Post Preps Insider is your daily source for news, story lines, top games and more information on Colorado high school sports — brought to you by Denver Post preps editor Kyle Newman.
The 2018 Colorado high school state hockey tournament begins with first-round action on Tuesday and Wednesday across the state. Here are five story lines to watch as play crescendos toward the championship on March 6.
is clear favorite
No. 1 Regis Jesuit (19-0) hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent since the fall league championship, and coach Dan Woodley’s crew is the clear favorite to capture their fifth state championship. The Raiders’ high-powered attack is led by Shane Ott (48 points), Paxton Erickson (37), Connor Kilkenny (33) and Wyatt Verity (26).
But the Raiders have been through the championship gauntlet — they stunned then-undefeated and heavily favored Monarch 6-1 in the 2016 title, and then were blitzed with two power play goals in the third period to lose last year’s title to the Coyotes — and surely realize the target is square on their back.
Challengers: Monarch,
No. 2 Monarch (17-2) and No. 3 Valor Christian (17-2) have the best chance of derailing the Raiders, even though Regis Jesuit beat the Coyotes twice in a span of three weeks in addition to besting the Eagles 2-1 on Dec. 16.
But defending champion Monarch, which has been to five straight title games, always seems to save its best hockey for when it counts most.
Leo Felt (42 points) and Connor Akerson (39) pace the Coyotes; rising Valor Christian is led offensively by Luke Wheeler (the state’s leader at 53 points) and defensively by Anthony Chambers.
Quadrant 2 is wide open
While Regis Jesuit, Monarch and Valor Christian were clearly the top three seeds based off both and eye test, the rest of the field is wide open — and that starts in which isn’t headline by any of those three powers.
No. 4 (15-2-2) and No. 5 (13-5-1) are in the driver’s seat toward the Frozen Four with first-round byes, but don’t overlook No. 12 Dakota Ridge and No. 13 Chaparral, both of which are catalyzed by energetic young coaches and players’ overall desire to establish a name for their program.
Non-powerhouse players to watch
Though the title chase is top-heavy, there’s an array of talented individuals to keep an eye on that don’t play for state’s best trio of teams.
Most notably, watch out for ‘s Dixson Root, the state’s leader in goals scored at 30; as well as Fort Collins’ Greg Bilek, ‘s Kolby Donovan, Rampart’s Tyler Montoya, Heritage’s Matt More and ‘s Ben Zimmerman, all of whom lit up every offensive statistical category during the regular season.
Semis, title back at Pepsi Center
The Frozen Four and championship game will be played at the Pepsi Center this year. The semifinals are on March 1 at 5:30 and 7 p.m., while the title is on March 6 at 7 p.m.
The Pepsi Center has hosted the hockey finals and it will be the fifth venue in recent memory in addition to DU, the Budweiser Events Center, the Denver Coliseum and the World Arena in Colorado Springs.
