The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Playoffs start next week for both leagues
By Than Acuff
After losing two of their first four games of the A/B town league hockey season, Kochevar’s has won five of their last six games including a 4-0 win over Alpine Lumber Monday, February 24 at Big Mine Ice Arena.
It was a game that may not have happened had it not been for two things. Well, one thing and one person. First, if there was no roof over the rink during this recent heat wave, the ice would most likely be destroyed. Second, West Elk Hockey Association executive director, multi-decade mini-mites coach and town league commissioner Bill Frame laced up his skates to fill in as an official. He talks the talk and he walks the walk, or skates it.
Nevertheless, there’s a roof, there were two officials and the puck dropped. After both teams traded early shots, Kochevar’s soon started to drop the hammer with the Evans Brothers skating at breakneck speed, Dodson Harper meshing into the system without hesitation, cageless Jack Seiver providing a foundation for success at both ends of the ice allowing Sam Reaman to do what he does and everyone all in on the effort.
Their work rate was the difference throughout the first period, but Alpine Lumber goalie Ryan Houseman did everything he could stacking the pads, flinging his glove and diving across the crease for saves. Kochevar’s eventually scored seven minutes into the game when Isaac Evans found Reaman loose up ice and after being shut down trying to pick the corners, Reaman opted for the five-hole on his third attempt to score for a 1-0 lead.
Kochevar’s remained in the hunt for a second goal, but Houseman continued to shut them down and Alpine Lumber built off his efforts to get the puck up ice but were often one player or one pass short of the final scoring touch.
Alpine Lumber opened the second period on the front foot with Joey Otsuka drawing a crowd every time he touched the puck, Cole Hanson threading his way through neutral ice traffic and Stu Jernigan and Jack Weise holding tough on defense.
Unfortunately for them, not only did Kochevar’s work hard, but they also worked smart, and were always in position to shut down Alpine Lumber attacks and would eventually take a 2-0 lead when Jack Foersterling poked in a rebound off a shot from Sam Evans.
Kochevar’s threatened a third goal, but Weise was in place to break up odd man rushes for Alpine Lumber, and they remained close just two goals down heading into the third period.
But two goals became three goals eight minutes into the third period as Reaman netted his second goal of the game and Isaac iced the win scoring on the end of a series of four passes that finished with a feed from Reaman to Isaac in the slot for the 4-0 win.
