The Cherry Creek School District went old school in bringing varsity prep ice hockey back to the area.
The newly-approved, participant-funded district team based out of Cherry Creek High School that will make its debut in the Colorado High School Activities Association varsity hockey league in November will be guided by a member of its past glory, as David Irish was recently hired as head coach.
If anybody is familiar with successful hockey at Cherry Creek, it’s Irish, who won three straight state championships with the team in 1977, 1978 and 1979.
“I know all about the expectations and I look forward to bringing them back,” said Irish, who went on to play club hockey at the University of Denver.
Irish currently coaches the Cherry Creek spring team in the High Plains Hockey League, a club organization that also includes local teams from Cherokee Trail and Grandview in addition to others from around Colorado, which just won the Tier 1 championship by beating Fossil Ridge.
With 60 players from Cherry Creek High School alone already in the system, plus those from the other district schools — Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland and Smoky Hill, all Aurora schools — Irish believes there could be 100 or more players on hand when tryouts officially begin Nov. 9.
“There will be a large pool of talent, especially in the first year because it will really be a district team and we’ll be drawing from six high schools,” said Irish, who will meet parents and interested players at Cherry Creek at 7 p.m. June 4. “I think we should be one of the top teams right away. Our goal is to take it as long as we can and it’s not unreasonable to think we could be up there.”
Coach Dan Woodley of Regis Jesuit, which won last season’s state championship, but was tested by new teams from Mountain Vista in Highlands Ranch and Resurrection Christian from Loveland, is looking forward to the addition of yet another quality team to the CHSAA league.
Both of last season’s new teams were No. 3 seeds in the playoffs and Resurrection Christian— a mix of players from northern schools — made it to the state semifinals in its debut campaign.
“I think it certainly will increase the competition level, which in my opinion is great for CHSAA hockey,” said Woodley, whose team went on to win a national championship after taking state. “The number of players they will be able to draw from will be pretty extensive, so they could be a very good team off the bat.
“We have tried to make our program improve and get to the highest level that we can, but we can only go so high when the competition is not quite as stiff. We’re pleased to have Ralston Valley, Resurrection Christian, Mountain Vista and now to have Cherry Creek come in and be a skilled team. It’s going to help.”
Looking to the future, if the Cherry Creek team generates a lot of interest, other teams from district schools could be created in future years.
The addition of two more teams could create the chance for CHSAA to create four separate conferences of eight teams each, as opposed to the current format of two 15-team conferences, the Foothills and Peak. That would give teams a chance to play conference teams twice — ala several Centennial League sports such as baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball — in addition to a handful of non-conference games. The challenge to that, as typical with hockey, is finding ice time.
The Cherry Creek team is expected to play at the Family Sports Center, the same rink where Regis Jesuit plays its home games, and don Cherry Creek High School’s scarlet, white and royal blue colors. Those details, in addition to how much each player will have pay as part of the team, are still being finalized.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
