AURORA | The Cherry Creek and Regis Jesuit ice hockey teams finished with identical 15-3-1 regular season records and both qualified for the state playoffs.
For the Raiders, the accomplishment is nothing new, as coach Dan Woodley’s program has been a part of the postseason proceedings for the past decade, with three state championships to show for it. Regis Jesuit has also made at least the state semifinals for six straight seasons.
The Raiders — who tied Monarch 2-2 in its regular season finale Feb. 14 — opens its latest playoff run Feb. 21 against Doherty (11-8) of the Peak Conference at 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at South Suburban Ice Rink. With a win, Regis Jesuit could get a chance to face an 18-1 Mountain Vista team that dealt it a 4-1 defeat way back on Jan. 3 in the second round, scheduled for Feb. 22 on the same ice.
Eighteen different players have scored at least one goal for the Raiders this season, but Jack Kilkenny (14), Connor Brennan (11) and John Kane (10) are their most prolific scorers. Regis Jesuit has a very experienced netminder in senior Sam Harden, who was in goal for its state champoinship victory in 2012 as well as in last season’s semifinal run.
Woodley’s team hasn’t faced Doherty since the 2009 playoffs, when Regis Jesuit opened the postseason with an 8-1 victory over the Spartans.
It’s been a long playoff drought for the Cherry Creek program — stretching back to the 1980s — though that’s primarily because the school district didn’t field a team for two decades until it returned for the 2012-13 season.
The Cherry Creek team — a mix of players from six different schools, including Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland and Smoky Hill — won just two games last season, but rocketed into the elite teams atop the Foothills Conference in coach Jeff Mielnicki’s first season on the bench.
Mielnicki’s team finished the regular season with four straight victories, including a 3-1 decision over Regis Jesuit on Feb. 8.
The Bruins’ return to the postseason begins with a 4:45 p.m. Feb. 21 first round contest against Pine Creek (10-7-1) at the Colorado Sport Center in Monument. The winner moves on to a 4:45 p.m. Feb. 22 contest on the same ice against either Steamboat Springs (11-6-1) or Lewis-Palmer (17-2).
Cherry Creek has faced only one of the other three teams in its quadrant, going 1-1 against Steamboat Springs — including a 3-0 victory this season.
Junior forward Cody Oakes, a Cherokee Trail student, leads the Bruins in nearly every offensive statistical category, while Ryan Worley of Eaglecrest is the other double-digit goal-scorer with 10. Mielnicki has employed a trio of goalies during regular season, with senior Quinton Reynolds (Overland) getting heavy work late in the season.
The four teams that win their first two playoff games advance to the Frozen Four, scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Denver Coliseum. The state championship game is at the same venue March 1.
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
2014 ICE HOCKEY STATE PLAYOFF BRACKET
Feb. 21 (First round)
At APEX
Bishop Machebeuf (12-6-1) vs. Dakota Ridge (12-3-4), 4:30 p.m.
Ralston Valley (19-0) vs. Pueblo County (9-8-2), 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 22 (Second round)
Ralston Valley/Pueblo County winner vs. Bishop Machebeuf/Dakota Ridge winner
Feb. 21 (First round)
At Colorado Sport Center (Monument)
Pine Creek (10-7-1) vs. CHERRY CREEK (15-3-1), 4:45 p.m.
Steamboat Springs (11-6-1) vs. Lewis-Palmer (17-2), 8:15 p.m.
Feb. 22 (Second round)
Pine Creek/CHERRY CREEK winner vs. Steamboat Springs/Lewis-Palmer winner, 4:45 p.m.
Feb. 21 (First round)
At Boulder Valley Ice (Superior)
Cheyenne Mountain (8-11) vs. Monarch (16-1-2), 6:30 p.m.
Heritage (11-8) vs. Columbine (11-7-1), 8:45 p.m.
Feb. 22 (Second round)
Cheyenne Mountain/Monarch winner vs. Heritage/Columbine winner, 7:50 p.m.
Feb. 21 (First round)
At South Suburban
Doherty (11-8) vs. REGIS JESUIT (15-3-1), 3 p.m.
Resurrection Christian (9-8-2) vs. Mountain Vista (18-1), 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 22 (Second round)
Doherty/REGIS JESUIT winner vs. Resurrection Christian/Mountain Vista winner
Frozen Four (Feb. 28 at Denver Coliseum)
Semifinals, 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Championship (March 1 at Denver Coliseum)
Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m.
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
