The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“We’ve got a strong team again”
The Gunnison Blades U-19 girls’ hockey team finished off last year with a win over the Aspen Leafs to take the MSGHL state title. The team returned to the ice last weekend to open the 2013-2014 season against the Leafs and after battling to a 2-2 tie Saturday night, they edged out a 4-3 win the following morning.
The Blades are looking strong once again this year with a potent combination of players from both Crested Butte and Gunnison. While they lost one of their most prolific scorers, Marissa Lambert, to graduation, that’s about all they lost as their other top two scorers, Ali McGuire and Hailey Pike, are back and picked up right where they left off last year.
Furthermore, their defense remains intact with Bradley Santelli and Maddie Lambert as one pair and Sydney Archuleta and Marisa Danos teaming up, leaving no holes in front of the Blades net. Then there’s goalie Madison Smith, who was in net last year for the Blades’ title run.
“We’ve got a strong team again,” says coach Tony Lambert. “We’re even more balanced than last year.”
While Lambert does expect his Blades team to be in the running for a repeat title, he knows several teams in the league have picked up their level as well.
“The league has evened out—it’s no cakewalk,” says Lambert. “They’re all really good teams.”
The Blades opened their first game a step behind against the Leafs and fell behind 1-0 after two periods of play. While practices have been solid and fitness an integral part, there’s only one way to prepare for game pace and that’s playing the game.
“They kind of forget about the pace of an actual game and Aspen wanted it,” says Lambert. “I’m psyched the girls eventually responded.”
Five minutes into the third period Pike scored off an assist from McGuire to tie the game. Aspen responded two minutes later to retake the lead but McGuire eventually broke free late in the period to save the tie for the Blades.
“Ali is always a breakaway threat,” says Lambert.
The two teams lined up Sunday morning and again the Leafs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period. But the goal served more as a wake-up than anything else as the Blades fired off three goals in the second period to pull ahead 3-1. Pike scored back-to-back goals midway through the second period and McGuire netted the Blades’ third goal off an assist from Elizabeth Stepanek.
“Hailey can basically take over the game when she wants to,” says Lambert. “That first line of Ali, Hailey and Elizabeth is really solid.”
Aspen climbed back into the game scoring two goals in the third period and were poised to hold off the Blades and force another tie until McGuire broke free again to net the game-winner in the 10th minute for the 4-3 Blades win.
“I was happy with their play and their skill level but they’re not entirely in shape yet,” says Lambert.
The Blades head to Summit County this weekend for two more league games.
