Washington State men’s hockey battled the elements and a commanding Montana team Jan. 17 in an outdoor matchup in Kalispell, Montana, but ultimately fell to the Griz 8-1 in a fast-paced, physical game.
Montana struck early and often, opening the scoring with a goal from Dan Upton and adding multiple tallies throughout the first period to set the pace and gain momentum. Luke Pizzey led the way for the Griz with two goals, while Ben Cremers, Gray Wagner, Will Pankratz, John Baird and another late marker rounded out Montana’s intense scoring effort.
Despite the multi-goal deficit for the Griz, the Cougs found a small spark in the third period. Defenseman Lex Ballard put WSU on the board, finishing a play that showcased both his skating and offensive ability. The goal marked Ballard’s team-leading total among defensemen this season and stood as a bright spot for the Cougs on a difficult night.
Head coach Johnny Lupinacci credited his team’s second-period response as a positive takeaway after the loss.
“The second period was good hockey,” Lupinacci said. “There were lapses in the first and the third that really made the difference. We told the boys not to focus on the scoreboard but to focus on the positives. They played a good second period, now we’ve got to figure out how to do that for three periods in a row.” Lupinacci said.
Lupinacci highlighted strong contributions from WSU’s lower lines, noting that much of the Cougars’ offensive pressure came from players lower in the lineup.
“We got a lot of great shifts from our depth tonight,” he said. “Those guys are hungry, and when they play that way, it puts pressure on everyone else to match that energy.”
The outdoor setting added another layer of challenge, particularly early on, as snow and uneven ice affected the puck’s movement.
“I think the outside rink did make a difference in the first period,” Lupinacci said. “We tried to play a little too fancy. When we played north-south, got pucks in deep, and won races, we were much better.”
Saturday’s game marked the return of Cole Eastman, who suited up for the Cougs for the first time since Sep. 2024.
“It’s awesome to be back,” Eastman said. “This team’s skill level has improved a ton, and there’s a lot of talent in that locker room. With playoffs coming up, it’s exciting to see what this group can do.”
This game marked a milestone for goalie Alexi Kuhl, surpassing 1,000 minutes of ice time for WSU Hockey. This achievement reflectshis consistency and reliability with the team.
Despite the final score, Ballard emphasized ability as a key lesson moving forward.
“Sometimes you’ve got to change your game,” Ballard said. “With the snow and bouncing puck, it’s about bearing down and getting pucks deep. That’s something we can build off heading into the next game.”
The Cougars will look to take lessons from Kalispell, like consistency, adaptability, and a full-game effort, as they continue their push towards the playoff season.
