Lacy Construction digs out win over Alpine Lumber

A/B league has begun

By Than Acuff

Ok, now Crested Butte town league hockey has officially begun for everyone, with the start of the C/B league on Sunday, January 4 and then the opening game of the A/B league as Lacy’s Construction faced Alpine Lumber at Big Mine Ice Arena on Monday, January 5. And, in the end, it came down to who had the deeper bench and, perhaps, Al Sedaghat, as Lacy’s had all but one player for the opening game while Alpine Lumber had just three on their bench and Sedaghat was in net for Lacy’s.

Or, it might have been Lacy’s new uniforms adorned with a picture of Dozer on the shoulder.

It wasn’t the prettiest of starts for the A/B league as a handful of players struggled to stay on their skates in the opening minute of play but once everyone got themselves sorted out it was on and Dakota Wiggins provided the first chance on net for Lacy’s breaking loose for a one-on-one only to get shut down by Alpine Lumber goalie Nicholas Mikeska.

Alpine Lumber made a point of responding just a minute later when Cole Hanson fired a shot from the blue line for Dodson Harper to tip, but the redirect hit off the post. Alpine Lumber player Joe Coburn looked to break the deadlock five minutes into the game when he threaded his way up ice only to get shut down at the last second with a backcheck from Carter Brock.

Sam Kay then spent the better part of his shift circling and searching to set up a Lacy’s teammate with no luck, but they finally broke through as Wiggins stripped the puck off an Alpine Lumber player to skate to goal and shoot. Mikeska made the initial save but Jason Keener was there to score on the rebound for a 1-0 Lacy’s lead.

Alpine Lumber turned up the heat for the final minute feeding the slot relentlessly but between the defensive efforts and the goaltending of Sedaghat, nothing came of the late period surge and Lacy’s held on to their 1-0 lead.

Despite their short bench, Alpine Lumber continued to put the wood to Lacy’s to open the second period, but Sedaghat continued to stand on his head in net and after holding off the Alpine Lumber attack, Lacy’s scored a second goal with a minute left in the second period as Kay seized on a rebound off a shot from Cosmo Langsfeld.

Down but not out, Alpine Lumber refused to fold calling on the CB News photographer to suit up midway through the third period for a little assistance. But, with the Langsfeld Brothers defensive line for Lacy’s pressing high and pressuring the puck, Alpine Lumber found little opportunity to climb back into the game eventually falling 2-0.