The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Finish season 19-3-3
The Blizzard Bantam Hockey team wrapped up their season this weekend by representing Crested Butte in the state championship finals.
On Saturday, Crested Butte started the weekend with a 3-2 win over the Boulder Bison in a thrilling sudden death OT finish, earning the team the privilege to play in the Pepsi Center Sunday morning against the DU JR Pioneers.
The setting was what hockey dreams are made of as the boys lined up under the retired jerseys of Bourque, Forsberg, Roy and Sakic. But after three close, competitive periods, the Pioneers came out with the 2-1 victory.
This tournament capped a fantastic season for the Blizzard as they defeated league rivals Telluride, Durango and Vernal, Utah the previous weekend, capturing the Rocky Mountain Youth Hockey League Championship, with an overall league record of 19-3-3.
The 2011-12 Bantam season was a huge success and the new roof was definitely a contributing factor. Not one practice was missed this year due to snow or warm weather. Hopefully next year will be even better with the ability of the ice crews to make ice sooner than ever before.
The team and staff thanks the ice crew for a fantastic sheet of ice all season, and also Jake and Lauren from the town of Crested Butte for all their hard work with the hockey club. The coaching staff of Steve Curtiss, John Collins, Randy Barrett, and Mike Stoneberg thank all of the Bantams for playing their hearts out all season and accomplishing so much, as well as to the parents for their time, travel and commitment to these kids.
