LOUISVILLE | The Regis Jesuit ice hockey team gave Dan Woodley the ultimate present ahead of the Christmas break.
With an impressive 5-1 win over Monarch in a battle of unbeaten teams late Saturday night at the Sports Stable, the Class 5A top-ranked Raiders helped their coach of the last 17-plus seasons reach a remarkable milestone — 300 career wins — and go into the holiday hiatus undefeated.
Carter Schick, Andrew Gleason and Jacob Zinno scored goals in the opening period for 7-0 Regis Jesuit, which built a five-goal lead before the third-ranked Coyotes (4-1) got their only shot past senior goaltender Gage Bussey, who made 20 saves. Gleason finished with two goals, while Sean Holloway and Carder Lutz had two assists apiece.
Woodley and assistant Terry Ott have been the architects of a Regis Jesuit program that has made it to at least the semifinals of the state playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons and captured state championships in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016 and 2018.
The Raiders are off to another good start on their quest for another state crown, as their six wins before the break include victories against the two teams ranked immediately below them in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s most recent 5A rankings — No. 2 Denver East and No. 3 Monarch — as well as No. 8 Cherry Creek and 4A No. 4 Battle Mountain.
Regis Jesuit — which piled up 10 goals in a win over Heritage Friday (story) — has a significant break ahead as it is next scheduled to play host to Ralston Valley on Jan. 7.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com.Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
(1) REGIS JESUIT 5, (3) MONARCH 1
Score by periods:
Regis Jesuit 3 1 1 — 5
Monarch 0 0 1 — 1
Regis Jesuit goals: Andrew Gleason 2, Caden Balatbat, Carter Schick, Jacob Zinno. Regis Jesuit assists: Sean Holloway 2, Carder Lutz 2, Balatbat. Regis Jesuit saves: Gage Bussey (21 shots on goal-20 saves)