By Ryan Carlson (@ryancarlson88):
Almost time for winter break where this group of Spartans will get some much needed rest. After a bumpy first half of the season the San Jose State hockey team finds itself with a record of 5-14-3, with seven more games remaining.
After winning just one of their first seven games, the Spartans were determined to turn their season around but couldn’t find the spark they needed, until recently.
SJSU won three of their last four games, and with five of the next seven at home, is still looking to push into the playoffs. Although nationals are out of reach, there is still a chance for the team to make Regionals.
For the final away games the Spartans will head up to Eugene to take on the Ducks from the University of Oregon who are 4-7 and also on the outside looking in regarding postseason positioning.
The first half of the year was especially hard for the Spartans as they played 12 of the first 20 games on the road. The team went through a phase in late October when it faced three teams who are now ranked in the top four in the West Division losing by at least six goals every game.
Freshman forward Etinosa Obaseki has five goals in the last four games, and finished with three assists in the last game against Loyola Marymount.
Heading into the final stretch of the season, the six Spartan seniors have plans to make the most of what could be their last bunch of games with the Spartan hockey team.
SJSU’s last chance to get a win on home ice before winter break is at 7:30p.m. this Friday at Sharks Ice.