MONUMENT | Last season, the Cherry Creek co-op ice hockey team totaled two wins for the entire season.
The Bruins — a collection of players from six district schools — have two wins alone in the playoffs a year later, on top of 15 in the regular season.
Cherry Creek rallied twice from one-goal deficits and scored three times in the decisive third period in a 5-3 victory over Lewis-Palmer Saturday evening at Colorado Sport Center, pushing coach Jeff Mielnicki’s team into the Feb. 28 Frozen Four. The Bruins play Ralston Valley at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Denver Coliseum.
“The kids played really well, especially in the third period,” said Mielnicki, who has led Cherry Creek to a 17-3-1 record in his first season.
“Lewis-Palmer was a very good team and it was an intense game, really back and forth, but I really liked how our kids responded,” he added. “When they got a goal, we came right back and wouldn’t give up. It was tied 2-2 after two periods and they had the will to do it.”
Ryan Worley (Eaglecrest) tallied two goals, including what turned out to be the game-winner early in the final period, and Mark Saxelby (Grandview), Michael Dubus and Nick McWharter also had goals for Cherry Creek.
Cody Oakes (Cherokee Trail) dished out two assists to lead the Bruins, while goaltender Quinton Reynolds (Overland) saved 21 of the 24 shots he faced.
Cherry Creek blanked Pine Creek 6-0 the previous night to move into the second round.
Mielnicki has enjoyed watching his group launch a huge turnaround for the program after a disappointing previous season.
“I think there’s a lot of excitement now for Cherry Creek,” he said. “The people who come to watch us seed a hard-working team, a team that believes in itself and it’s just a great group of kids. It’s tough to know that next weekend, either way, that’s going to be it for them, but they’ve just really proven to themselves that they can play at a very high level.”
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
STATE ICE HOCKEY PLAYOFFS (SECOND ROUND)
Cherry Creek 5, Lewis-Palmer 3
Score by periods:
Cherry Creek 1 1 3 — 5
Lewis-Palmer 1 1 1 — 3
SCORING
First period: Lewis-Palmer — Zachary Williams (Dustin Jones, Dmitri Smith), 9:15; Cherry Creek — Mark Saxelby (Nick Chavez), 15:57
Second period: Lewis-Palmer — Nick Pavlik (Dmitri Smith), 4:47; Cherry Creek — Ryan Worley (power play) (unassisted), 9:02
Third period: Cherry Creek — Michael Dubus (Jackson Ross), 1:54; Cherry Creek — Worley (Dalton Walker, Cody Oakes), 5:39; Cherry Creek — Nick McWharter (power play) (Oakes), 12:00; Lewis-Palmer — Jones (Christian Perry, Casey McMullin), 16:59
Goaltenders: Cherry Creek — Quinton Reynolds (24 shots against-21 saves); Lewis-Palmer — Marcus Smith (18 shots against-13 saves)
