The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
It’s a whole new season
It’s a kooky world in town league playoffs this year. Gone are the days of the double elimination format. Thanks to the effort of Lauren Alkire and, of course, the new roof, town league teams are getting four additional games, and more if teams make the finals.
After a relatively uneventful opening night to the post season on Friday, February 24, things got interesting on Tuesday night when seventh seeded Mikey’s Pizza handed Dragon Sheet Metal a stunning 6-3 defeat.
Pizza defenseman Sean Norton opened the scoring three minutes into the game flashing through the entire Dragon defense to score.
Paul Moscatelli made a similar run a minute later looking to put Mikey’s up two goals but a poke check by John Baron broke it up just as Moscatelli was lining up his shot. Baron followed up his defensive play a minute later with some quick stick work and fast skating to strike and tie the game 1-1.
Norton pulled off another end-to-end run with three minutes left in the first to score, somehow, from behind the net and give the lead back to Mikey’s Pizza.
The teams closed the period exchanging odd man rushes but both Dragon goalie Matt Nilson and Mikey’s net minder Jared Tisdale were spot on in net trading off saves.
Nilson pulled off a couple big saves in the opening minutes of the second period but Mikey’s attack was relentless. Norton went for another rush on net and was stuffed by Nilson but James Allo followed on the play to score the rebound.
Mikey’s built on their 3-1 lead early in the third period when Tom Schaeffer pulled the puck off the boards to fire a shot on net that slipped through Nilson’s pads.
Baron pulled Dragon back into the game over the next five minutes scoring two goals to finish his hat trick.
After sliding into Mikey’s zone he used a lone defenseman as a screen and fired a shot past Tisdale on the near post. Four minutes later, slipped the puck behind the net to Rich Smith. Smith held the puck until Baron reached the slot and gave it back for a quick strike cutting Mikey’s lead to one with five minutes left to play.
Norton completed his hat trick with another full ice run and a 5-3 lead. Moscatelli iced the win breaking loose and taking a long pass from Mikey Larsen to score and seal the 6-3 win.
Town League playoffs continue through the weekend with the championship game scheduled for Tuesday, March 6 at 8:45 p.m.
