Roughriders battle through slump at home

Roughrider U16AAA Braiden Miller attacks the Tbirds zone

Westminister, CO - The Rocky Mountain Roughrider U16 AAA team finds themselves in the midst of a pre-playoff slump. In a three game stretch over the prior weekend the Roughriders went 0-2-1 against local competition.

On Thursday evening the Roughriders traveled to Monument, Colorado to take on the Colorado Rampage U16 team. The Rampage were ranked 37th in the country while the Roughriders were ranked 11th. Rankings, however, had little to do with the game as the Roughriders were flat throughout the contest and the Rampage played with enthusiasm and a purpose. The Roughriders lead after the first period 1-0, however the Roughriders fell asleep at the wheel and allowed 5 goals in the second while only scoring 1. The Roughriders headed into the locker room for the ice make trailing 5-2. The third period was scoreless as the Rampage were content to trap the puck and shutdown any scoring chances for the Roughriders. The Roughriders drove out of Monument somewhat demoralized and looking for a way to rebound.


Official Gamesheet

Saturday afternoon brought the Roughriders to Big Bear Ice Arena to take on the U16 Thunderbirds. A huge rivalry has built between these two teams this year with the Roughriders leading the series 2-1-1. The game opened up much the way the Rampage game had ended with the Roughriders struggling to find some common ice to skate on. A group of 6 individuals don't exactly make a team. The Roughriders gave up 3 goals in the first period alone. In the second period the Thunderbirds pounded in 2 more goals to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Midway through the second period the Roughriders found their game. As if somebody had flipped a switch, the team magically started working as a unit. The Roughriders banged their first goal in at 8:36 of the second to chip away at the 5 goal lead. Suddenly, at 5-1, the Roughriders caught fire.


Just two minutes later Austin Shick followed up with the second goal for the Roughriders and the rally continued. The boys suddenly remembered what it took to win games...teamwork. Things were clicking and going the Roughrider's way.  Yannik Crete hopped on the scoring train at 14:00 of the second period on a pass from Michael Buonincontri closing the gap to 5-3.

As the third period kicked off the Roughrider's picked up right where they left off...chipping away at a 5 goal deficit. At 3:06 of the third period, Braiden Miller brought the Roughriders to within one goal when he found himself all alone in front of Chase Horton and found some unprotected twine. At 7:00 of the third period, Thomas Jarman completed the unbelievable comeback when he buried a Braiden Miller pass to even the game at 5 goals a piece. The Roughrider's had completed the biggest comeback of the season after spotting he Thunderbirds a 5 goal head start.

The second and third period were some of the best hockey the Roughrider's have played all season.


Official Gamesheet