George Gwozdecky was requested to mirror on the expansion of Valor Christian Hockey.
The coach responded with an amused smile and an anecdote from the 2015-16 season, his first on the college.
“I used to be so naive, I didn't know what I didn't know,” Gwozdecky mentioned. “I bear in mind my spouse asking me after the primary week of observe, 'Is that this one thing you actually wish to do?' As a result of I’d clarify to her a few of the experiences that occurred at observe.
“There have been issues I had by no means skilled earlier than. One participant needed to check out a defenseman and couldn't skate backwards. I needed to clarify to him that one of many abilities it’s important to have as a defenseman is the power to skate backwards.''
Gwozdecky paused for a second, gathering his ideas, then continued.
“From that time to the place we’re proper now — we are able to all skate backwards, by the best way — we've been capable of be extra aggressive yearly. I used to be happy with what these guys constructed and what every senior class left behind. It was a very good expertise. It was gratifying to see the curiosity from our scholar physique and the curiosity from our college and employees.”
Final yr, the Eagles received their third Class 5A state hockey title in 4 years, beating rival Ralston Valley 7-3 at Magness Enviornment on the College of Denver campus. The Eagles are flying excessive as the recognition of highschool hockey soars.
This season, the CHSAA added Caprock Academy in Grand Junction to its roster of highschool hockey applications. With the addition of groups in Grandview and Durango in 2022, there are actually 36 CHSAA hockey member faculties break up between 5A and 4A.
Gwozdecky, who led DU to 2 nationwide championships in his 19 years with the Pioneers, knew Colorado had a powerful youth and membership hockey tradition, however he needed the game to proceed to develop underneath the auspices of the Colorado Excessive College Actions Affiliation. And he needed his Valor gamers to expertise the rewards that come from representing their highschool.
“From the messages I obtained after I first obtained (to Valor), no person preferred hockey,” he mentioned. “Hockey gamers weren’t revered athletes. Now it's reversed.”
Regardless of a tricky loss to Valor in final yr's state championship, Ralston Valley has a wealthy hockey historical past. Over the previous 17 seasons, the Mustangs have reached the Frozen 4 11 occasions, appeared in six nationwide finals and had been topped champions in 2013 and 2014.
Coach Nick Spinder noticed highschool hockey turn into cool.
“You have got extra guys enjoying CHSAA-sanctioned highschool hockey, so it will get just a little higher yearly,” Spinder mentioned. “Youngsters wish to play for his or her faculties. CHSAA hockey is now not a background (sport), it's not an afterthought. It's extra like Minnesota. I believe yearly it will get higher and yearly we construct our program and it's higher for hockey on the whole.”
In 2022, Denver East confirmed simply how good Colorado prep hockey has turn into. After defeating Valor within the state title sport, the Angels received the USA Excessive College Hockey Nationwide Championship by defeating the Northport (New York) Huntington Tigers within the Division II title. East went undefeated within the Texas event in opposition to the highest mixed highschool groups within the nation.
“We represented Colorado and DPS,” Joseph Capra, the East junior linebacker who was named the CHSAA's 5A participant of the yr, mentioned on the time. “The state is insanely missed. I believe we're a Tier I hockey state. We will compete with anyone.”
This yr's 5A hockey season guarantees fireworks. Heading into the Christmas break, Monarch (5-2) was ranked No. 1, thanks partly to a 3-2 win over Valor within the season opener. The Poudre College District group (5-2) was No. 2, adopted by Cherry Creek (4-1-1), Regis Jesuit (2-1-1) and Valor (2-1-1).
The Eagles, who fell 3-2 to Monarch on Dec. 16, have a whole lot of work to do in the event that they wish to repeat as state champions. Valor misplaced 12 seniors to commencement from final yr's group. Based on Gwozdecky, the group's strengths are senior goalkeepers Cooper Robinson and Trudeaux Coffey.
“We're going to be robust within the defensive zone,” junior middle Andrew Jenkins mentioned. “Cooper is so strong in purpose and Trudeaux has improved lots. General, our group may be very passionate and really tight. I believe this may assist us preserve a successful tradition at Valor.
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