Regardless of coming into the 2024 Class 4A state hockey match because the No. 10 seed — the final staff to make the playoffs — the Summit Excessive Faculty boys hockey staff is on a roll.

The Tigers first made historical past in opposition to No. 7 Colorado Academy on Thursday, Feb. 22, when the staff managed to advance previous the primary spherical of the playoffs for the primary time in over a decade with a dominant win, 5-2.

With playoff momentum starting to construct, Summit then traveled to Steamboat Springs on Wednesday, Feb. 28, the place the staff as soon as once more made the historical past books by defeating No. 2 Steamboat Springs Excessive Faculty in double time beyond regulation to efficiently advance to the semifinal match.

Summit entered its sport in opposition to No. 3 Liberty Excessive Faculty of Colorado Springs on Saturday, March 2, keen to maintain its playoff magic alive and advance to the state remaining.

With Highland Ranch’s South Suburban Sports activities Complicated stuffed to the brim with followers adorned within the inexperienced colours of Summit and the crimson of Liberty, the state-final-clinching sport shortly received underway with Summit charging down the ice, establishing possession and firing a wrist shot on the web.

The shot from the stick of junior Jevin Palmquist got here as a shock to the Liberty Lancers’ goalie because it broke into the again of the online and gave Summit a 1-0 lead lower than 50 seconds into the sport.

Off to a robust begin, the Tigers continued to pursue the online closely whereas the Lancers tried to cool down and set up an offense. After a number of back-and-forth possessions, Liberty started pinning the puck into its offensive zone, however the staff’s makes an attempt at a aim have been dashed by Summit’s protection.

At one level, Summit senior goalie Finn Schroder made two spectacular glove saves that sucked the air out of Liberty. Buzzing on each ends of the ice, Summit expanded its result in 2-0 when senior Luke Weir crept towards the aim and fired a shot into the online.

Skating circles round Liberty, Summit went into the primary intermission main 2-0.

“That’s at all times our sport plan — is to set the tempo, play a 200-foot sport,” head coach Chris Miller mentioned.

Starting the second interval on a double-minor energy play, Liberty swiftly arrange its offense and started firing photographs at Schroder. The Summit protection fought off a number of fiery photographs, however a aim quickly snuck its means in, bringing the rating to 2-1.

As soon as combating off the latter half of the penalty, Summit was capable of reestablish possession of the puck for a minute or two, nevertheless it was not lengthy earlier than Liberty was again in entrance of the online. The Lancers have been finally rewarded with a second aim when senior Micah Newton put a shot behind Schroder, tying the sport at 2-2 with nearly all of the second interval but to be performed.

Feeling the tide of the sport start to shift, the Tigers went on back-to-back, two-minute energy performs the place the staff recorded a slew of photographs on web earlier than a tripping name led to a bit over a minute of four-on-four hockey.

Again at full energy, the Tigers tried to attain earlier than the ultimate intermission, however robust protection stopped them.

“We now have been centered on this underdog mentality,” Miller mentioned. “Midway via the yr, I made the youngsters watch “Kelce,” the documentary about this soccer man, an undersized middle who made a hall-of-fame profession. Earlier than the sport I confirmed them a speech that he made earlier than they received the Tremendous Bowl, saying they shouldn’t be right here or this man isn’t ok. I went again to that earlier than the second and the third. We centered on that mindset that we have to go show that we’re prepared to win.”

With the sport tied, Summit and Liberty started the recent interval with the depth turned to an all-time excessive. 

The ferocity finally resulted in a penalty from Liberty, which led to a power-play aim after junior Carter Conroy fired a shot that was deflected into the online by sophomore Karston Kerr. 

In true playoff hockey trend, Summit loved its lead for a few minutes earlier than Liberty senior Ethan Graber as soon as once more tied the sport with 12 minutes remaining in regulation.

Each groups chased the puck up and down the ice, however every staff’s protection performed sturdy in opposition to the onslaught of quick-moving motion. Summit even fought off a nail-biting, two-minute penalty to maintain the rating tied.

With everybody again on the ice, Summit fought via the Liberty protection, despatched a cross in entrance of the online the place Palmquist got here up with the aim on the doorstep of the blue crease, placing Summit up 4-3.

The Palmquist aim electrified the Summit followers because the staff realized it was 4 minutes away from the state remaining.

Because the seconds slowly ticked off the clock, cheers from Summit rang down from the stands whereas the Tigers labored to get in entrance of photographs and passes.

A minute ticked off, then two, then three earlier than Liberty despatched a remaining surge towards the online. Summit remained stoic although, leaning on its staff tradition, combating off the advances and incomes its spot in Tuesday’s state remaining sport.

“Adversity is one thing that must be skilled, not examine or watched,” Miller mentioned. “We wouldn’t be the place we’re with out dropping these tight video games or being in these robust moments. It takes time. Thankfully, we have now hit our stride, and we have now had sufficient adversity to know that we have now that poise and may deal with that stress.”

Summit will face No. 4 Durango Excessive Faculty within the state remaining sport at Denver College’s Magness Enviornment on Tuesday, March 5, at 5 p.m. 

Like Steamboat Springs within the quarterfinal, Durango will probably be a well-recognized foe for the Tigers after enjoying them twice in Mountain league matchups all through the common season. Summit cut up its video games in opposition to Durango earlier within the season, dropping the primary assembly, 5-2, and successful the second, 3-2.

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