The University of Wyoming hockey club split two games against Montana State University
last weekend to open its 2010-11 season.
The bigger news, though, may have been Matt Schulz' debut with the Cowboys.
A club newcomer from Casper, Schulz netted six goals in the two games, including a
natural hat trick in the first period of his first game, a 6-3 UW victory Friday night
over the Hellcats. In Saturday night's finale, Montana State rebounded with a 5-4
win.
Schulz wasn't the only offensive star in the weekend series at Spirit Ice Hall in
Gillette. Mitch Nelson (Sheridan), the Cowboys' scoring leader a season ago, contributed
four assists and Ryan Bourcier, a rookie from Warren, Mich., added a goal and two
assists.
Seth Farrell (Longmont, Colo.), Dustin Galbreath (Greenwich, Conn.) and Taylor Freeman
(Parker, Colo.) also scored goals for UW. Jake Bates and T.J. Peters (Jackson), Rick
Comer (Gillette), Cole Younger (Eagle River, Alaska) and Tyler Yorke (Calgary, Alberta)
had assists.
In goal, Robert Kola (Colorado Springs, Colo.) played splendidly in the opener, turning
aside 16 of 17 shots to earn the victory.
But Schulz was the story. He scored every which way -- twice shorthanded, twice on
the power play and twice even strength -- while showing why Coach Shawn Rockey predicted
he'd lead UW in scoring this season.
Schulz played last season with the Cody-based Yellowstone Quake, the only Junior A
hockey program in Wyoming. Nationally, Junior A hockey features up-and-coming players,
including future collegiate and professional players ages 16-20.
UW resumes play this weekend with a pair of games against Border War rival Colorado
State University. The teams face off at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Fort Collins, Colo., then
play again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Laramie Community Ice Arena.
