Squirts second at state

LITTLETON Aspen Junior Hockey’s Squirt B’s won the runner-up trophy Sunday at the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association state championships in Littleton.

Aspen, which finished second to Steamboat Springs in the Continental Divide Youth Hockey League during the regular season, upset undefeated Arapahoe, 1-0, to open the tournament Saturday morning. In the other game, Littleton – the runner-up to Arapahoe in the Colorado Competitive Youth Hockey League – upset top-seeded Steamboat Springs.

Sunday morning’s championship game between two underdogs didn’t disappoint.Aspen opened the scoring in the first period before Littleton tied the game in the second. Aspen answered back with another goal and held a 2-1 lead up until the fourth minute of the third period when Littleton knocked in the equalizing goal.

Both teams frantically fought for the deciding goal in overtime, and the game appeared to be headed toward a shootout.With 18 seconds remaining, however, Littleton netted the winning goal to lock up the state championship.