LITTLETON | Doherty scored a goal in the first eight seconds of Friday afternoon’s first round ice hockey playoff game, but Regis Jesuit scored many more in the subsequent 50 minutes, 52 seconds.
After yielding a fluky goal to the Spartans just after the opening faceoff — the Raiders dominated on special teams with four power play goals and rolled to a decisive 8-2 victory at the South Suburban Ice Arena.
Connor Harshman and Jack Oneil scored two goals apiece as Regis Jesuit (16-3-1) advanced to a second round contest against the winner of the later game between Resurrection Christian and Mountain Vista at 8:15 p.m. Saturday on the same ice.
Underdog Doherty (10-8) — facing the Raiders for the first time since 2009 — got the early edge before most fans had even taken a seat. The Spartans won the faceoff and dumped the puck into Regis Jesuit’s end, where it ricocheted off the metal between the boards, went straight in front of the goal and got flipped into the net by Jordan Barrett.
Doherty kept its one-goal edge for the rest of the period, but lost it in a three-goal flurry for Regis Jesuit in the second period.
The Raiders killed off a brief Spartans power play to open the period, then went on the man advantage themselves, which led to Harshman’s tying goal just 4:13 into the stanza. Harshman’s initial shot was saved by Doherty goaltender Wyatt Crandell, but he poked in the rebound as it sat on the doorstep to make it 1-1.
Five minutes later, Brennan’s quick hands redirected a Jake Frishman blast to put Regis Jesuit in front for the first time and Harshman tallied again when he cleaned up another rebound less than two minutes later.
Crandell smashed his stick against the boards in frustration, snapping it in half while play was still ongoing.
Doherty cut into the deficit when Ty Snyder scored early in the third period, but the Raiders were relentless from then on.
ONeil scored on consecutive power plays to boost the lead and Jake Frishman, Grant Johnson and Carter Alcock found the back of the net in the closing minutes to make a crooked final score.
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
REGIS JESUIT 8, DOHERTY 2
Score by periods:
Doherty 1 0 1 — 2
Regis Jesuit 0 3 5 — 8
SCORING
1st period: Doherty — Jordan Barrett (unassisted), 0:08
2nd period: Regis Jesuit — Connor Harshman (power play) (Carter Alcock, Thomas Jahde), 4:13; Regis Jesuit — Connor Brennan (Jacob Frishman), 9:40; Regis Jesuit — Harshman (Jack Kilkenny, John Kane), 11:11
3rd period: Doherty — Ty Snyder (Noah Barrett), 2:50; Regis Jesuit — Jack Oneil (power play) (Kilkenny), 8:18; Regis Jesuit — Oneil (power play) (Roman West), 11:44; Regis Jesuit — Frishman (Connor Brennan, Logan Baca), 12:25; Regis Jesuit — Grant Johnson (Andre Dugas), 16:05; Regis Jesuit — Carter Alcock (power play) (Sawyer Elliott), 16:50
Goaltenders — Doherty: Wyatt Crandall (39 shots against-31 saves); Regis Jesuit: Sam Harden (16 shots against-14 saves)
