The road wasn’t easy, but the top-seeded Durango Devils club hockey team got through last weekend’s New Mexico Interscholastic Ice Hockey League playoffs to secure a spot in the league’s championship game Saturday in Albuquerque.
The Devils headed south to El Paso, Texas, last weekend and rolled off three wins in four games to reach the final for the third consecutive season. Durango manhandled Odessa 7-0 to start the weekend and held off a scrappy Amarillo squad to win its second game 4-3.
The Devils lost to an equally impressive Cibola team 2-1 in game three, which sent them into the losers bracket, but Durango bounced back to beat Amarillo again, 3-0, to punch its ticket to the title game.
The Devils will get another crack at Cibola in the championship game at 4 p.m. in Albuquerque.
NMIIHL Most Valuable Player Landen Sill proved why he was given the honor as he scored two goals in the game one win against the Odessa Jr. Jacks. Gus Kidd also scored twice, while Jax Bayer, Joe Lawton and Nick Piccaro each lit the lamp once. Meanwhile, the league’s top goalie, Robby Grogan, blanked the opponents again in the shutout win. Joe Arnwine, Jake Beekman, Lawton, Eno Ulshafer and Sill dished out assists in the win.
Everett Howland scored the game-winner in game two as the Devils held off Amarillo 4-3. Sill, Gus Kidd and Jake Beekman added the others.
Gus Kidd scored the only Devils goal against Cibola as the opponents stymied the usually formidable Durango offense. The Cougars fired 40 shots at Grogan, who stood on his head between the pipes to stop 40 shots. The Devils couldn’t get the equalizer, however, as Cibola came out on top 2-1 to clinch a spot in the championship.
Durango had to rebound in a hurry and face the pesky Amarillo squad once more for a chance to join the Cougars again.
This time, the Devils weren’t messing around.
Eno Ulshafer showed why he was voted the Defenseman of the Year as his rocket from just inside the blue line gave the Devils their first lead of the game. Sam Kidd made it 2-0 as his wrist shot through a screen gave Durango a comfortable cushion. Sill capped off the successful weekend with the Devils’ third goal, while Grogan and the Devils defense did the rest to send the team to the final with a 3-0 win.
Gus Kidd had three assists in the win. Arnwine, Sam Kidd and Lawton each added one.
Durango Devils head coach Drew Kensinger joined Sill, Ulshafer and Grogan with league awards. Kensinger was named the Coach of the Year after Durango put up the NMIIHL’s best regular-season record.
Beekman, Grogan, Sam Kidd, Lawton, Sill and Ulshafer earned league recognition as all-star selections.
jfries@durangoherald.com
