After winning back-to-back titles in the Rio Grande High School League as a club team, Durango switched hockey leagues this year and joined the Colorado High School Activities Association and now represents Durango High School on the ice.
“I think it’s huge to be in CHSAA and have the kids be full-fledged varsity and junior varsity athletes with the school,” said head coach Brian Ensign. “We’ll have more consistent, competitive play. Colorado hockey is improving every year and becoming a pretty dominate force.”
Telluride, who was Durango’s biggest competition in the Rio Grande league, was also considering joining CHSAA. The Miners were unable to make the move this year, however, so they joined forces with Durango.
“Some Telluride kids came over to play with us, and we need those numbers,” Ensign said. He said he has an assistant coach working with the players in Telluride so the players don’t have to commute back and forth for practices. Besides that, the biggest change is the team will now all travel together on buses for away games instead of having to find their own transportation.
The Demons will compete in the 4A Mountain League with Steamboat Springs, Battle Mountain, Crested Butte, Summit and Glenwood Springs. In this week’s CHSAANow.com rankings, Steamboat was ranked No. 3 while Battle Mountain was No. 5, Crested Butte was No. 6, Summit was No. 7, Glenwood was No. 8 and Durango was the top “Others receiving votes” team. Cheyenne Mountain and Colorado Academy were No. 1 and 2 while Durango’s opponent next Saturday, Kent Denver, was No. 4.
DHS played its first game of the season on Friday against Steamboat Springs. The Sailors led 2-1 after the first period and extended their lead to 3-1 entering the third. DHS, which lost about 95% of its scoring from last year’s squad to graduation or athletes joining other high-level leagues, scored another goal in the third. Steamboat, however, also added a third-period goal to win the season opener for both teams, 4-2.
Durango and Steamboat then squared off again Saturday morning in a defensive clash. The Sailors, however, scored power-play goal with 5:15 left in the game to score a 1-0 victory.
“I thought the effort and the progression over the weekend was great,” Ensign said. “Steamboat Springs has 16 or 17 seniors so they’re probably the best team we’ll play before the playoffs. To come out and lose 2-4 and 0-1, obviously we would ave liked to have won, but I’m proud of the kids.”
Goalie Luca Remec made several big saves in the game for DHS. With a little over five minutes remaining in the first period, Steamboat got a breakaway and the Sailor was all alone with Remec, but Remec stuffed him to keep the game scoreless.
Durango then went on the attack. Mateo Bubolo had a close shot saved. Jake Martin got the rebound and fired a close shot on goal, but it was blocked. Nick Best and Mitch Rhodus then smacked some long shots, but they were unable to score. Later in the first, Zach Griswold broke up a Steamboat scoring opportunity with a good back check. Remec kept the game scoreless by saving a hard shot in the final seconds of the period.
Rhodus made a big hit to start the second. Durango then got a power play, but Steamboat was able to kill it. Durango’s best scoring chance in the period came when Eli Holden skated free on a breakaway and put a hard shot on target, but it was saved. Remec also made some more stops and the teams went into the third tied 0-0.
The Demons got two power plays in the third and put some pressure on Steamboat, but came up empty. Steamboat then got a later power play and capitalized. Remec made the initial save, but the rebound bounced free and Landon Smith hit it a few times before eventually sneaking one in the goal.
Durango attacked again and Loudon Doemland had a shot hit the post, but that’s as close as DHS came to evening up the contest.
Despite the loss, coach Ensign said he’d rather have a 0-1 game than a dominate 10-0 win that doesn’t challenge his team.
The Demons will play twice more this week on their home ice at Chapman Hill. Durango will play Air Academy on Friday and Kent Denver on Saturday.
