UW hockey opens with sweep of Mesa State

by UW Media Relations

A new University of Wyoming hockey season began with the same old story.

The Cowboys' dynamic scoring tandem of Graham Barrett and Erik Blomberg picked up where they left off last season, accounting for seven goals and six assists to lead UW to victories of 10-0 and 6-5 against Mesa State College last weekend.

"They need to pull a lot of the weight for us on offense, but I think we all know they're capable of doing that. They did it last year and they're sure off to a good start again this year," UW coach Shawn Rockey said. "They're definitely our leaders -- both offensively and as role models -- and it's really important for them to step up, especially early in the year, and show the younger guys what's it all about."

The team's leading scorer with 38 points on 17 goals and 21 assists a season ago, Barrett (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had a goal and two assists in Saturday's opener at the Taco John's Events Center in Cheyenne and three assists in Sunday's series finale at the Laramie Community Ice Arena.

Blomberg (Parker, Colo.), who burst onto the scene last season with a team-leading 22 goals to go along with 11 assists as a freshman, netted a pair of goals in both games and also recorded three assists in the weekend sweep of the Mavericks.

Barrett and Blomberg received plenty of offensive support in the series opener. Tad Bernet (Katy, Texas), the anchor of the team's second forward line, scored a pair of goals and assisted on another, and Ryan Allred (Laramie), Will Alpsteg (Kearney, Neb.), Willie Forbes (Casper), Michael Leriger (Houston, Texas) and David Wells (Rock Springs) had a goal apiece.

In goal, Robert Kola (Colorado Springs, Colo.) stopped 20 shots to earn his second career shutout.

The Cowboys weren't as crisp in their second game of the weekend and needed an overtime goal by Alpsteg to finish off Mesa State.

"In the first game, I thought everyone worked together and we played hard as a team," Rockey said. "In the second game, I thought we broke down and everybody was trying to do things on their own. It was a little disappointing to go to overtime after beating them 10-0, but we finally came together and pulled it out."

Forbes, Evan Reed (Fort Collins, Colo.) and Lucas Wescoat (Idaho Falls, Idaho) also scored goals for UW. Drew Luplow (Sheridan) deflected 34 of 39 shots to record the victory in goal.

The Cowboys open American Collegiate Hockey Association Pacific Regional play this weekend with two games against the United States Air Force Academy club squad in Colorado Springs, Colo.