The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Playoff bound
Wolfpack coach Rob Bramwell put the call out to his team leading into the final weekend of the regular season, asking them to put into play everything they practiced this season. And they answered the call.
The Wolfpack dominated a double header against the Telluride Lizard Heads earning the final seed in the playoffs.
“They knew they had to win both games,” says coach Rob Bramwell. ”It was a very good weekend.”
While Bramwell admits the pace against Telluride was slower than most opponents they’ve met this season, the Wolfpack responded accordingly rather than playing down to their opponent.
“The guys recognized that and got their heads up,” says Bramwell.
The Wolfpack opened the two-game San Juan Mountains showdown lighting up the scoreboard for four goals in the first 10 minutes.
Connor McGuire started it off one minute and 30 seconds into the game scoring on a solo effort. Two minutes later the team’s leading scorer Sam Evans scored another Wolfpack goal.
Three minutes later McGuire struck again off an assist from Max Molitor and Evans added his second strike of the game to close the first period with a four-goal Wolfpack lead.
Telluride chipped away at the Crested Butte lead with back-to-back goals midway through the second period but the Wolfpack reeled the game back into their control, closing the period with three more goals.
Ian Kelly got the Wolfpack back on track with an unassisted effort, Elias Friedman netted the team’s sixth goal and Ben Reaman capped the first game onslaught with a goal to seal the deal on the 7-2 Crested Butte crushing.
“The kids worked hard and they were having fun,” says Bramwell. “The energy on the bench was very positive.”
Wolfpack goalie Nicholas Mikeska finished the game with 25 saves.
Crested Butte picked up where they left off in the opening minute of the second game that day against Telluride, as Jake Sunter scored in the first 30 seconds off a pass from Reaman.
Evans scored on a power play in the tenth minute of the period and then added a second goal midway through the second period for a 3-0 Wolfpack lead.
Telluride found the seam in the Wolfpack defense for a goal in the final minutes of the second period, but Crested Butte came charging out in the third period to finish the Lizard Heads off once and for all.
McGuire netted his third goal of the weekend 20 seconds into the third period and Evans tallied his fifth goal of the two games icing the 5-1 Wolfpack win.
Mikeska closed the second game with 23 saves.
“Nicholas played really well all weekend,” says Bramwell.
The Wolfpack close the regular season with a record of 3-9-0 and look to carry momentum from the two wins into the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, they may open with one of the top two teams in the league. Nevertheless, Bramwell sees some hope for his team to rise to the challenge.
“If we can duplicate the way we played this weekend, I’m not worried about who we play,” says Bramwell.
