Jason Walker, University of Providence Sports Information
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - The long-awaited return of hockey happens this weekend as the University of Providence travels to Missoula to take on the University of Montana Grizzlies.
A new coach and a new attitude make up this year's version of the Argos which will play a limited schedule in 2023 after hiring Tommaso DeAngelis late last fall. DeAngelis has an impressive background in coaching hockey including stints with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League doing developmental coaching. He also coached the winning gold medal U-50 USA women's national team. DeAngelis coached the Gotham City Knights in New York, winning gold with the metropolitan select team.
This year's team will comprise of a strong mix of returnees from last season's ACHA national qualifying team including Taylor McCall who says he is excited to have a final season, "We had a long wait. We are all very privileged to have Tommaso coming here and doing all he can to get us up and going. That includes new gear, new equipment, and a whole new coaching style. He wants to win these few games we have but also give our seniors a good sendoff."
DeAngelis says the team has been put together on the fly and has been gelling in the last few weeks in preparation for this weekend, "Team is looking great. The guys are really working hard. I expect us to play hard, get two wins, play a team game and with a limited roster, try to conserve some energy.
"It is great to have some of the soccer guys, they are playing well. Their transition has been smooth and fit right in with what we want to do."
McCall agrees that the mix is coming together, "Everyone is kind of getting their feet back underneath of them, getting the cardio going."
The Argos will suit up enough guys to have two full shifts and that is something McCall says the team is used to, "The nice part is we are used to it. Last year having a good national run to the quarterfinals, we had about the same amount of players due to injuries. So, us getting back into that mindset of having the knowledge that this is crunch time, we need to be smart how we play, not doing extra dumb stuff."
The puck will drop Friday in Missoula at 8:30 PM, Saturday at 8:00 PM and both games can be watched live at www.upargos.com.
