Mountain Division Players to Watch

Matus Spodniak

Entering his final season of eligibility, Spodniak is trying to cement his name in Ogden Mustangs history. The Slovakian forward is closing in on the franchise’s all-time points record. With another high-scoring performance like last year (89 regular season points and 17 playoff points), Spodniak will be able to etch his name as the greatest Mustangs scorer of all-time. His run toward history will help power Ogden as they attempt another run at the Thorne Cup.

Vincent Mastrandrea

Another top scorer for his team, Mastrandrea returns to the Colorado Eagles as they look to defend their Mountain Division championship. A Colorado native, Mastrandrea enters his final year of junior eligibility looking to build off of an impressive 2016-17 season. He led the Eagles with 77 points in the regular season and he was one of five Colorado players to notch at least six points during the postseason. Mastrandrea will no doubt be a key component to the Eagles’ offense again this year.

Braden Lajoie

Along with Mastrandrea, Lajoie is back in Fort Collins for another season with the Eagles. He had the sixth-best goals against average and the fifth-best save percentage among goaltenders with at least 30 games played last year. The 19-year-old Wichita native played a big role in Colorado’s run to a Mountain Division banner, posting a 24-10-3 record. Lajoie will look to continue to frustrate the rest of the Mountain’s big scorers and hopes to do that all the way to April.

What other veteran players from the Mountain Division are you excited to see this season? Let me know on Twitter @CactusOnIce

Article by Charles Woodall-Pike, WSHL Mountain Division Correspondent

Photo courtesy of Marc Mauno