COLORADO SPRINGS — The extreme high felt by the Cheyenne Mountain hockey team lasted all of 22 seconds Friday night against powerhouse Regis.
Just hours after learning that Bishop Machebeuf had to forfeit its quarterfinal victory over them due to an ineligible player, and holding their only practice of the week just 4 1/2 hours before the puck dropped in their state semifinal, the Indians had no answer for the defending champion Raiders.
Regis, unbeaten in its last 35 games over the past two seasons, got a Tanner Ottenbreit goal just 22 seconds in and upped the lead to 3-0 less than five minutes into the game. A 6-0 decision ultimately propelled the Raiders into today’s title game against the winner of Friday night’s other semifinal, Lewis-Palmer versus Ralston Valley.
“We just came out quick and jumped on them and kept it going,” said sophomore Nick Davis, who teamed with older brother Gregg to score goals two and three just 29 seconds apart. “They didn’t have anything for our first line on that first shift, and we just kept it going.”
The Cheyenne Mountain players, who had already checked in equipment, were called to the school office at 11 a.m. Friday and found out they would be playing later that night. Minus top defenseman Bryan Koppa (disciplinary issues) and forward Justin King (in Africa), the Indians mustered the best effort possible with just 40 minutes of practice time.
“It was a great surprise and an excellent opportunity to come out and play one more hockey game,” said Cheyenne’s leading scorer, Trentt Houghton. “It was awesome to get one more chance, and it’s too bad we couldn’t make something of it.”
Unlike their 5-4 victory over the Indians in December, when the Raiders (21-0-1) let Cheyenne back in after opening up a 3-0 lead, Regis knew the Indians didn’t have their hockey legs under them and took full advantage.
Gregg Davis made it 4-0 in the first-period onslaught that took any and all charm out of the game for Cheyenne Mountain.
“The stress level was ramped up so high before that game with all of the extracurricular things that went on with Machebeuf’s absence,” Regis coach Dan Woodley said. “It was a very disconcerting feeling to go into that. Certainly, Cheyenne Mountain didn’t get a chance to prepare like they would have, but to my team’s credit, coming out and being ready to play was big.”
Connor Hayes scored the Raiders’ two final goals over the last two periods, each time with an assist from Zeke Yslas. The six-goal lead with 13:15 to play enforced the mercy rule, so the clock continued to run until the end of regulation.
It was the sixth shutout of the year for Regis and the third for John Schubert, who saved all 12 shots he faced.
Cheyenne Mountain 0 0 0 — 0
Regis 4 1 1 — 6
First period —R: Ottenbreit (Johnston, Hayes), :22; R: N. Davis (G. Davis), 3:48 pp; R: N. Davis (G. Davis), 4:17; R: G. Davis (Branson, Miller), 9:18. Penalties — Lewis, CM (tripping), 2:12; Yslas, R (cross checking), 6:03; Johnston, R (roughing), 11:27; Hayes, R (roughing), 14:46; Johnson, CM (roughing), 14:46.
Second period —R: Hayes (Yslas), 13:33 pp. Penalties — Lewis, CM (cross checking), 2:33; Johnston, R (tripping), 7:03; Lewis, CM (high-sticking), 12:14.
Third period —R: Hayes (Yslas, Johnston), 1:45. Penalties — None.
Shots on goal — Cheyenne Mountain 4-2-6 — 12; Regis 17-13-13 — 43. Saves — Cheyenne Mountain (Douglas, 25 mins.) 13-9-0 — 22, (Dean, 20 mins.) 0-3-12 — 15; Regis (Schubert) 4-2-6 — 12. Power-play opportunities — Cheyenne Mountain 0-for-3; Regis 2-for-3.
