USU, BYU to play aggressive defense, limit penalties

Both the Utah State University and Brigham Young University hockey teams will run aggressive defenses while the Aggies will also focus on controlling penalties at the game in Provo on Saturday.
“They’ve had a weak defense in the past,” said USU head coach CJ Westlake. “I don’t think they have their top defenseman this year, either, and he brought a lot of depth.”
Brent Ring, the president of BYU’s hockey team, said that not only has that player, Jacob Eisentat, resolved his eligibility in time to play on Saturday, but with their new players who’ve joined, they have “a full complement of defensemen.”

Aggies’ wingman Brett Fernandez said USU’s strong offensive line will help out with defense.
“We’ve been focusing more on our systems,” Fernandez said, “like forechecks and regrouping, things to help us get in the zone and out of the zone.”
According to Ring, BYU is confident the Cougars will “run a good forecheck.”
“We’ll rely on our speed, quickness and moving the puck well,” Ring said. “We’ll take advantage of special teams and power plays.”

While Westlake wants the team to be aggressive, he is most concerned with how many penalties the Aggies have been getting this season.

“I noticed that last weekend, the penalty minutes killed us," Westlake said "We’ve dialed it in, but we’ll try to control penalty minutes this weekend and play more disciplined hockey.”

While BYU has only had “around six to eight penalties a game,” according to Ring, he said “the special teams plays will be critical” to either side’s success on Saturday.

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