Creek hockey coach confident in team

BY JIM BENTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Cherry Creek hockey coach Je Mielnicki feels he has a team that can compete with other top Colorado Class 5A squads this season.

e Bruins, a co-op team with players attending Creek, Cherokee Trail, Grandview, Eaglecrest and Overland, defeated Fort Collins 4-3 on Jan. 21 in a Metro League game played at Family Sports Arena.

So far this season, it appears Valor Christian, Regis Jesuit, Monarch, Chaparral, defending state champion Denver East, Ralston Valley and Creek are the state’s top 5A teams.

“We match up with every team,” said Mielnicki. “Each team has plus or minus 10%. I don’t see one team just steamrolling.

“Valor beats Monarch in overtime, Ralston Valley beat Valor early in the season, Monarch and Ralston Valley tie, we split with Ralston Valley. So you’ve seen a lot more of these type games. All the teams are going to be prepared for the playo s because they are playing meaningful, close games.”

Against Fort Collins, Creek took a 2-0 lead after the rst period with Dominic Suchkov, a junior who attends Cherry Creek, scoring both goals.

Fort Collins rallied and tied the game at 2-2 with a power play goal in the third period but Creek responded with two goals in a fourminute span.

Jackson O’Brien, a senior from Cherokee Trail, scored from the top of the right faceo circle and then Grandview junior William O’Grady made it 4-2 with a goal that o set a late Fort Collins goal.

“We did not have a good game (Jan. 20) against Ralston Valley (7-0 loss) but the lesson is ‘what are we going to do today,’” Mielnicki added.