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Glenwood Grizzlies bantam team sweeps visiting Steamboat

Peter Tibbetts
Special to the Post Independent
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Bev Beck contributed photo
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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado – With only eight skaters and one goalie, the Glenwood Springs Youth Hockey Association’s Bantam hockey team (U14) was too much for visiting Steamboat at the Glenwood Springs Community Center ice rink last weekend.

The Grizzlies scored a 5-0 win on Saturday and 3-2 and 6-2 wins on Sunday.

Nate Nieslanik set the tone early in the game on Saturday when he scored less than a minute into the game, with Chaz Apostolik providing the assist.



There was no more scoring until Nieslanik found the back of the goal again in the second period, this time with Sam Carmer and Ryan Fitzgerald providing the assists.

Glenwood goaltender Jake Fegan continued to deny the Steamboat offense and the second period ended with Fegan’s team ahead 2-0.



It was all Grizzlies in the third period, as Fitzgerald scored an unassisted, shorthanded goal and Tucker Jenkins added two more goals. Nieslanik and Finn Featherstone provided the assists.

It was Fegan’s first shutout of the season.

Said Grizzly Bantam head coach Tim Howard: “This well-deserved shutout is due to our strong defensive stand and relentless offensive attack.”

The second game of the tripleheader took place early Sunday morning at 7 a.m. and Steamboat took the lead first, but not for long.

Nieslanik scored two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill to give Grizzlies a 2-1 advantage. Carmer again provided an assist.

In the second period, Apostolik increased the lead to 3-1, but Steamboat closed the gap to 3-2 just before the second period ended.

Both defenses stood strong for a scoreless third period and 3-2 win for the Grizzlies.

Nieslanik saved his best for last in the weekend finale. He opened with three straight goals. Jenkins followed with another before Steamboat was finally able to score for a 4-1 count after two periods.

Steamboat started the scoring in the third, but the Grizzlies took advantage of the power-play opportunity when Tias Dacuma found Jenkins for Jenkins’ second goal of the game and a 5-2 Grizzly lead.

Cole Guy had some good looks at net for the Grizzlies, but it was Nieslanik who scored the final goal for the Grizzlies, with Apostolik assisting, for the 6-2 win.

The final game for the Grizzly Bantams is scheduled for Saturday against Aspen at the Lewis Ice Arena. The puck drops at 5:15 p.m.

EAGLE, Colorado – The Glenwood Grizzly Midget Major A hockey team (U18) hosted Hyland Hills at the Eagle Ice Rink last Saturday.

The second-place Hyland Hills team was too much for the Grizzlies, who lost by a score of 5-2.

Glenwood rebounded on Sunday morning with a win against the Denver Country Cub. The game was marked with highs and lows, as Jonathan Angelo scored his first goal of the season and Tanner Wood’s season ended with a broken clavicle.

The Midget Majors hope to advance in the playoff standings when they visit Greeley this weekend for two games.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado – The Glenwood Grizzly Midget Minor A hockey team (U16) upset the visiting Greeley Renegades last Sunday, 4-1.

Grizzly captain Jake Bair started the scoring for the Grizzlies and Levi Fetterhoff provided all the remaining goals for a hat trick.

The second-place Renegades will be seeking revenge when they host the Grizzlies this weekend for two games.

EAGLE, Colorado – The Glenwood Grizzly Pee Wee B team (U12) played tough against Vail/Eagle but lost each game (3-0, 4-1) of a recent doubleheader. Zach Levine scored the lone Grizzly goal.

The Pee Wees also travel to Greeley for their final two league games of the season.

DENVER, Colorado – Three goals were not enough for the Glenwood Grizzly Squirt B team (U10), which lost two close games (5-2, 3-1) to Denver Country Club in Denver last weekend.

Joel Rothman, Tyler Dollahan and Travis Leahy scored for the Grizzlies.


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