The Breckenridge Bucks returned home to the Stephen C West Ice Arena to play against the fifth place Thunderbirds this past weekend.

The Bucks (20-9) looked to put some distance between themselves and the Rampage while continuing to chase No. 1 Aspen (25-5) and No. 2 Pikes Peak (23-5). It is possible that the Bucks simply looked past the Thunderbirds or were so confident at the start of the game that they neglected to prepare, as the Thunderbirds showed why they are a never-say-die club. The Bucks seemed to be rolling early in the game as they buried five straight goals to take a 5-1 lead. However the middle of the first period was about as good as it got on Friday night for the Bucks, as everything seemed to crumble around them. Instead of keeping up the pressure and putting away the Thunderbirds, the Bucks allowed them to creep back into the game, eventually tying the game at five early in the third period on a goal by forward Levi Clemenson. The Bucks would eventually succumb to the comeback as Ben Joseph scored halfway through the extra frame. “We simply did not play well at all, we seemed distracted, gave up a lot of chances, and I did not play well either,” goaltender Lincoln Riley said about the performance. Coach Jesse Davis was clearly not happy with the performance and following the game decided to skate the team in “Miracle-esque” fashion on the ice immediately after the game.

Perhaps the skate after the game was all the Bucks really needed, as Saturday proved to be very different effort, although in some regards it was more of the same. Despite yet again giving up the first goal of the game, the Bucks came storming back behind outstanding play from newly acquired forward Drake Cole who would register six points on the night including four goals. Yet again the Thunderbirds would come roaring back scoring the final four goals of the game to get back to 7-5. However, that’s all they would manage and the Bucks escaped with the weekend split with the Thunderbirds as Summit High School goalie Wyatt Dickerson was credited with his first victory as a Breckenridge Buck.

The Bucks continue their home stand as they face the Aspen Leafs on Jan. 22 and 23 with an incredibly important four points on the line.

Breck Bucks vs.

Colorado Thunderbirds

Jan. 15

Score 1st 2nd 3rd OT Final

Bucks 5 0 0 0 5

T’Birds 3 1 1 1 6

Jan. 16

Score 1st 2nd 3rd Final

Bucks 2 5 0 7

T’Birds 1 1 3 5