Bobcats bring the chill in hockey home opener

The MSU Men’s Hockey Club took the ice last Friday against the Boise State Broncos for the Bobcats’ 2025-26 season opener. A sold-out crowd filled the arena as the Bobcats delivered a strong performance against the Broncos, resulting in a 4-2 win for MSU.

Coming off a successful season last year — where the Bobcats advanced to the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships in St. Louis — the team worked hard on and off the ice to prepare for Friday’s match. According to Head Coach Dave Weaver, players focused on the technical side of play and improving vital skills to ensure a strong start to the season.

“You have to be patient and let the guys get their feet under them and settle in a little bit. And then I want to watch how fast they play, and as we learn our players better and better, then [we] start to learn what we have in each of these guys,” Weaver said.

“We're a lot faster this year and a bit more on the skill side than we have been in the past,” said center and Assistant Captain Hayden Klem. He attributed the team’s improvement thus far to a greater focus on these skills. 

“When I first came here, we were much more on the grind, wearing down the other team and [winning] games,” Klem said. “Now, we have more of the skill to back up that Montana mentality that we still have.”

Going into the game, Weaver said he made it clear to the team that they do not just play to win, and it is okay to mess up as long as they take something away from it.

“It's not whether you make a mistake, it's how we rebound from that mistake and how we learn from it,” Weaver said. “Just go out there and just play. Play as hard as you can, and let the chips fall when they fall. But you know, it's always fun to watch, especially when freshmen come in and play their first college game.” 

The Bobcats dominated the first period with sustained offensive zone pressure, cycling the puck deep and challenging the Broncos' defense. Within the first five minutes, the ’Cats scored, setting an early lead.

The Broncos answered midway through the first period, capitalizing on a rebound to even the score. But the tie didn’t last long: just 30 seconds later, the Bobcats responded with a quick snipe off the rush to reclaim momentum.

The Broncos clawed back again, knotting the game at 2-2 with a net-front goal. With under five minutes remaining, they buried another one to take a 3-2 lead into halftime. By the end of the first, MSU had fired 17 shots on goal to the Broncos’ 14.

The second period was just as aggressive. MSU owned the slot the rest of the night, peppering the Broncos' goal with traffic and top-shelf snipes. The ‘Cats finished the second with 32 shots on goal to the Broncos' 17, leading 4-2 at the end of the second.

In the final period, the Bobcats pushed the Broncos' defensive zone, leading to aggressive reactions from both sides. The Bobcats maintained their 4-2 lead and let the puck fly from the point, disrupting plays from the Broncos and picking off their passes.

The last period ended in a Bobcats win, with four goals and 48 shots on goal across the game, to the Broncos' two goals and 23 shots on goal.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, MSU returned to the rink for the second game against the Broncos. The ‘Cats owned the ice, keeping the Broncos on their heels and out of their defensive zone. 

MSU was gritty and chippy, forechecking the Broncos and raining pucks into the goal. The game was a barnburner, with high-scoring and back-and-forth plays from both teams. The rematch ended in a 5-1 win for the ‘Cats, who outshot the Broncos 58-31. 

Friday’s home opener marked the first win for the ‘Cats in the newly remodeled Gallatin Ice Arena on 901 N Black Ave. During the off-season, Gallatin Ice installed a jumbotron, a louder sound system and permanent seats to replace the old bleachers. The improvements were aimed at attracting more fans and supporting the team, Weaver said.

“With the rink improvements that have gone on this summer, I think people are gonna come to the rink not knowing and go, ‘Holy smokes. Those fans are awesome. I want to sit there,’ and get a much better fan experience — which I think will have people come to more games, to be honest with you," Weaver said.

“Playing in front of fans is one of the biggest things that makes this sport just as fun as it is. And the atmosphere that we have here is incredible,” Klem said. “So as much as we can grow the game, I love and support it, and as a player, it's more fun to play in front of a packed crowd than an empty stadium.”

To keep up with the MSU Men’s Hockey Club this season, visit https://msu.hockey.com or follow the team on Instagram @msubobcathockey.