UM hockey team adjusts to division play

It’s taken almost four years, but the University of Montana club hockey team is ready to grow up and take it to the next level.

After being relegated to mostly playing pick-up games in the four seasons, UM has joined the American Collegiate Hockey Association this year. The Griz will play this season in the ACHA’s Division III Pacific division, which is 23-teams strong.

“It’s been a steppingstone every year,” said junior Dan Rosenthal. “Last year we weren’t really in the league, but this year it’s been nice to get up to that next step for us because we’ve actually had a regular schedule.”

Junior Callan Smith said the team, currently 1-5 in rink play, is hoping to make it into Division II by next season so that the traveling will be easier.

“The problem with Division III is that they’re all schools down in California,” Smith said. “The closest Division III team we have is Boulder (Colorado), so if we go Division II, Montana State’s a Division II … and then there’s Gonzaga and Weber.”

Despite being in a transition season, head coach Seth Romocki said he definitely sees a change in the team.

“They’re a lot more organized, last year they weren’t,” Romocki said. “We’ve got some good games in, and we’ve got some potential.”

Smith said that one of the biggest improvements from last year is that Montana is now a complete team.

“Last year we weren’t even a student group. Last year it was more like a loosely put together men’s travel team that was associated with the U,” Smith said.

Playing by the rules, becoming a student group and getting funding are just a few of the things Smith said the team has done this year.

Rosenthal agreed that progress has been made on the team.

“We’re a lot more dedicated, we have a lot more guys at each practice,” Rosenthal said. “The guys are a lot more serious because of this league that we’re in now.”

One thing that the team is specifically focusing on this season is bringing in a larger fan base. Montana, however, shouldn’t have any problem generating a fan base this upcoming weekend when Montana State makes an appearance at Missoula’s Western Montana Fairgrounds.

“Bozeman’s good, they’ve had a program for six or seven years,” Smith said. “They’re organized, they’re fast, they skate hard, they hit hard, they’re skilled and they bring in a lot of good skaters. We just have to keep up with them, we have to hit hard and just get going.”

Rosenthal said that last year’s Griz-Cat matches were an indicator that this year’s game will be competitive.

“It’s going to be a great game,” he said. “We split the series with them last year. It was a real physical game, there were a couple fights and we had a great crowd.

“It’s a fast-paced game. If you don’t know much about hockey, you’re going to have a great time and be real surprised,” Rosenthal said. “You get to see some good hits, you get to be cold and drink beer at the same time. It’s just an opportunity to drink beer and see a super exciting game.”

Montana meets Montana State in the Glacier Ice Rink at the Western Montana Fairgrounds Friday and Saturday nights, both games at 10. Tickets are $2 for students and $3 for adults.