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The previous iteration of the Montana Tech Digger hockey club was formed for the 2011-2012 hockey season, and saw immediate success on and off the ice, showing fierce competition on the ice, and academic success and community engagement off-ice. In 2013, the team soon joined the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 2, in newly minted Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League. The team was pitted against teams from Utah, including Weber State, Utah State and Brigham Young, local competitors such as Montana State University, and teams from Idaho (Boise State) and Denver. In that inaugural season, Montana Tech finished in 2nd place, behind Weber State.
In this same season, 2 players from Montana Tech were chosen to participate in the ACHA National All-Star Challenge – one of those players, Conrad Smith, also represented the ACHA Division 2 Select team, traveling to Europe to play several Pro teams and European University All-Star teams.
In the 2013-2014 season, the Montana Tech Diggers were ranked the number 1 hockey team in Montana by The Hockey News, a list that contained many professional teams – a major accomplishment and sign of recognition that the put the team, and Montana Tech on the hockey map in the US club hockey world.
In the following 2014-2015 season, the team continued to impress, defeating the number one Mountain West Division ASU Sun Devils in tournament play, which aided in securing a spot at the team’s first ever regional tournament, after finishing 5th in the division.
The same year, the Montana Tech Digger Hockey club had 7 players selected to represent the Mountain West division at the National All-Star Challenge in West Chester Pennsylvania – making Montana Tech the highest represented school on the team. Douglas “Dunk” Abbott – The second Montana Tech player in team history to achieve this recognition.
In 2017, the Montana Tech Diggers Hockey Club once again represented at the ACHA National All-Star Tournament in Philadelphia, sending 2 players to the tournament.
The Montana Tech Diggers Hockey Club remained active on and off the ice, Joining Montana Tech and KXLF to award “One Class at a Time” Grants.
The team remained active on campus as well, participating in club-rush events, fundraisers, and homecoming week.
Unfortunately, due to injuries and lower player-count in the 2018-2019 season, the team had to cancel their remaining games to finish out the season. Low player turnover in the 2019-2020 season, coupled with the COVID 19 pandemic, the Digger Hockey team went dormant.
We are now looking to revive our great academic and athletic Digger Hockey club and are already hitting the ice to get back to form! For the 2023-2024 season, we are unaffiliated with any league – however, with enough support, we hope to rejoin the ACHA in the 2024 – 2025 season.
We hope you will consider making a gift to the Montana Tech Hockey Club today. Please help us spread the word! Share this project on social media, by email and tell your friends!
If you are interested in Digger Hockey Club sponsorships, please click HERE.
