Demons dominate Aspen in Hockey Rivalry Revival

The Glenwood Springs Demons varsity hockey team continued their dominant start to the season on Friday night.

The Demons traveled to Lewis Ice Arena to help the Aspen Skiers reintroduce high school hockey to their community. Glenwood used the nostalgic rivalry as fuel and cruised to a decisive 9-1 victory. The Demons unleashed a whopping 75 shots on goal, a program record according to head coach Tim Cota.

Despite the lopsided score, the rivalry provided its signature intensity, with physical and sometimes chaotic play. Aspen spent much of the second period short-handed, allowing Glenwood to capitalize on six power-play goals.

“Our special teams were great tonight,” Cota said. “We spent a lot of time on our power play, knowing we will have a chance every game. During each break we talked about the importance of keeping our composure. Discipline was the word we used most; Those games can get out of hand, and I was happy with the way we played in a match full of penalties. I think this has reignited the rivalry with Aspen, a rivalry we haven't had in a few years.”

The Aspen goalkeeper faced a relentless barrage of shots, deflecting more than 70 in a heroic effort. The scoreboard showed 28 Glenwood shots after the first period alone, and the pace didn't slow down. Despite the skiers' best efforts in net, repeated penalties prevented them from clawing back from an early deficit.

Former demon-turned-skier Ryan Rigney had a tough time in his revenge game. The senior, who leads Aspen in goals and penalty minutes, spent a lot of time in the box on Friday. His first penalty came just five minutes into the game, and Glenwood took advantage of the ensuing power play.

Senior defenseman Sam Rosenberg set up Glenwood's score with a quick shot after Aspen's failed clear. Although the first attempt was stopped, his defensive partner, Grayson Alcorta, cleared the rebound to give the Demons a 1-0 lead.

Aspen's offensive opportunities were limited, but their best chance in the first period was denied by freshman goaltender Isaac Zevin. After being defeated with a great move, Zevin extended his left leg pad and glove to fill the attempt. Glenwood responded with two more goals, including a dazzling effort from freshman Weston Jacober, who stayed on his own rebound to score, and a backhand snipe from senior co-captain Jacob Roggie for a five-on-three lead.

“I think (Zevin) played well,” Cota said. “I mean, mentally it's hard to stay in a game when you don't see a lot of shots. That can be difficult for a goalkeeper, but he also saw quality. He made mistakes, but played well. As the season progresses, the young guys contribute more and more. We're going to have to lean on those guys more and more as the season goes on, so it was good to see tonight.”

The second period was chaotic, with frequent whistles for penalties and goals. The Demons scored three more goals, but allowed Aspen to sneak one past Zevin with six seconds left in the period. The third period followed a similar script, although Aspen's late goal briefly slowed the running clock. Rosenberg quickly restored the six-goal lead to resume the final pace of the match.

Senior forward Jacob Stockdill earned Player of the Game honors with a hat trick, extending his team lead to six goals. Alcorta also scored twice, while Jacober, Rosenberg, Roggie and junior forward Brady Luetke each added goals.

The Demons return to action on Saturday night with a quick trip to Battle Mountain for another league match. Glenwood aims to remain undefeated and improve to 4-0 against another big-name opponent.