MaxPreps Power Rankings (through Dec. 14)
1. Regis Jesuit (5-0-0): The defending champions have posted three shutouts and have outscored the opposition 25-6.
2. Ralston Valley (4-0-1): The Mustangs needed strong third periods to get past Chatfield and Standley Lake.
3. Lewis-Palmer (1-0-2): The schedule has been light early, but the Rangers will play twice more before the holiday break.
4. Chatfield (4-2-0): Off to one of their best starts ever, the Chargers have the second-most wins in the Foothills League.
5. Aspen (3-1-1): The Skiers have gone 3-0-1 since their opening-night loss to Battle Mountain.
6. Monarch (4-1-0): Making a bold statement in their first season, the Coyotes knocked off then-No. 5 Battle Mountain in their season opener.
7. Doherty (4-1-0): Led by the state’s leading goal scorer in Braden Johnson, the Spartans have the best record in the Peaks League.
8. Standley Lake (3-2-0): The two losses came to Regis and Ralston Valley, but the Gators were tied in both games going into the third period.
9. Battle Mountain (3-2-1): One of the busiest teams in the state, the Huskies have played six games in 12 days.
10. Steamboat Springs (2-1-2): The Sailors went 0-1-2 in the Mountain Shootout tournament, but the tie was against Aspen and the loss to Battle Mountain (1-0).
It’s better to give than receive
Peter Wineman from Monarch was in the giving mood in the Dec. 11 game against Doherty. Wineman had assists on the first six goals of the game in the 7-3 route of the Spartans. Wineman leads the state with nine assists.
The hat-trick trifecta
It’s rare for a player to score a hat trick in a game, but in the Liberty and Columbine game on Dec. 9, there were three hat tricks.
The first came from Columbine’s Trent Edwards when he got this third on a power-play goal midway through the second period. Edwards’ teammate, Seth Tillapaugh, got his third goal just three minutes into the third period. Liberty’s Zach Watts completed the trifecta in the third when he scored his third goal at the 7-minute mark.
Take that, Philadelphia!
The longest unbeaten streak in the National Hockey League is 35 games, set by the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1979-80 season.
That’s nothing compared to what defending state champion Regis has put together. Since its 2-1 loss to Lewis-Palmer on Jan. 14, 2008, the Raiders have gone 41 straight games, including the postseason, without suffering a loss. They have posted a mind-boggling 40-0-1 record.
And who is the next opponent to have an opportunity to end the streak? That would be Lewis-Palmer this Saturday in Colorado Springs in a rematch of last season’s title game that the Regis won 7-2.
The Pijanowski is the word
While it might be difficult to try to pronounce the last name of Ralston Valley’s Mitchell and Michael Pijanowski, trying to stop them isn’t easy, either. The Mustangs duo has combined for 20 points this season, with Michael having five goals and five assists, and Mitchell lighting the lamp seven times and dishing out three assists.
Not missing a beat
After missing most of last season because a broken collar bone, Standley Lake’s Nick O’Donnell came back for the final five games for the Gators and exploded for six goals and an assist. O’Donnell has picked up where he left off, scoring eight goals and four assists this season. The eight goals rank him second in the state behind Braden Johnson of Doherty (11).
Playing solid in net
One of the main reasons for the quick start for Doherty is the play of Konnor Barlow between the pipes. He has started all five games for the Spartans, putting together a 4-1 record. And of the 92 shots he has faced, he has stopped 83 for a goals against average of 1.99 and a save percentage of .902. Barlow also has posted two shutouts.
Nick Garner will write about Colorado high school ice hockey regularly for MaxPreps. Send notebook items to nickgarner31@gmail.com.