COLORADO SPRINGS | Defending state champion Regis Jesuit opened the state ice hockey playoffs by beating Heritage for the second straight season.
The fourth-seeded Raiders cruised to a 6-0 victory over the fifth-seeded Heritage Friday night at the Sertich Ice Arena, advancing to a matchup with top-seeded Fountain Valley on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Regis Jesuit (15-2-3) takes on Fountain Valley (16-4) — a 5-1 winner over eighth-seeded Chatfield — at 3:30 p.m. on the same ice with a berth in the state semifinals on the line. The winner moves to face either Monarch or Air Academy at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Magness Arena.
Brian Engh and Conner Wigton each had two goals for coach Dan Woodley’s Raiders, who took command with a three-goal first period.
Nathan Haas and Grant Johnson also scored, while Brady Hall had three assists for Regis Jesuit, which outshot Heritage (14-6) 30-21.
Junior goaltender Sam Harden made 21 saves for his fifth shutout of the season.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
(4) REGIS JESUIT 6, (5) HERITAGE 0
Score by periods:
Heritage 0 0 0 — 0
Regis Jesuit 3 1 2 — 6
SCORING
First period: Regis Jesuit — Brian Engh (Conner Wigton), 3:49; Regis Jesuit — Nathan Haas (Sean Brennan, Connor Brennan), 8:36; Regis Jesuit — Grant Johnson (Brady Hall, Tony Tuccy), 14:40
Second period: Regis Jesuit — Wigton (Hall) (power play), 4:16
Third period: Regis Jesuit — Engh (Nolan Carothers, Wigton), 2:40; Regis Jesuit — Wigton (Brendan Barclay, Hall) (power play), 8:34
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555