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Aspen finishes off Summit High’s hockey season

ANDY FRAMEsummit daily news
Special to the Daily/Mark Fox Summit High goaltender Seth Wickham gets a helping hand on a save from teammates Chris Kuhn (23) and John Rodger (27) during Summit's state playoff game Friday at Aspen's Lewis Ice Arena in Aspen. Wickham recorded 29 saves in the 5-1 loss.
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ASPEN – The Skiers were too much for the Summit High School hockey team to handle Friday night in Aspen.In a first-round state playoff game, the Tigers were down 2-1 late in the third period, but Aspen scored three times in the last five minutes, including two power-play goals, to put away SHS 5-1.”We just ran out of gas,” Summit coach Colin Smith said. “We kept it close as long as we could.”

After a scoreless first period where Aspen outshot the Tigers 12-1, Smith said the Tigers dodged several bullets and “put all the pressure on Aspen.” Sophomore goalie Seth Wickham made several clutch saves to keep the Tigers in it.”We got completely outplayed in the first, but it was still tied because of Seth Wickham,” Smith said. “Seth played his best game of the year.”Five minutes into the second period, SHS took a 1-0 lead on a Grant McGahey breakaway goal.The Tiger score was set up by Chase Underbrink, who had to dive and slide for the puck before slapping it over to the streaking McGahey.

Summit’s lead was short-lived. Aspen tied the game just two minutes later, and took the lead for good with a goal late in the second period. Aspen took 34 shots on goal in the game, compared to just 11 by the Tigers.”We just didn’t have enough,” Summit assistant coach Kevin Carlson said. “Aspen came out and skated well, and it took a lot to hang with them as long as we did.”The loss brings a tumultuous season to an end for the Tigers. Smith called the season “a great learning experience.””It went quick,” Smith said. “I can’t believe it’s over. I want to tip my hat to the seniors for working hard all year, but the future is bright. There’s a lot of good young players on this team.”



Summit finishes the year 6-12-1, tying the program’s inaugural team for the school’s record in wins.Aspen moves on to face the winner of the Friday night’s game between No. 6 Bishop Machebeuf and No. 11 Steamboat Springs in the quarterfinals today.Andy Frame can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 236, or at aframe@summitdaily.com.


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