Clark’s Market holds off Altitude Painting

Playoffs?! Playoffs?!

[  by Than Acuff  ]

Weeks of hard work, blood, sweat, tears and beers all comes to a head this week as the Crested Butte town league hockey playoffs are in full swing with the championship game on Friday, March 11 at 6:45 p.m.

It’s an insane single elimination format that can bring the best, and worst, out of players and teams as each game is a season on the brink. Win and advance, lose and, I don’t know, drink more?

It all started on Monday, March 7 when Clark’s Market faced Altitude Painting and the intensity and veracity of town league playoffs became immediately evident when Clark’s Market speedster Shai Ovida (Hebrew for gift shepherd) won the opening face off and skated straight to net. While he didn’t shepherd a gift of a goal, it certainly set the tone for the rest of the game, and the rest of the week of playoff hockey.

Austin Noel had a similar chance for Altitude Painting just a few minutes later only to be denied by Clark’s goalie Devon Carrillo but when Jack Seiver found Matt Whiting skating up ice free and clear with a no look pass, Whiting did seal it with a quick flick of his stick and Clark’s Market was on top 1-0 three minutes into the game.

Altitude Painting turned the tide back in their favor thanks to the end-to-end effort of Jake Sunter and Carlee Drobnick battling in the corners but Carrillo was in the groove in net to deny the Altitude Painting push.

Clark’s Market soon capitalized on the surge by Altitude Painting as they caught the defense pinched in off the blue line and Ovida and Seiver skated up ice for a two on one moving the puck back and forth until Seiver provided the finishing touch for a 2-0 Clark’s Market lead.

The effort of Doug Collins in neutral ice and some big D from Bill Frame held Clark’s Market off the remainder of the period and the effort paid off a minute into the second period. With Clark’s Market somewhat handcuffed, Danny “Ralph” Stoneberg took his time to sneak into the high slot for a pass and pull Altitude Painting back into the game with a deft backhand.

But the gift prophet struck again two minutes later to rebuild Clark’s two-goal lead and while it looked to get away from Altitude Painting from there, it didn’t, as the grind work of Betty Sue Gurk in the slot led to a hockey doppelganger, hockelganger, goal when Stoneberg set up Ethan Johnson for a goal and we had ourselves a true playoff cellar dweller battle.

Paul Tilger came close firing a shot near post but Shawn Harrington made the stop with his head only to have Tilger find the back of the net a minute later off an assist from James Brennan. Clark’s Market scored once again in the final minute of the second period as Whiting set up Seiver and with a 5-2 Clark’s lead and Carrillo on point in net, the game was looking comfortable for Clark’s Market.

Altitude Painting brought some attitude into the third period though as it is playoff hockey for God’s sake. Clark’s Market was looking in the driver’s seat with a 5-2 lead and on the powerplay early in the third period but while they futzed with the puck trying to look good, Frame stood his defensive ground, and picked off a pass that landed on Johnson’s stick. Johnson then fed Noel charging up ice and Noel finished the shorthanded effort. Six minutes later, Drobnick scored and there we all were, with Altitude Painting one goal down with two minutes left to determine each teams’ fate.

Unfortunately, a mix up by Altitude Painting pulling their goalie led to a penalty and Clark’s Market finished the game on the powerplay for the 5-4 win keeping their hopes at a repeat title still alive.

Also, unfortunately, YoGûy Acupuncture lost on Tuesday and I was really looking forward to an old school versus new school, i.e. Kochevar’s, showdown in the title game Friday night.