beers.

Final from night one was Utah 3, Montana 1.

Friday, February 7, 2025
After the Thursday’s win, #3 Utah played #2 Weber State in a rematch of the 2025 Wasatch Cup at 4:30 PM. Utah Captain Ezekial Endy scored twice (12:28 and 15:57) in the first frame to give the Utes a 2-1 lead.

Utah continued the momentum into the second with two more goals. Freshman #29 Aiden Umina scored at 1:52 with an assist from Junior #20 Evan Richards. Freshman #3 Ben Laduke also scored with assists from Sophomore #21 Benjamin Wiener and Senior #10 Luke Ossola. Second period ended with Utah up 4-1.

The third period had Utah busy on the PK, as they drew four penalties. However at the 8:41 mark, #3 Ben Laduke scored his second goal of the game with the assist going to Captain #28 Ezekial Endy.

Final from game 2 was Utah 5, Weber State 1.

Saturday, February 8, 2025
The Championship game pitted #1 Montana State against #3 University of Utah at 4:30 PM. Of note, this game also marked the final match-up of the #1 and #2 seeds in the ACHA Rankings for the regular season.

From puck drop to final buzzer this game was an absolute battle in the nets. Only four penalties were assessed, two per team, with zero power play goals scored. Utah had 20 shots on goal compared to 42 by Montana State.

The single goal of the game was scored by Utah freshman Connor Beers at 18:12 of the first period with the assist being awarded to Sophomore #23 Malakai Lynch. Beers carried the puck down the left side boards and absolutely sniped a glove side, far corner, rocket of a shot for the game winning goal.

Final from Championship Saturday was Utah 1, Montana State 0.

Takeaways
Utah Goaltending was tremendous for the entire tournament with the goaltenders allowing only 2 goals in three games. Sophomore #30 Jack Nowicki stopped 34 of 35 shots in game one for a 97.14% save percentage. Junior Marcello De Antunano stopped 29 for 30 in game two for 96.66% save percentage and secured a shutout in the championship game with 42 saves. His save percentage for the tournament was 98.6%.

Nowicki season stats include 8 wins, 2 losses, 2 shutouts, and a 2.22 Goals Against Average. De Antunano tallied 10 wins, 3 losses, 2 shutouts, and a 2.20 Goals Against Average.

Utah continues their streak of playing in conference championship games to nine straight. This includes 8 Championship games over 8 seasons with the PAC-8 with 4 Championship trophies in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2024. Now the Utes can add the 2025 MWCHL Championship trophy to their collection.

Utah concluded their first season in the conference with a total record of 25-5-3.

The American Collegiate Hockey Association will announce the final Division 2 rankings of the season on February 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM Eastern. At that time, Utah will find out if they were awarded the coveted auto-bid to the 2025 ACHA National Tournament in Saint Louis, Missouri from March 14-18th, 2025.