The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Loss and tie to top team in league
by Than Acuff
Their rivalry, albeit friendly, runs deep. For years the West Elk Wolverines (formerly the Gunnison Blades) and the Aspen Leafs u19 girls’ hockey teams have taken turns battling to league titles and championship games decided by one goal, oftentimes in overtime.
This year, the Aspen Leafs appear to be on pace for another solid season as they sit near the top of the Mountain States Girls Hockey League standings, scoring 36 goals in their opening eight games while the Wolverines are still looking to find their identity with just two games under their belt.
The Leafs brought their high-powered game to Gunnison over the past weekend for two games against the Wolverines and while the Wolverines fell in the first game 2-0, they rebounded to battle with the league leaders to a 1-1 tie, proving the Wolverines are gritty.
The fact that Aspen already had eight games this year, while the Wolverines only two, showed in the opening minutes of the first period in their game on Saturday, January 6. Position play and game pace made the difference as Aspen dominated a majority of the puck possession, and had it not been for the efforts of the Wolverine defense and goalie Anika Anderson, the game could have gotten away from the Wolverines early.
Fortunately, scrappy hustle by the Wolverines and Anderson’s effort in net held the game scoreless, allowing the Wolverines time to pick up their play to match Aspen’s.
The Wolverines had a solid series of shifts midway through the first and finished the opening period on pace with Aspen, as the team remained locked in a 0-0 tie.
“They were working hard but I told them they were going to have to keep working hard because they tend to let down in the second period,” says coach Jena D’Aquila. “It looked like Aspen had at least one extra forward line so I reminded the girls that they need to keep shifts short.”
The Wolverines opened the second period how they finished the first period, sending shots at Aspen’s net and crashing the goal. Aspen’s goalie came up with a big save to stave off the Wolverine attack, giving Aspen time to regroup.
Aspen held off the initial attack and then countered the remainder of the period. Sophie Hall remained stout on defense to anchor the team, while Sierra D’Aquila, Jansen Lucas and Bryar Robbins flew up and down the ice but position play made the difference in puck possession.
The Wolverines’ penalty kill units were spot-on as they denied Aspen any quality looks during a power play later in the period but Aspen’s constant pressure eventually paid off.
An Aspen skater broke free up-ice to net but was taken down from behind to award Aspen a penalty shot in the final five seconds of the second period. Aspen converted to close the period with a 1-0 lead, leaving the Wolverines a small hole to climb out of in the third period.
“The goal off of the penalty shot was definitely a bummer but morale was still pretty high,” says D’Aquila. “I just told them to not give up and there were still 15 minutes left to play.”
Unfortunately, before the Wolverines could gain momentum in the third period, an early Aspen strike had the Leafs up 2-0. The Wolverines continued to battle including hitting the crossbar with a shot but Aspen remained far too composed to give anything up and closed out the 2-0 win.
Anderson finished the game turning away 29 of 31 shots.
“Anika was just awesome,” says D’Aquila. “I think it showed the kind of condition the girls are in. Coming off the break and having only two games, they weren’t exactly sure where they should be and where their teammates would be. They were bummed about the loss but it gave them some energy for the second game.”
The two teams met again on Sunday, January 7 and the Wolverines were determined to avenge Saturday’s loss. The Wolverines struck early as they crashed the net and followed shots, and a tip from Emma Woodford then bounced the way of Lucas and she finished it off for a 1-0 Wolverines lead.
“That definitely set a good tone on the bench for the game and proved to the girls that they can hang with this team,” says D’Aquila.
While Aspen looked to set up shop as they had the day before, the Wolverines’ hustle and determination kept the Leafs out of rhythm for a majority of the game. While the Wolverines carried their slim one-goal lead for most of the game, Aspen finally broke the seal late in the third period and the two teams finished tied 1-1.
“I think they definitely played a lot harder—their second period was a lot stronger and overall, they were more prepared for the game,” says D’Aquila. “We just couldn’t get pucks on net, didn’t get enough shots, and that was the main difference over the weekend.”
Some of the u19 Wolverines will join players from Vail to play in a tournament this weekend and then the team regroups to head to Telluride for two league games on Saturday, January 20.
