Saturday, January 30, 2016
“Bryden Marsh has the voice of an Angel. You can quote me on that.”
— Terry Martin, UNLV goalie.
By Lee Samuels
Las Vegas – On the ice Bryden Marsh of UNLV is a powerful force. He has scored 34 goals this season including one against UTEP in a 6-1 win at the Saturday night at the Las Vegas Ice Center.
Off the ice, he likes to play the guitar, sing and he usually does it with his teammates. On the eve of this game Bryden – who is from Salmon Arm, BC, Canada – was over at the home of UNLV teammate Ethan Montana. Someone handed a guitar to Bryden who played it while singing the country song Wagon Wheel.
“It’s a beautiful song, written by Bob Dylan and recorded by Darius Rucker,” said Bryden, standing outside of a noisy UNLV locker room after the game. “My sister Jessica is the real singer in our family. She has recorded songs. When I go into a big studio with her she sings, I play the guitar.”
Bryden and UNLV’s Cody Williams are the giant goal scorers for UNLV this season. For Bryden it was a change of role in playing the game. When he played four seasons with the BCHL Salmon Arm, he was more of a grinder type player, moving the puck over to lightning-fast forwards who streaked about. With UNLV Bryden plays on the right side of a line with UNLV captain Chris Jones at center and a hard-skater on the left side in Axle Anderton.
The three of them and the other two Rebels lines had to solve the phenominal play of UTEP goalie Aleksander Lazarski. Years ago he played in the AAA Chicago Fury midget program. He is lightning-quick and spectacular in his play. After each save he took a long swig from his soft plastic green Gatorade bottle which, he said, contained fresh cold Las Vegas water.
Bryden Marsh is skating for UNLV this season because of a phone call he got from UNLV general manager Zee Khan last spring. “He called a number of times and convinced me to come to UNLV and play in this great program,” said Bryden. “My coaches told me too it would be the right move.”
And how tough was it to leave Salmon Arm BC?
“I think Salmon Arm is the greatest city on earth. It’s mountainous with lakes, beaches, good food, music, great people and fans who love and support hockey,” Bryden said while standing all alone outside a locker room door.
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In the UTEP locker area head coach Tom Herman said “…UNLV is the best team we have played all season.”
From the Blue Line – UNLV goalie Kyle Sekerak was strong in the net while getting his 3rd win…..UNLV speedster Austin Shannon scored two goals – his last one was a Sports Center type one with twists and turns in an amazing attack run….Ethan Montoya played one of his best games as well..the South Rink was packed and swarmed with UNLV fans…at the boards too was Gramps, UNLV’s unofficial GM…..UNLV raised its season record to 19-7-2. Historically only three other UNLV teams have won 19 or more games…Next week: the invasion of San Diego State for a two-game weekend at the Ice Center…..”They have a great skilled team,” sized up UNLV coach Nick Robone.
Here are UNLV’s goal scorers in order:
UNLV – Chris Jones 16th this season
UNLV – Bryden Marsh 34th
UNLV – Ethan Montoya 10th
UNLV – Steven Scamorza 2nd
UNLV – Austin Shannon 12th
UNLV – Zack Smith 1st
UNLV – Austin Shannon 13th
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Weekend ACHA D2 Finals
Utah 6, Utah State 2 – Wasatch Cup gold medal game
Weber State 6, BYU 3
ASU Maroon 4, San Diego State 3
ASU Elite 4, U of Arizona (D1) 1
NAU 6, Northern Colorado 3
Cal State Northridge 6, Cal State Fullerton 0
San Jose State 3, Santa Clara Jr. College 0
Vegashockey.net 