The only team championship of the winter prep sports season for Aurora area teams took place on the ice, with Regis Jesuit defeating rival Valor Christian, 3-1, at Magness Arena in Class 5A, by its lofty standards. It ended a long drought. Last.
Founded less than 20 years ago, Regis Jesuit currently has seven all-time state ice hockey championships, ranking second in Colorado history behind only Cheyenne Mountain, which boasts a whopping 14 championships.
However, this is the first time since 2019 that the Raiders have hoisted a state championship trophy, and several members of the group that ended the drought will be playing in the 2023-24 game. aurora sentinel All-Aurora ice hockey team selected by sentinel Along with the votes of two city coaches: Terry Ott of Regis Jesuit and Jeff Mielnicki of the Cherry Creek co-op team.
Ott, who was an assistant under former coach Dan Woodley, who took over before last season, deeply felt a return to the team-oriented culture that existed during the program's most successful years. .
The arrival of one person, freshman goaltender Easton Sparks, had a transformative impact on the Raiders, who were excited by his steady presence at the most transformative position in sports.
The Sparks proved their mettle time and time again, especially in the postseason, when they played the full 153 minutes the Raiders were on the ice, finishing 3-0 with a stellar 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. His signature play came early in the championship game, when he calmly blocked a penalty shot from Valor Christian star Maddux Charles and thwarted every Eagles attempt on goal until the final, desperate moment.
During the season, the Sparks, who started every game against teams that advanced to the postseason, went 11-2-2.
Joining the Sparks from Regis Jesuit on the All-Aurora first team are a pair of forwards, senior Ian Beck and junior Parker Briner, who scored in the state championship game, and senior Dylan Paranjape.
Beck scored with one second left in the championship game to put an exclamation point on the victory, giving him five points (two goals, three assists) in three postseason games. He had an all-time Aurora record 15 goals and 12 assists in 21 games.
Briner scored a scoreless net goal with less than a minute left in the championship game, and Valor Christian's goal in the chaotic final minutes actually won the game. He now has three points from three playoff games. During the season, he had 13 assists for the Raiders, scoring nine goals and 22 total points in 20 games.
Paranjape is an assistant captain and has been a steady presence on the back line in front of the Sparks, while also jumping into the offensive line when needed. Paranjape finished the season with three goals and 12 assists in 20 appearances, recording two assists while helping a defensive effort that saw the team allow just five goals in three playoff games.
The Cherry Creek Co-op team, which featured players from all over the Cherry Creek School District, advanced to the semifinals, but was stopped by Valor Christian, losing 4-1.
Mielnicki's team is loaded with talent, earning two All-Aurora first-team spots in senior forward Dominik Sachikov and senior defenseman William O'Grady (who attends Grand View).
Suchikov had two goals and one assist in two playoff games, one of which was a big score in the Bruins' overtime win over Mountain Vista in the quarterfinals. He had 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points in 21 games played.
Cherry Creek's defense was strengthened by O'Grady, a physical veteran with speed to match his 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. He starred for the Bruins, scoring one goal and two assists in two playoff games, and was a major offensive contributor with four goals, seven assists, and 11 points in 17 games.
Courtney Oakes is the sports editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Please contact us at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2023-24 aurora sentinel All Aurora Ice Hockey Team
First army
forward: ian beckSr., Regis Jesuit. Parker BrinerJr., Regis Jesuit. Dominic SuchoffSr., Cherry Creek. Defense: Dylan ParanjapeMr. Miss. Regis Jesuit. William O'GradySr., Cherry Creek (Grandview). Goalkeeper: easton sparksFather Regis Jesuit
second team
forward: Eric BerggrafSr., Cherry Creek (Grandview). Vincent CieslakJr., Regis Jesuit. Austin KatzSr., Cherry Creek. Defense: Zach LorenzoJr., Regis Jesuit. ethan robbinsSr., Cherry Creek. Goalkeeper: jack ryanSr., Cherry Creek (Cherokee Trail)
Honorable mention
edison burnsSr., Regis Jesuit (Female). marc brusseauSophia, Regis Jesuit (G). Jake CrowellSr., Regis Jesuit (D); Luke DamrathSr., Regis Jesuit (D); Dylan EldridgeSr., Cherry Creek (Cherokee Trail) (G); cooper fanJr., Cherry Creek (Dem). charlie keatingSr., Cherry Creek (Cherokee Trail) (F); Daniil KorobeinikovSr., Cherry Creek (Female); avery osgoodSophia, Regis Jesuit (Ms.). Reese PetersonSr., Regis Jesuit (Female). Carter Sharkeysoph., Cherry Creek (Cherokee Trail) (D); sam swissSr., Cherry Creek (Female); conor wagnerSr., Cherry Creek (Female); nolan williamsJunior, Regis Jesuit (F)
