The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Mix of valley talent produces powerhouse
Two years ago, the girl hockey players from both ends of the valley joined forces under the Blades umbrella and made an immediate impression on the Mountain States Girls’ Hockey League.
For both of their first two seasons in the league as a combined team, the Blades lost in the league finals in double overtime.
This year, the team split into two squads with a varsity and a JV. Coaches Tony Lambert and Fred Stewart brought in coach Katie Kemmerer, a former Division I player, to help out with the numbers. Furthermore, they only lost two players off last year’s runner-up team so they’re looking to take it all the way in 2013.
“We hope to—it’s definitely in the makings,” says coach Tony Lambert. “There’s five really good teams in the league so it’s definitely not a given.”
They started off on the right foot last weekend, winning their first two games of the regular season against the Colorado Junior Eagles.
The Junior Eagles controlled the puck in the opening minutes of the first period until Marissa Lambert broke free up the boards on a pass from Ali McGuire. Lambert carried the puck between the circles and fired a low shot that skipped past the Junior Eagles’ net minder for a 1-0 Blades lead.
The Junior Eagles kept pressure on in the Blades zone providing a handful of good looks, but Blades goalie Madison Smith made a couple of big saves to hold the Blades’ one-goal lead going into the second period.
“Maddie is a fantastic goalie and she made the saves when needed,” says Lambert.
The Blades struck early in the second period, winning a face-off in their zone and catching the Junior Eagles pinched in off the blue line. McGuire carried the puck up ice and stuffed it upper 90 for a 2-0 Gunnison lead two minutes into the second period.
A penalty kill midway through the second period turned the game in the Blades’ favor for good. Down 2-0, the Junior Eagles had a chance to turn the momentum their way with a power play. But aggressive fore-checking from the Blades kept the Junior Eagles pinned in their own zone for most of the power play.
“The key is pressure and force the other team to make a mistake,” says Lambert. “Marissa and Ali did a great job.”
The Blades came out of the penalty kill to close the period in control and score a third goal when Lambert won a face-off in the Junior Eagles zone and McGuire jumped on the puck to finish.
Once again, the Junior Eagles opened the period strong, controlling the puck in Gunnison’s zone for the first few minutes. The Blades defense clamped down to deny chances in close and Gunnison soon took the game back and sealed it with a goal from Hailey Pike for the 4-0 Blades win.
“The defense, as a whole, played great,” says Lambert.
The Blades finished the Junior Eagles off for good early Sunday morning with a 4-1 win. After falling behind 1-0, the Blades tied it up 1-1 on a goal from Ashley Crittendon.
Lambert put the Blades up 2-1 late in the second period and Pike and McGuire scored in the third period for the 4-1 win.
“I’m extremely happy with what I saw but we’re a long way from where we want to be,” says Lambert.
The Blades will host Elk Mountains rival Aspen on Saturday and Sunday, December 1-2 in Gunnison. Games are at 8 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
“They’re a big rival,” says Lambert. “We’re looking forward to it for sure.”
