CENTENNIAL | In a span of just over a minute of play, the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team’s performance Friday night went from domination to survival.
Riding high with a six-goal outburst in the first two periods against a talented Cherry Creek co-op team at Family Sports Center — a start that included a hat trick by senior forward Connor Brennan — coach Dan Woodley noticed his Raiders eased up on their intensity level going into the final period.
The gritty Bruins took advantage, as they racked up three goals in a minute span to open the third period to take a big chunk out of Regis Jesuit’s five-goal lead, but the Raiders righted the ship the rest of the way and held on for a 6-4 Foothills Conference victory in front of a packed house.
Woodley’s team remained unbeaten and pushed to 17-0-1 overall and 13-0-1 atop the league standings. Regis Jesuit finishes the regular season against rival and Peak Conference leader Mountain Vista (16-1-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday at South Suburban.
Brennan got the Raiders on the scoreboard first with a power play goal in the opening period, then scored back-to-back even strength goals in just over a minute in the second period to give his team a 5-0 lead. Jack Jordan and Jack Kilkenny also had goals in the fast start for Regis Jesuit.
Cherry Creek (14-4, 10-3) finally got on the scoreboard in the second period courtesy of Chris Nitchen, but Michael Baer got the goal back for Regis Jesuit in the final minute of the period.
The final period opened with a bang, as Nitchen, Ryan Heck and Tim Keohane all got shots past Raiders’ netminder Sam Gartner in a span of just 1:01. The Bruins were whistled for two penalties in the final 10 minutes, allowing Regis Jesuit to play much of the final stretch on the power play.
Coach Jeff Mielnicki’s district team returns to the Family Sports Center ice at 5:45 p.m. Saturday to close out the regular season against Kent Denver.
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
REGIS JESUIT 6, CHERRY CREEK 4
Score by periods:
Cherry Creek 0 1 3 — 4
Regis Jesuit 3 3 0 — 6
SCORING
First period: Regis Jesuit — Connor Brennan (power play) (Jack Kilkenny, Cade Alcock), 13:02; Regis Jesuit — Jack Jordan (power play) (Brennan, Kilkenny), 14:08; Regis Jesuit — Kilkenny (Kyle Nelson, Roman West), 19:23
Second period: Regis Jesuit — Brennan (Spencer Chuck, Carmine Lonardo), 8:05; Regis Jesuit — Brennan (Grant Johnson, Jordan), 9:22; Cherry Creek — Chris Nitchen (Seak DeKramer), 16:46; Regis Jesuit — Michael Baer (Kilkenny, Alcock), 19:43
Third period: Cherry Creek — Nitchen (power play), 4:36; Cherry Creek — Ryan Heck (Garret Glaspy), 5:20; Cherry Creek — Tim Keohane, 5:37
Goaltenders: Cherry Creek — Brady Mielnicki (31 shots on goal-25 saves); Regis Jesuit — Sam Garnter (20 shots on goal-16 saves)
