Ralston Valley taking measured approach to Colorado prep hockey playoffs

More than in any sport, it seems ice hockey coaches have a way of viewing any situation with a hint of neutrality.

A devastating loss? You won't hear a typical hockey coach bemoaning the lack of key chances or the negative ramifications the defeat provided his team. There is still time to retool, he'll tell you. He'll say his guys are resilient.

Likewise, a key win, no matter how huge, doesn't spark delusions of grandeur. Heck, even wins such as Ralston Valley's (Arvada) enormous late-season triumph against Regis Jesuit (Aurora) won't get a coach doing acrobatics about the prowess of his team.

The Mustangs' 5-4 win on Feb. 14 halted Regis Jesuit's perfect season and helped allow Ralston Valley to clinch the potent Foothills League. Yes, the Mustangs had to pull out three more one-goal wins to conclude the regular season, but the Regis win was the single-most important victory of the season by any of Colorado's 30 teams.

Not that Mustangs first-year coach Matt Schoepflin would spin it that way.

"It's a game that each year is marked down on our schedule and I'm sure it's the same with them," said Schoepflin, who was a Mustangs assistant for two seasons before taking over this season. "It's always a back-and-forth close game.

"I think for both sides, if you can ever beat the other, it's big for the team as far as a confidence factor. But I think our team knows that they are a good team, and if we have to play them again, it's going to be another battle."

Ralston Valley (17-1-1) earned the top seed in the top half of the bracket, and like the rest of the 16 qualifiers, will open Friday. The Mustangs will take on No. 8 Palmer (Colorado Springs) (11-8) in the first round, and the Mustangs' bracket includes two-time defending champ Lewis-Palmer (Monument) (a co-op team with Palmer Ridge), a No. 2 seed.

MaxPreps Colorado Boys Hockey Playoff bracket

The Rangers' 2010 title was at Ralston Valley's expense.

Ralston Valley's offensive attack is led by Chris Lupinski (17 goals, 11 assists) and Casey Riccatone (16 and 8) while a trio of goaltenders, including Scott Albertoni, have been staunch in the nets.

"I think we've definitely been on a good run as of late, and now we've got everyone back healthy," Schoepflin said. "That's always nice for the playoffs, as well as stringing a few wins together to go in with some momentum. We're pretty happy with where we're at right now."

Casual observers have asked why Bishop Machebeuf (Denver) (14-5) is seeded above Regis Jesuit (18-1) in the bottom half of the bracket, particularly when Regis won the head-to-head matchup 8-0. Here's why: Machebeuf won the Peak League outright with a 12-2 league record, thus guaranteeing a top seed.

While Regis, led by Marshall Conrad, is still the bracket's heavy favorite, don't sleep on Machebeuf. The Buffaloes have an abundance of firepower, including bruising 6-foot-4 forward Max Prendergast (22 goals, 15 assists), Ty Wagner (16 and 15) and C.J. Miller (12 and 11).

And the Buffaloes have been able to chug along despite the absence of sophomore forward Nick Rems, who was leading the team in scoring with eight goals and 14 assists before suffering a season-ending injury. Rems had his kneecap shattered while blocking a shot in a win against Doherty on Jan. 14.

"The only team in our bracket that we haven't seen this year is Steamboat Springs," Machebeuf coach Al Quintana said. "We're looking forward to the challenge. I think it's a great draw."

If the Buffaloes end up meeting Regis Jesuit again, they have vowed to be more prepared this time.

"There's always a mystique with Regis; they're always a very strong program," Quintana said. "We know they put their skates on like anybody else does. Hopefully we won't have the lack of confidence going into that game like we did in the first game."

The No. 3 seeds in each portion of the bracket are fitting. First-year squads Resurrection Christian (Loveland) (14-4) and Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) (12-4-2), the subject of a MaxPreps feature in January, have continued their quick bursts out of the gate and are in prime position to be a factor in the tournament

The quarterfinals will be played Saturday, so first-round winners won't have the luxury of a day off. The semifinals are slated for March 2 at the University of Denver's Magness Arena, with the final to be played there the following day.

Also of note, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) earned a spot in the tourney after a disastrous 3-16 season last year. The Eagles also qualified in their inaugural season of 2010. As a No. 15 seed, Valor upset No. 2 Standley Lake 8-6 in the first round.

If a similar large-scale upset occurs this season, say Monarch upends Lewis-Palmer in the first round, it's doubtful you'll hear Coyotes coach Jimmy Dexter crowing.

It's easy to see where the modesty is rooted. Listen to any NHL coach and most NHL players – making room for rare exceptions such as Chris Pronger and Sean Avery – and an aura of humbleness is omnipresent.

Growing up playing on frozen ponds doesn't foster the type of trash talk as say, a playground basketball court, but hockey personnel also seems to operate by a code of subtlety. No bulletin-board material, no leaks of information that could help an opponent.

"I think we're ready for whoever we end up playing," Schoepflin said. "Hopefully we can get on another run and see what happens."