CENTENNIAL | In an early meeting between two teams used to playing deep into the end of the season, Cherry Creek got the best of Regis Jesuit Friday evening.
The Bruins — a team comprised of players from several Cherry Creek School District schools — scored two goals in each of the final two periods at Family Sports Center for a 4-2 victory over the Raiders in the first of two contests between the teams.
A long, hard shot from senior defenseman Benjamin Helm found the back of the net in the third period — which drew a huge reaction from his teammates — for the goal that held up as the game-winner for coach Jeff Mielnicki’s Cherry Creek team, which improved to 2-1 on the young season.
Sophomore James Lembke (Grandview), senior Mark Hambrick (Cherokee Trail) and hybuir Dominic Suchkov also had goals for the Bruins, who came into the game ranked No. 7 in CHSAANow.com’s most recent coaches poll. Juniors Eric Burggraf (Grandview) and Andrew Capra (Eaglecrest) and senior Ayden Schmidt (Cherry Creek) each added assists, while senior Ethan Barnard made 24 saves.
Senior Chase Patterson and junior Ian Beck scored goals for Regis Jesuit, which came into the game at No. 2 in the coaches poll. The Raiders (1-1-1) are in the first season with Terry Ott as head coach after the longtime assistant took over for original coach Dan Woodley.
Patterson and Beck each picked up assists and senior Michael Manville had a pair for Regis Jesuit, which also got 17 saves from senior goaltender Ryan Miller.
The teams won’t see each other again for awhile as the rematch is scheduled for 7:50 p.m. on Jan. 27 on the same ice at Family Sports Center.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
(7) Cherry Creek 4, (2) Regis Jesuit 2
Score by periods:
Cherry Creek 0 2 2 — 4
Regis Jesuit 1 0 1 — 2
Cherry Creek goals: Mark Hambrick, Benjamin Helm, James Lembke, Dominic Suchkov. Regis Jesuit goals: Ian Beck, Chase Patterson. Cherry Creek assists: Eric Burggraf, Andrew Capra, Ayden Schmidt. Regis Jesuit assists: Michael Manville 2, Beck, Patterson. Cherry Creek saves: Ethan Barnard (26 shots on goal-24 saves). Regis Jesuit saves: Ryan Miller (21 shots on goal-17 saves)