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Hockey: Aspen rules ice, downs Summit

Jon Maletz
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN – Aspen hockey coach Al Butler said his team played well in just one of three periods Friday night.

That was more than enough to secure a second straight victory to open the 2012-13 season. Jack Doremus beat Summit goaltender Wyatt Dickerson twice, and the Skiers scored five unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 win over the Tigers.

Aspen scored five goals just once last winter. It now has reached that mark twice in three days.



“We’re getting opportunities and starting to capitalize on some of them,” said Butler, whose team outshot Summit, 38-22. “When you throw enough pucks at the net, something goes in.”

The Tigers were the first to find the net on this night, stunning the Aspen Recreation Center crowd just 29 seconds after the puck dropped in the opening period.




“It’s like we weren’t prepared on that first shift,” Butler said. “We’re a young team, and we’re still trying to feel our way around out there. And once again, there were too many penalties out there. It kills the flow of the game, … and when we start playing the really good teams, they’ll make you pay for those.”

The Skiers were whistled for 10 infractions – one fewer than in Wednesday’s season-opening win over Battle Mountain. Still, Aspen’s offense was clicking.

Beau Cameron produced an unassisted equalizer 2 minutes, 17 seconds into the first, then Doremus scored off an assist from Cameron about six minutes before intermission to put the Skiers on top for good.

Garrett Goldsmith and Doremus all but put this game out of reach in the second, scoring less than one minute apart to give the hosts a 4-1 advantage.

Julian Gregory tacked on a shorthanded goal with 7:40 remaining in the third to effectively finish off the Tigers, who have been outscored 24-7 during their current four-game skid.

The Skiers will host another winless team today. They’ll square off with Liberty at

4 p.m.

It will be the schools’ inaugural meeting.

“They’re 0-3, but that doesn’t mean anything. Any team can win on any given night,” Butler said. “We need to keep them focused and not let them get too overconfident. After the last few years, when we’ve had some tough starts, it would be great to start 3-0 from a confidence standpoint.”

jmaletz@aspentimes.com