The Durango High School Club Hockey team had an impressive couple weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and took down a state champion in the process.
The Devils welcomed the defending New Mexico state champions from Cibola to town the weekend of Nov. 12, and delivered the first loss to the Cougars in 24 games. Last weekend, in Amarillo, Texas, Durango took down the Amarillo Bulls twice.
The Devils began the solid stretch of play hosting the juggernaut Cibola team in a two-game set at Chapman Hill Ice Rink. Though the Cougars got on the board first, the Devils took advantage of a series of power plays to grab control of the game.
Landen Sill lit the lamp with two unassisted goals and added an assist on Timothy Miller’s goal. Sam Kidd put the game away late with a goal, and goalie Robbie Grogan was a brick wall between the pipes with 34 saves as the Devils coasted to a 4-1 win.
Cibola avenged its rare defeat with authority, however, and ran away with the second game 11-4. Grogan was bombarded with numerous Cougars scoring chances, but still managed to stop 29 shots. Jake Beekman and Joe Lawton each had a goal and an assist, while Sam Kidd and Sill scored a goal apiece.
After allowing 11 goals in the previous game, the Durango defense rebounded with a tough effort in Amarillo the following weekend.
Grogan and the defensemen in front of him shut out the Bulls 2-0 in the first matchup. Sill had both goals for Durango and Beekman had an assist. This time, Durango was able to repeat the winning performance in the second game of the weekend.
The Devils fell behind early, but ran off a furious stretch of offense that amounted to four unanswered goals in a 4-1 win. Sill racked up two more goals, while Sam Kidd added a goal and an assist to lead the way. Gus Kidd was feeling generous with two assists, Clay Kinder had an assist and Lawton added a goal in the win.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
