The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Remain undefeated in league play
The Crested Butte Wolfpack hockey team shelled their opponents for a total of 20 goals over the course of four games in Craig, Colo. last weekend to tally four wins and remain on the top of the standings in league play with a perfect record of 7-0.
Ben Reaman led the team with nine goals and six assists and is the Rocky Mountain Youth Hockey League’s leading scorer, with 24 points so far this season.
The Wolfpack got their toughest test of the weekend in their first game on Saturday, December 17 against Glenwood Springs.
“We’re pretty evenly matched with them,” says Wolfpack coach John Mortell.
Thanks to a few more practice sessions the previous week, the Wolfpack hit the ice skating fast.
“The whole team came right out of the gates hard,” says Mortell. “Having a few more practice times really showed.”
The Wolfpack was missing defenseman Dylan Curtiss to injury and the team came close to losing center-turned-defenseman Collin Dill and defenseman Liam Mortell early against Glenwood Springs.
“They chose to battle through and keep playing,” says Mortell.
Glenwood Springs tied up Reaman the entire game to hold him from scoring, so the rest of the team filled the gaps when necessary.
Dill ended up scoring the first goal of the game eight minutes into the second period but Glenwood responded to send the two teams into the third period, locked in a 1-1 tie.
The Wolfpack broke the tie 10 minutes into the third period on a power play linking a series of passes to find Danny D’Aquila open for the game-winning goal.
“It was our best goal of the whole season so far,” says Mortell. “Danny snuck in on the back door.”
Wolfpack goalie Montana Wiggins finished the game with 23 saves.
After being handcuffed in the first game, Reaman made a point of lighting it up the next three games.
He started it off scoring three goals in the first period of the Wolfpack’s next game against the Moffat County Bulldogs as the Wolfpack built an early 4-1 lead. The fourth strike came from brother Sam Reaman.
Ben Reaman tacked on two more goals in the second period for a total of five that game and Isaac Evans scored in the third period to cap the 7-1 Wolfpack win.
The Wolfpack took the ice Sunday morning against another Glenwood Springs team with a couple of players carried over from the first game.
Peter Bright scored on a power play in the first period but Glenwood tied it up early in the second period and Crested Butte found themselves locked in a 1-1 tie once again going into the third period.
David Bright scored on another Wolfpack power play ten minutes into the period for a 2-1 lead and while Mortell likes to fall back defensively with a lead in the third period, the team opted otherwise after hearing some choice words from the opposing coach.
“Their coaching staff was saying stuff to our kids and that just motivated them,” says Mortell. “The captains called the team in for a quick huddle and they basically took it out of my hands.”
Ben Reaman netted a third Wolfpack goal on a power play with two minutes left in the game, scored again 20 seconds later and Dill closed the game scoring in the final three seconds for a 5-1 Wolfpack win.
Crested Butte finished the weekend with a 6-1 win over Moffat County as the Reaman brothers netted two apiece and Dill and Ian Dethloff added one goal each.
The Wolfpack closed the weekend with five power play goals, improving on their previous man-up situations.
“We went into the weekend with a new power play that we haven’t used yet and they executed it really well,” says Mortell.
The Wolfpack is sitting on top of the league standings, which is unique to the team early in the season but it’s no surprise to Mortell.
“We usually start a little slow and have to build into it,” says Mortell. “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised but I’m happy.”
Mortell touts the work of assistant coach Sean Kelly with the Wolfpack defense as a big part of their early season success.
“He’s got our defense working really well,” says Mortell.
The team has the next three weeks off from games and is looking forward to getting regular ice time with the opening of Big Mine Ice Arena.
“We’ll get in our new home and settle in on that place,” says Mortell. “That’s the home of the Wolfpack.”
