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By Nick Garner
Special to MaxPreps.com
It has taken three months to determine the state’s top 16 teams that will face off for the championship.
Two-time defending state champion Regis Jesuit enters as the top seed after posting the state’s best record at 16-3-0. The Raiders will take on Kent Denver in their quest to win a third straight championship, something only Cheyenne Mountain and Cherry Creek have accomplished.
The most intriguing region will be at the Apex Ice Center in Arvada with Cheyenne Mountain, Monarch, Valor Christian and Standley Lake. Monarch has been as good as advertised, finishing fourth in a tough Foothill League in its first sanctioned season.
Cheyenne Mountain makes its usual appearance in the state tournament, but although the Indians finished 10-7-3 they are always tough when it comes to the playoffs. In the other matchup at Apex, Valor Christian is this season’s Cinderella story. The Eagles went winless in their first season last year, but exploded for 10 wins and their first playoff berth. Maybe some of the championship magic the school’s football team had in the fall will rub off on the hockey team.
Standley Lake comes in as the No. 2 overall seed after posting the program’s best season in four years. The 15 wins mark a school record, beating the previous benchmark of 13 set in the inaugural season in 2006.
Schedule
Friday at South Suburban Family Sports
Regional title game, Saturday at 4:15 pm
(No. 16 seed) Kent Denver (7-6-5) vs. (1) Regis Jesuit (16-3-0), 5:45 p.m.: These teams meet for the second time this season, as Regis won 7-2 during Foothills League play… Regis enters as the top overall seed for the second season in as many years… Kent Denver got in by virtue of its win against Aspen in the season finale and Machebeuf’s loss to Regis … Regis enters the playoffs with an eight-game playoff winning streak.
(9) Aspen (10-6-3) vs. (8) Rampart (12-5-2), 8 p.m.: Aspen has won only five of its past 10 games … Rampart is one of the hottest teams, having won seven of its past 10 games … Both teams have only one player who has scored more than 10 goals on the season; Daniel Fullerton (12) from Rampart and James Pardee (19) from Aspen.
Friday at Dobson Arena, Vail
Regional title game, Saturday 6 p.m.
(13) Battle Mountain (10-6-3) vs. (4) Ralston Valley (15-3-1), 5 p.m.: This is a rematch of a 2008 state semifinal that Battle Mountain won 2-0 behind two third-period goals … Ralston Valley likes to share the scoring, as 33 different players have posted at least a point, led by Ryan Finnefrock (12 goals, 17 assists).
(12) Summit (12-5-2) vs. (5) Steamboat Springs (13-4-2), 7 p.m.: Summit comes in with the best goalie, by win total, in the state in Andrew Dunlap (12-4-2) and the state’s third leading scorer in Shamus O’Neill (20-26) … In its six games this month the Steamboat Springs offense has scored 31 goals, while the defense has been equally impressive, allowing just 12.
Friday at Sertich Ice Arena, Colorado Springs
Regional title game, Saturday at 1:15 p.m.
(14) Doherty (10-6-3) vs. (3) Air Academy (11-5-3), 5 p.m.: Following a dismal 7-11-1 record last year and missing the playoffs, Air Academy turned it around this year to win the Peak League title (by virtue of tiebreakers) … Since starting the season 4-1-1, Doherty has struggled in the New Year, posting a 6-5-2 mark … These teams met on Jan. 27, with Doherty edging Air Academy 2-1 as Braden Johnson scored twice in the final three minutes in the third period.
(11) Chatfield (9-9-1) vs. (6) Lewis-Palmer (13-3-3), 7 p.m.: Although Lewis-Palmer tied for the best record in the Pikes League (with Steamboat Springs), the Rangers were seeded seventh because of tiebreakers … The Chatfield offense is balanced, with four players scoring 20 or more points, led by Trevor Knoll (12 goals, 10 assists) and two more who have 10 or more points …Lewis-Palmer has the team built for another run at the title, as its offense, led by Kyle Lachner (16-11 for 27 points), has scored 83 goals while the defense has allowed just 29.
Friday at Apex Ice Center, Arvada
Regional title game, Saturday at 3 p.m.
(10) Cheyenne Mountain (10-7-2) vs. (7) Monarch (13-6-0), 5:15 p.m.: Monarch enters the playoffs with a lot of momentum, having gone 8-2 in its past 10 games, with one of those wins coming against Ralston Valley … Cheyenne Mountain is solid in net with Zach Neal posting the fourth most wins by a goalie with 10. His 10th win came against Steamboat Springs in the season finale.
(15) Valor Christian (10-9-0) vs. (2) Standley Lake (15-4-0), 7:30 p.m.: This is the feel-good game of the tournament, as both teams made big improvements from last year … Standley Lake went from 8-11 and no playoff berth to 15-4, while Valor Christian went winless in its first CHSAA season to 10 wins and a playoff berth … The state’s top two leading scorers will be on display as Standley Lake’s Nick O’Donnell (26 goals, 27 assists for 53 points) takes on Valor Christian’s Michael Schoolcraft (38-11 for 49 points).
Nick Garner can be reached at nickgarner31@gmail.com.
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