LOVELAND | Preview capsules for the two 2015 Frozen Four semifinal ice hockey playoff games set for March 5 at the Budweiser Events Center. The state championship game is at 2 p.m. March 7 on the same ice.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
STATE ICE HOCKEY SEMIFINAL CAPSULES
6 p.m. — DAKOTA RIDGE (18-3) VS. CHERRY CREEK (17-4)
Breakdown: The Cherry Creek co-op team — which is made up of players from Cherry Creek as well as other district schools in Aurora in Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview and Smoky Hill, along with a player from Rangeview — plays in the semifinals for the second time in three seasons since the program was rekindled for the 2012-13 season following nearly two decades of hiatus. A win would give the Bruins their first trip to the state ice hockey championship game since they lost to Arapahoe in 1981 and the fifth time overall after they won state titles in 1977, 1978 and 1979. Dakota Ridge, meanwhile, has never played in a championship game. …Coach Jeff Mielnicki’s Cherry Creek team won a 4-3 decision over the Eagles on Feb. 17 in a game Dakota Ridge led 2-1 after one period. Tim Keohane (Smoky Hill) scored a hat trick in the game for the Bruins, with Nick Chavez scoring shorthanded for the other goal. Goaltender Brady Mielnicki saved 14 of the 17 shots he faced, while the Bruins put 34 shots on Dakota Ridge goaltender Nick Scott, who made 30 stops. Sam Burkhalter, Adam Mansfield and Zach Ross scored goals for the Eagles. …Cherry Creek’s playoff offense has been incredibly diverse, with six players — Chavez, Sean DeKramer (Cherokee Trail), Pieter Gesink (Denver Christian), Keohane, Max Tennant and Jack Venuto — registering a goal apiece, with the winners going to DeKramer (in a 4-1 win over Lewis-Palmer) and Venuto (in a 2-1 win over Ralston Valley). Brady Mielnicki has made the most saves of any goaltender through two rounds of the playoffs (66 on 68 shots against). In the regular season, Keohane led the team in goals (15) and points (26), while Chavez registered 12 goals and 12 assists and Chris Nitchen 15 assists (plus 8 goals). Mielnicki finished 13-4 with a 2.10 GAA in the nets. …Dakota Ridge goaltender Joey Owston has made 53 saves on 56 shots against in two playoff games, second most behind Mielnicki, in wins over Denver East (3-1) and Air Academy (3-2). Like the Bruins, the Eagles also haven’t had any player score more than one goal in the postseason, with Zach Williams, Reed Hoogenboom, Graehm Konsella, Jack Bonniwell, Brendon Williams and Jacob Gombos with one each. In the regular season, Zach Williams led the team with 32 points (13 goals and a team-high 19 assists), while Konsella’s 14 goals led the team and Gombos registered 25 points with 11 goals and 14 assists. Owston split time with Scott in the goal and posted a 9-2 record with a 1.67 GAA.
8 p.m. — MONARCH (16-3-1) VS. REGIS JESUIT (19-0-1)
Breakdown: Regis Jesuit and Monarch meet in the Frozen Four for the third consecutive season, with the Coyotes winning each of the past two matchups (2-1 in 2014, 5-2 in 2013). Coach Dan Woodley’s Raiders appear in the semifinals for the eighth consecutive season and seek their first state championship game appearance since 2012. While Regis Jesuit has three state championships to its credit (2008, 2009 and 2012), Monarch is still seeking its first after losing to Ralston Valley in the past two state championship games. …The Raiders beat the Coyotes 4-1 on Jan. 30 at Boulder Valley Ice with Jack Kilkenny scoring two goals and Cale Woodley and Grant Johnson adding the others. Mike Van Haute’s power play goal early in the third period was all Monarch could manage against Regis Jesuit goaltender Sam Gartner, who made 26 saves. …Through two rounds of the playoffs, Regis Jesuit’s Kilkenny has scored more points than any other player with five, which a combined three goals and two assists in wins over Heritage (8-0) and Resurrection Christian (3-0). Cale Woodley and Andre Dugas each have two playoff goals to their credit, while Connor Brennan and Jack Jordan have each tallied three assists to tie with two other players for most in the postseason thus far and Gartner is the only goalie still playing who has now allowed a goal. In the regular season, Woodley led the Raiders with 18 goals (plus 20 assists), while Brennan scored 15 goals and led the team in assists with 21 and Jordan also had 20 goals to go with 12 assists. Gartner’s regular season numbers included a 15-0-1 record with a 1.48 GAA. …Monarch’s Andrew Pickner is tied with Kilkenny atop the leaderboard with three playoff goals, while Adam Tybor and Jake Young have scored two apiece. Goalie Hampus Akesson has played all 102 minutes in the nets for the Coyotes and saved 34 of the 40 shots against him for a 3.00 GAA. In the regular season, Blake Bride led the Coyotes in both goals (17) and assists (22) while Young had 16 goals and Pickner 15. Akesson finished with a 9-2 record and a 0.99 GAA in the regular season in the nets for Monarch.
