The Glenwood Springs Youth Hockey Association’s Midget Grizzlies traveled to Gunnison last weekend for a repeat showdown against a well-matched team.

The Grizzlies played two games, both on Saturday. The team knew that Gunnison would be fired up after losing to the Grizzlies just last month in the championship game of the Colorado Cup.

Just as the Grizzlies had expected, the Gunnison team came out fired up and scored a quick goal, just 40 seconds into the game. However, the Grizzlies kept pace with a goal of their own by senior Levi Fetterhoff just 14 seconds later, assisted by senior Cameron Avery.

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The Gunnison team was not fazed and continued to put the pressure on goaltender Alex Parrish. The Grizzlies survived the first period, trailing 3-1.

During the second period, the Grizzlies picked up their defensive play and the period remained scoreless.

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At the beginning of the third, the Grizzlies knew they had to step up their offensive play, and scored a quick goal just two minutes into the period by junior Joseph Capraro, assisted by senior Quinn Zamora.

The Blades were quick to respond, putting another mark up on the board and the Grizzlies found themselves back down again, 4-2.

Then the Grizzlies caught fire, staging a furious comeback, scoring goals every two minutes up until the end of the game.

Goals were scored by sophomore Jackson Wilson (unassisted), Avery (two goals, both assisted by Fetterhoff), and Fetterhoff (assisted by Avery).

After the comeback, the Grizzlies emerged victorious, 6-4.

“Patience, tenacity and some great down-low work allowed us to take control of Game 1 after surviving Gunny’s onslaught in the first period, which we knew was coming,” Grizzlies coach Tim Cota said.

In the day’s second faceoff, both teams appeared somewhat fatigued from the battle in Game 1.

Both teams played more conservatively in the second game to avoid getting scored on as much as in the first contest.

Thanks to stingy defense and impenetrable goaltending by junior Alex Parrish, the Grizzlies skated to a scoreless tie.

Despite the lack of goals, it was a fast-paced and intense game, with neither team able to capitalize. The Grizzlies walked away from the weekend with a total of three out of four possible points in the standings, and better positioning in the playoff race.

Glenwood is playing in the Presidents Day Tournament in Durango this weekend, and will return to Glenwood for a home stand Feb. 25-26.