Roughriders Advance to Tier 1 District Playoffs

Adam Durkee gets the Rampage Goalie moving

Colorado Springs, CO - The Rocky Mountain Roughrider U16 AAA team went 1-2-0 in the Colorado Tier 1 State Playoffs over the weekend in Colorado Springs. The Roughriders beat the Rampage on Thursday night 4-2 and then lost a close game to the Thunderbird U16 team 3-1 and lost to the Rampage on Saturday night 2-0. All the games were incredibly close and actually could have gone to either team at any time. The close level of competition at the Tournament is a testament that quality hockey has arrived in Colorado and is here to stay.

On Saturday night the Roughriders took on the Colorado Rampage in a game that would decide who would play in the State Championship game. Both teams hit the ice with a purpose...advance to the Championship. I can hardly remember a better played game on both sides of the ice. Each team battled hard and played with heart. The Rampage managed to score the first goal late in the 3rd period after the puck deflected off of a Roughrider player and over the right shoulder of Jutras who had been playing a stellar game in net. With 1:37 left in the game, head coach John Paris, Jr. pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker. The puck was turned over at the blue line and the Rampage were able to bang home an empty netter to seal the game at 2-0 and advance to the Championship.

The Roughriders finished the State Playoffs in 3rd position, securing a place in the District Playoffs in Dallas in two weeks.

The Roughriders head off to Detroit on Thursday to wrap up NAPHL play at the NAPHL Tournament.


Official Gamesheet