Inevitably at this time of the year, especially during an Olympic year, the 1980 United States men’s hockey team’s exploits are remembered.
The 26-year anniversary of “Do you believe in miracles?” was Wednesday. The 13th- seeded Summit Tigers, who like the USA many had written off early on, will try to pull off their own surprise Friday night at Colorado Springs’ World Arena in the state semifinals against Cheyenne Mountain.
“The toughest game is right in front of us,” Summit coach Bryan Adams said. “If you think about that ’80 Olympic team, their biggest game was against the Soviets, and not the final game.”
Summit (9-12) upended the defending champions from Air Academy in the first round and then followed it up the next night with another stunner over 2005 semifinalist Bishop Machebeuf.
“They are a good team,” Air Academy coach Dave Meisinger said. “You start playing well this time of year, and who knows what can happen. They scored that first goal and we showed our youth and panicked a bit.”
Said Adams: “It’s always a goal to get to this point, and I knew these kids were good. I just didn’t know how good they could really be and how much fun it would be. It’s a true Cinderella story.”
A closer look at the Tigers’ season shows they were close, with six of their 12 losses by one goal, including two in overtime. Winners of four straight headed into this weekend’s play, Summit has figured out a way to start winning the close games.
Billy Barto (12 goals, 12 assists) and Chase Underbrink (16 and seven) provided much of the offensive push during the regular season. A deep Tigers bench, led by Grant McGahey, who missed last weekend’s games because of a concussion, Jeff Montepare and Braxton Campbell add to the scoring punch.
Summit, located in Frisco, trains in Breckenridge at the highest artificial ice rink in the world at 10,000 feet. Advantage Tigers versus any team when it comes to conditioning.
“We have a lot bigger lungs when we get down there,” Adams said.
The key for Summit will be to find a way to crack the Cheyenne Mountain defense. The stingy Indians blue-liners and goalies Nick Robertson and Sam Garcia have allowed just 17 goals all season.
“It’ll be interesting to see how Cheyenne reacts if Summit gets on the board first,” Meisinger said.
Cheyenne Mountain, a semifinalist all 31 years the sport has been sanctioned, is led by the state’s most productive offensive weapon in 5-foot-5, 120- pound forward Alex Lofthus. The junior has 30 goals and 33 assists for the 20-0-1 Indians.
The second semifinal will feature a resurgent Battle Mountain Huskies squad (14-6-1) that hit its stride after the return of captain Casey Kleisinger and Kyle Woods from suspension, against first-time semifinalist Peak to Peak (15-6-0).
“I think Casey is one of the best players in the state, and he is fresh and ready to go,” first-year Battle Mountain coach Gary Defina said. “When your best player comes back, it definitely provides a spark, but I have to give credit to the rest of the team, who really stepped up in their absence.”
The Huskies, 7-0-1 in their past eight games, will have to slow down the Pumas’ 1-2 scoring punch of Josh Wrede and Ryan Meyer.
Staff writer Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-866-5446 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
