The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
It’s only getting better
by Than Acuff
There’s no question there is something to this refurbished High Country Capital Management (HCCM) team. They got some skaters, they got some experience, they got some Brennan and they’re getting their mojo working. Although not enough to takedown Kochevar’s, but still, they got something. It just so happens that Kochevar’s has got a little more—two goals more, to be exact.
HCCM set the tone for the game early as they set up shop in Kochevar’s zone and proceeded to fire away with Alex Albers punching the puck past Kochevar’s goalie Roan Perschke two minutes into the game.
It only took Kochevar’s 13 seconds though to tie the game as Paul O’Connor skated end-to-end up the middle of the ice to score.
HCCM returned to their puck possession game with John Peterson circling around the net and scanning for seams. While the patience of HCCM provided a couple of opportunities, the slot was stuffed with humans making for an impenetrable wall and Kochevar’s eventually cleared the puck, or rather, Mike Eaton skated the puck through both teams and up ice to score for a 2-1 Kochevar’s lead.
While HCCM continued to dominate puck possession, oftentimes setting up shop with Ian Schaul, Frank Konsella and Anthony Poponi holding at the blue line, they failed to find the final touch. Meanwhile, Kochevar’s just went about their business and closed the first period with a third goal as O’Connor picked off a breakout pass and found Jake Laramie alone in the slot for the finish.
HCCM’s work finally paid off as they rattled off two goals in the span of a minute to tie the game. The first strike came from Poponi who carried the puck up the boards and fired a low hard shot past a screened Perschke. Soon after, Torrey Carroll was in the midst of a scrap along the boards and pulled the puck out to poke it to Peterson who skated on to net and scored tying the game 3-3.
The two goals served as a wake-up call for Kochevar’s as they picked up their play to hold HCCM from gaining any more momentum. They eventually responded to the HCCM assault in the seventh minute as Laramie found a lane to goal to score for a 4-3 Kochevar’s lead heading into the third period.
Both Perschke and Kay then took center stage in the third period with each one pulling off a succession of brilliant saves. Kay ultimately had the save of the game as he fell to the ice to block one shot and then kicked up his leg to block the rebound attempt.
The difference came in the sixth minute. After serving a spell in the penalty box, Eaton returned to the ice to take a pass from O’Connor and score building on the Kochevar’s lead.
HCCM continued to press through the final four minutes of the game, pulling their goalie on a powerplay situation but it turned out all for naught as Kochevar’s circled the wagons and held on for the 5-3 win.
