Mission 4 will begin Friday in Colorado’s ice hockey playoffs. Four consecutive victories are required to become champion. The top seeds, Battle Mountain (1), Regis (2), Lewis-Palmer (3) and Kent Denver (4), head a field that includes longtime power Cheyenne Mountain (6), which has won a state-leading 14 cups, and 2007 titlist Aspen (7). Quarterfinals are Saturday at four sites; the Frozen Four begins Feb. 28 at World Arena in Colorado Springs with the title game March 1.
All systems snow for skiers
One thing’s for sure — they won’t have to worry about snow. Snowboat, er, Steamboat, the site for this year’s state skiing championships, has had nearly 400 inches of snow this season . . . and the forecast for the weekend is for more. It should be good for boys and girls, who will launch on Howelsen Hill with nordic skate at 10 a.m. today, followed by the first of two slalom runs at 3 p.m. Sitz and See Me will be the runs for the giant slalom Friday, 9 a.m., second run at noon. At 3 p.m., the nordic classic at Howelsen Hill will wrap up competition for team and individual events.
Neil H. Devlin
