Danny Taggart (Grandview) digs a puck out from along the boards and turns it into the Liberty end during the first period of the Cherry Creek co-op ice hockey team's 7-0 win over the Lancers in a state ice hockey first round playoff game on Feb. 26, 2016, at South Suburban Ice Arena. Taggart was one of six goal scorers for the Bruins, who moved into the second round to face Mountain Vista on Feb. 27. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
Danny Taggart (Grandview) digs a puck out from along the boards and turns it into the Liberty end during the first period of the Cherry Creek co-op ice hockey team’s 7-0 win over the Lancers in a state ice hockey first round playoff game on Feb. 26, 2016, at South Suburban Ice Arena. Taggart was one of six goal scorers for the Bruins, who moved into the second round to face Mountain Vista on Feb. 27. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
Danny Taggart (Grandview) digs a puck out from along the boards and turns it into the Liberty end during the first period of the Cherry Creek co-op ice hockey team’s 7-0 win over the Lancers in a state ice hockey first round playoff game on Feb. 26, 2016, at South Suburban Ice Arena. Taggart was one of six goal scorers for the Bruins, who moved into the second round to face Mountain Vista on Feb. 27. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

LITTLETON | The Cherry Creek co-op ice hockey team got off to a strong start in its defense of last season’s state championship with a 7-0 victory over Liberty Friday night at South Suburban Ice Arena.

Coach Jeff Mielnicki’s Bruins — the No. 4 seeded — broke open a close contest with the fifth-seeded Eagles with a four-goal second period and cruised into Saturday’s second round.

Cherry Creek faces top-seeded Mountain Vista — a 4-3 winner over No. 8 Aspen — at 3:45 p.m. at South Suburban, with the winner moving into the March 3 Frozen Four at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.

Jacob Harding scored twice and Gage Blatter, Sam Harris, Austen Kuskowski (Rangeview), Rhys Phelps (Grandview) and Danny Taggart (Grandview) all lit the lamp for the Bruins (16-4).

Sophomore goalie Kyle Englert (Grandview) turned aside all 13 shots he faced on his way to a shutout.

Phelps broke a scoreless tie with just under five minutes left in the opening period to send Cherry Creek into the first intermission with the lead and the floodgates opened in the second period.

Taggart skated in alone on Liberty’s goalie and deposited his team-leading 24th goal of the season to open a burst by the Bruins that broke the game open.

Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel

CHERRY CREEK 7, LIBERTY 0

Score by periods:

Liberty             0  0  0 — 0

Cherry Creek  1   4   2 — 7

Cherry Creek goals: Jacob Harding 2, Gage Blatter, Sam Harris, Austen Kuskowski, Rhys Phelps, Danny Taggart. Cherry Creek assists: Harding 2, Blatter, Kyle Englert, Phelps, Daniel Rosales, Taggart, Jacob Tober, Joseph Whitmore. Cherry Creek saves: Kyle Englert (13 shots on goal-13 saves).

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...