Scott Rahe could get used to this. As part of the first sanctioned schoolboy ice hockey game at the Pepsi Center on Friday afternoon, the senior at Regis Jesuit was among those who took the professional surface and imagined themselves as NHL players.
“It was fun being in this atmosphere,” Rahe said after scoring his team’s first goal in a 3-0 nonleague decision over Air Academy. “Our fans were only in two sections, but it’s a great experience I’ll never forget. Getting paid to do it every night would be an experience.”
Everything was nicer than high schoolers are used to — the ice, the locker rooms, the boards, the scoreboard . . . even Air Academy reserve Jared Shuck, who had two trips to the penalty box, said “it’s warmer and the bench was nicer.”
Said Regis coach Dan Woodley: “The venue is massive for our type of game and a lot of our fans came dressed as seats today. But we could hear them out there.
“Just the echo of the puck off the boards in an arena like this and the lighting and, to be honest, it was hotter than we’re used to. It was very exciting.”
While Woodley pointed out that Regis Jesuit scored two power-play goals and “otherwise it was a 1-0 game,” the two-time defending champion Raiders (4-0) generally had their way with the Kadets (4-1). They peppered Air Academy goalie Luke Lindsay-Brisbin with eight shots and repeatedly buzzed by him in the first five minutes.
One followed multiple giveaways by Air Academy as Rahe scored 4:49 into the first period off assists from Nick Davis and Mitch Conrad.
Regis Jesuit upped its lead on power-play goals in the second period by Matt Conrad and Marshall Conrad. The Raiders outshot the Kadets 33-16, rode strong defensive tandems, notably Tanner Ottenbreit and Tanner Scales, killed penalties and repeatedly beat Air Academy to the puck.
“First off, they’re the defending champions,” Kadets coach Dave Meisinger said. “And I think the first 6-7-8 minutes we were a little intimidated, a little scared, got down by a goal and started pressing.”
Air Academy 0 0 0 — 0
Regis Jesuit 1 2 0 — 3
First period — 1, Regis, Rahe (Davis, Matt Conrad), 4:49. Penalties — Regis, Pasquarella, cross-checking, 8:58; Regis, Lloyd, tripping, 10:11; Air Academy, too many men on the ice (served by Shuck), 11:33.
Second period — 2, Regis, pp, Matt Conrad (Rahe, Davis), 7:37; 3, Regis, pp, Marshall Conrad (Scales, Fioretto), 13:55. Penalties — Regis, Miller, interference, 1:57; Air Academy, Flaherty, tripping, 6:12; Regis, Lloyd, interference, 9:05; Air Academy, Maceau, interference, 1:25.
Third period — None. Penalties — Air Academy, bench minor (served by Shuck), 9:07; Regis, Pasquarella, boarding, 6:52; Regis, Ottenbreit, tripping, 11:03.
Shots on goal — Air Academy — 8-4-4 — 16; Regis 13-13-7 — 33. Goalies — Air Academy, Lindsay-Brisbin; Regis, Sungelo.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
