(Editor’s note: Report by Merrick Parnell, Northern Hockey News)
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Montana State University hockey started its season with a two-game weekend sweep over Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. Friday saw a 4-3 Bobcat win, and then on Saturday MSU thumped WWU by a final score of 7-3.
Four different Bobcats picked up goals on Friday night, with Ryan Winchester, Kody Thomas, Ryan Padden, and Ross Hanson finding the back of the net. Thomas, a former Great Falls Americans Junior A product, would also finish the night with an assist in his first college hockey game.
“Scoring any time during the season always brings a round of joy, but that feeling is definitely a little stronger when it’s the first game of the season,” Thomas said. “I got a great opportunity from the work our forwards put in down in the corners and was able to take advantage of the situation presented to me.”
On Saturday, Padden would lead the MSU scorers with two goals coming from Ryan Perius assists. Veteran Luke Bing would also score twice, while Hanson and Josiah Pilskalns rounded out the goal scoring with one apiece.
