With 19 games in the books, the WSU club hockey team has posted a record of 8-11. While it isn’t a record the Cougs are satisfied with, the team has stayed competitive.
WSU started the season off strong with a two-game road sweep of Gonzaga in early September. However, they went on to drop four straight games against Washington and San Jose State.
Despite those losses, the Cougs split a two-game series against Western Washington with an exciting 8-7 overtime victory in their first matchup.
On Oct. 25, the Cougs made their way back to the Palouse to take on their hometown rivals, the Idaho Vandals. They won both matchups and took that momentum into the Pac-8 Showcase hosted by Eastern Washington. The Pac-8 includes club teams from various universities that have other conference affiliations across the West Coast. The boys in crimson put up a great performance, winning two of the four games against tough competition.
The highlight of this season so far was the Collegiate Classic against Western Washington on Nov. 23, the team’s third matchup with the Vikings this season. The Cougs made their way up to Winthrop for some exciting Saturday night outdoor hockey. They came away with a 3-2 win that went down to the wire.
Finally, WSU closed out the fall semester with a two-game series against Eastern Washington on the road before winter break. They lost both matchups, but had a close second game where the team almost staged a comeback.
So far, this season has seen quite a few ups and downs for WSU. With four games remaining, the Cougs will be seeking to cement their identity and hopefully post a winning record.
Miles Seguin, the junior forward and the team captain, leads the team with 23 points, including 11 goals and 12 assists. His puck handling and leadership are put on display each time he steps on the ice.
Close behind him is sophomore forward Cole Carlson who leads the team in goals this season with 13. The Calgary, Canada, native was the goal leader last season and is on pace to hold the title two years in a row.
While he hasn’t been appearing much on the score sheet, junior forward Samuli Sihovnen is an absolute presence on the ice. The 6-foot-2 Finland phenom is never too shy to lower the shoulder and send a message to the opposing bench. When it comes to forcing turnovers and shifting momentum, Sihovnen is the man.
Their defense has struggled to back up freshman goalie Michael “Drew” Ramsay, and it has shown in their high-scoring losses against tough teams. Despite this, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound freshman goalie has put up numerous quality starts, holding a 0.907 save percentage, ranked sixth in the Pacific Division.
With a well-rounded team, WSU excels at playing as a unit and setting up its offensive looks. Their chemistry and smooth play have been staples of the program all year.
With the spring semester underway, the Cougs are back on the Palouse and hungry for a win with four games remaining.
The Cougs set the tone for the semester with a pair of wins against the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Friday and Saturday at the Palouse Ice Rink in Moscow, Idaho, after sweeping Gonzaga earlier this season. WSU will look to continue this momentum and end the year with a winning record when the team faces USC in Anaheim, California, on Friday.
