In a frozen ice box at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, Friday, November 22, Grandview history was made. Nearly a hundred fans showed up to support the Wolves as they took on the Castle View Sabercats for the first ice hockey game in Grandview history. 

It only took three minutes and fifteen seconds for Junior defenceman Owen Kulczewski to net Grandview’s inaugural goal. Kulczewski broke into the offensive zone on a powerplay and ripped a shot to the left side of the net from between the circles. After the first 17-minute period of hockey, Grandview took that lead into the locker room.

“The energy was good.  We started to get a little conservative after going up one nothing, so we have to keep it up,” Head Varsity Coach Josh Shaffer said during

the intermission. 

Not even two minutes into the second period, Castle View scored two goals just ten seconds apart. Grandview lost the lead, leaving the fans, coach, and players nervous. 

“We’re getting a little nervous because we’re getting bullied a little bit. We gotta start throwing the body around, [make physical plays]” Coach Shaffer said.  

After a long sequence of passing within the Sabercats zone, Junior Hunter Simons was able to beat Castle View’s goalkeeper from in front of the Wolves bench, sending them into a frenzy, and pulling the Wolves back to match the score 2-2. Not fifteen seconds later, another Castle View shot found the back of the net, pushing the Sabercats’ lead to one.

“Linkin [the goalie] was making plenty of good saves [in that period],” Coach Schaffer said after his team trailed 3-2 in the second period.

This was not only Grandview’s first varsity ice hockey game under the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) but also a first for Coach Shaffer.

“This is my first year coaching at the high school level,” Shaffer said. “I’m a product of high school hockey back in Michigan, so I’m a big believer in high school hockey,” he said. 

Coach Schaffer also spent time with organized hockey after high school. 

“After high school I went and played junior hockey in Montana and North Dakota and the NAHL [North American Hockey League].  Then I played four years of college hockey at the Air Force Academy,” Schaffer said. 

The Sabercats were quick to jump on their lead out of the intermission, scoring three minutes and one second into the third period.  

“The goals they scored, I thought we were just poor defensively,” Coach Schaffer said.

But, with four minutes left in the game, Senior defenseman Evan Stellino lifted in a puck from the blue line, where it then took an unexpected bounce off the ice, deceiving the Sabercats goalie and finding the back of the net.  

“I am extremely pleased with both Evan [Stellino] and Owen [Kulczewski]. They’re gonna be a huge part of any success we have this year,” Coach Schaffer said. 

A Sabercats player pushed a Wolves player into the boards, drawing a penalty with about three minutes left. The uproar from the Castle View fans gave them some life and hope for a comeback, down just one goal.The Wolves coach decides to pull the goalie and introduce another attacker – a strategy used typically late in a game when the team is trailing.  By replacing the goalie with an attacker, the team has an increased chance of scoring a goal. But, that proves to be not enough, despite being able to generate plenty of chances and shots.  Castle View did a good job clearing the zone and had three opportunities to get one into the empty cage. Grandview ultimately fell 4-3 in their first varsity game.

The third period was a scrapy one as both the Wolves and Sabercats were sent to the penalty box a combined 7 times.

“They need to believe that they can compete at the varsity level. The Castle View team is a good team… [and] we hung right in there,” Coach Shaffer said.

Despite the loss, Coach Schaffer still sees his team’s performance as a success.

“I learned that they can compete at this level, and we can do really well,” Coach Schaffer said.

All players brought their best, including goalie Linkin Alisasis who stopped 34 shots out of the 38.  

“Linkin made a lot of good saves, and he kept us in the game.  He did more than stop the saves he was supposed to save,” Coach Schaffer said.

Still, the season is young and there are things that Grandviews team needs to work on before their next match against Pine Creek next Saturday.  

“We don’t have the skill yet, to not do the little things. We have to do the little things all week in practice and in games. Just a few sloppy defensive mistakes that cost us,” Coach Schaffer said.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Jake Chau

Ahead of Grandview's first ice hockey match, players line up for the national anthem.

Grandview’s Scorers

Owen Kulczewski – 3:15 1st Period (Power Play Goal)

Hunter Simons – 14:13 2nd Period

Evan Stellino – 12:54 3rd Period (Power Play Goal)

Linkin Alisasis – 34 saves / 38 shots on goal

Grandview will travel to Robson Arena in Colorado Springs for a 1:30 pm puck drop against Pine Creek.  Wish them luck as they continue their inaugural season! Go Wolves!!