LOVELAND | The Regis Jesuit ice hockey team finally beat Monarch in the state playoffs and picked the best time to do it.
Rebounding from back-to-back-to-back losses to the Coyotes in the state semifinals, the Raiders reversed their fortunes in a big way with the state championship on the line, skating to a 6-1 victory over previously undefeated Monarch Saturday at the Budweiser Events Center.
Regis Jesuit yielded a goal just 13 seconds into the contest, but scored the last six on its way to the program’s first state championship since 2012 and the fourth all-time in its 11-year history.
Coach Dan Woodley’s Raiders had six different goal scorers and got a 24-save effort from senior Sam Gartner in the nets as they finished the season 22-1. In the process, Regis Jesuit paid back its lone defeat of the season, a 3-0 loss to Monarch on Feb. 6 at the Family Sports Center.
In an early hole to the Coyotes (21-1) on Adam Tybor’s lightning-quick goal, Cale Woodley tied the game with a power play goal for Regis Jesuit midway through the first period and Jack Jordan sent the Raiders into the first intermission with the lead after converting a penalty shot.
Kyle Nelson and Jack Kilkenny tallied in the second period to increase the lead and Eamon Duffy’s shorthanded score early in the third period put Regis Jesuit in full command.
Rowan Barnes tacked on a power play goal to ice it for the Raiders.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
REGIS JESUIT 6, MONARCH 1
Score by periods:
Regis Jesuit 2 2 2 — 6
Monarch 1 0 0 — 1
SCORING
First period: Monarch — Adam Tybor (Brendan VanHaute, Jake Young), 0:13; Regis Jesuit — Cale Woodley (Jack Kilkenny) (power play), 11:40; Regis Jesuit — Jack Jordan (penalty shot), 16:31
Second period: Regis Jesuit — Kyle Nelson (Spencer Sannes), 0:14; Regis Jesuit — Kilkenny (Sawyer Elliott), 15:40
Third period: Regis Jesuit — Eamon Duffy (shorthanded), 3:17; Regis Jesuit — Rowan Barnes (Nelson) (power play), 10:20
Saves: Regis Jesuit — Sam Gartner (25 shots on goal-24 saves). Monarch — Hunter Ingino (21 shots on goal-15 saves).