Waded Cruzado President of Montana State University | Official Website
Waded Cruzado President of Montana State University | Official Website
Montana State University's men's hockey team is set to compete for a national title for the first time in its history. The Bobcats will play in the championship game on March 19 at 12:30 p.m. Mountain Time at USA Arena in St. Louis, marking a significant achievement for the club program.
This season marks the fourth consecutive year that MSU has qualified for the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division 2 national tournament. The team entered as the top seed from the West region, which allowed them to bypass regional tournaments and head straight to nationals.
Head Coach Dave Weaver highlighted the challenges of maintaining peak performance during a month-long break before nationals, saying, “How do you keep the guys at that top level for a month without seeing a different opponent? It’s almost like pre-season.”
The team's journey included three pool play games where they won against the University of Wisconsin and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute but lost to Ohio University. They secured their place in the finals by defeating the University of St. Thomas with a score of 6-1.
Senior goaltender Jorgen Johnson emphasized focus throughout their schedule, noting, “It's a bit of a marathon, three games, hoping for five. That's a lot at this level.” Johnson's leadership and skills have been crucial; he boasts one of the best save rates nationally among Division 2 goalies.
MSU's dominant season began with an 11-game winning streak and concluded with shutting out their rivals, Montana Grizzlies. During this match, Johnson's jersey was retired in recognition of his contributions.
The Bobcats' success has been supported by community fundraising efforts necessary due to hockey being a club sport rather than NCAA-sanctioned at MSU. Weaver expressed gratitude towards supporters: “They truly do care about what interests their students and their athletes... When a need comes like a national trip, they have always stepped up.”
Fans can follow live updates and results on the ACHA website or watch via FloHockey streaming service.
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