The Durango High School hockey team came close to tasting victory the first three times it stepped on the ice this season. Unfortunately for DHS, it lost twice by one goal and once by two. The Demons did get a win when Air Academy forfeited, but the team had yet to outscore one of its opponents.
The Demons inched closer Friday against Summit. With goals from Kai Kusuno and Lucas Betz, assisted by Jake Martin and Owen Blount, the two teams went into overtime tied 2-2. With Luca Remec making 30 saves in goal for DHS and his counterpart also playing strong, neither team managed to score in the extra period and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
On Saturday, DHS played Summit at the Chapman Hill Ice Rink again. The game was tied after regulation again, 1-1, and went into overtime.
This time, however, the Demons pushed across the game-winning goal to taste their first victory since joining the Colorado High School Activities Association this season. Pol Cavaller scored for DHS during regulation, and Nick Best scored the game winner. Betz and Sawyer Jones both assisted goals for DHS while Evan Brock made 31 saves in goal to pick up the win.
Durango is now 2-3-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the 4A Mountain conference after playing three ranked teams. Steamboat (6-1, 2-0) leads the league and is ranked No. 2 in Class 4A while Kent Denver is No. 6. Summit came to Durango ranked one spot ahead of the Demons at No. 9 while DHS was ranked No. 10.
Durango’s next four opponents are also ranked, and the Demons will face all four on the road. This week, DHS will take on No. 4 Colorado Academy on Thursday in a nonleague contest and then play at No. 3 Glenwood Springs on Saturday. Glenwood (6-1, 2-0) is tied for the league lead with Steamboat, followed by Crested Butte) 6-1-1, 1-0), Durango, Summit (0-4-1, 0-1-1) and Battle Mountain (1-4, 0-2).
