Competing at the CAHA Avs Cup last weekend in Denver, the Glenwood Grizzlies’ hockey program had success at the three-day tournament. But no Grizzlies team had more success than the 14U Bantam B team, which won the state championship.
The team went 4-0 on the weekend, outscoring opponents 16-4, and rolling to the state club league championship.
Opening up the tournament on Friday against Arapahoe Bantam B Navy at the Sport Stable, the Grizzlies rolled to a 3-0 win, thanks to a hat trick from Ross Barlow, and assists from Kale Tibbetts and Jase Joslin.
In net against Arapahoe, Hunter Oger stopped 12 shots in a sign of things to come on the weekend for the 14U Bantam B team.
Following the 3-0 win, the Grizzlies squared off with the Arapahoe Bantam B Maize team and picked up a 5-2 win.
Glenwood jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the game thanks to goals from Matthew Roggie, Joslin, Larenzo Lohse and Kade Winger off of assists from Cooper Luetke, Tibbetts, Lohse and Cooper Cunningham before Barlow capped off the 5-2 win with a goal late in the third period. Oger stopped 15 of 17 shots in the win over the Maize.
In the final game of the day Saturday against the Foothills Bantam B team, the Grizzlies picked up a 3-1 win as Glenwood jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period off of two goals from Joslin and a goal from Barlow.
Oger stopped 19 of 20 shots in the win, pushing the Grizzlies into the championship game on Sunday.
Glenwood rolled to a 5-1 win over COS Tigers Bantam B to pick up the state championship. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period off of two goals from Luetke and one goal from Joslin before Luetke and Barlow scored third-period goals to close out the state championship win.
Oger stopped 18 of 19 shots in the win, finishing the weekend with a 1.00 goals against average, stopping 64 of 68 shots for a .941 save percentage.
“It was a fun season,” said Richie Luetke, the Bantam B’s assistant coach. “It was great to see each and every player improve throughout the season and come together to win the CAHA Championship. It was a pleasure to coach this team.”
good showing for younger teams
Outside of the 14U Bantam B state championship team, the 10U Squirt B team made the semifinals of its respective tournament, finishing 1-2-1 on the weekend, while the 10U Squirt A team went 1-2-0, finishing third overall in the tournament.
At the 12U level, the PeeWee B team placed second in the state after going 2-2-0. The Grizzlies’ 12U team beat BHC PeeWee B Green on Friday 7-2, thanks to a hat trick from Mikal Martin, and goals from Peterson Bolton, Ossie Hilgeford, and James Hall.
The Grizzlies also defeated Foothills PeeWee B 6-3 on Saturday as Martin scored five goals and Hall added a tally. In net in the wins, Catcher Davis stopped a combined 22 of 27 shots.
“It was great to see all our teams have success and fun this past weekend,” said T.K. Kwiatkowski, Glenwood Springs Youth Hockey Association’s executive director. “Getting on the ice five to six weeks later than other regional associations, due to our outdoor seasonal facility, the CAHA Avalanche Cup is a good format to see where our teams stack-up statewide.
“To end on a positive note like we did is a true testament to our Grizzly Hockey players, families, and members’ dedication to the sport of hockey,” Kwiatkowski said.
jcarney@postindependent.com