Glenwood hockey outlasts Summit in overtime thriller to reach state final

No. 1 Glenwood Springs and No. 4 Summit delivered a hockey game to remember on Saturday, sending the CHSAA Class 4A state semifinals into an overtime thriller.

It took an extra period to determine a winner, with both teams creating scoring chances in overtime. Glenwood capitalized on an opportunity, securing its second state championship appearance in three years. Senior defenseman Sam Rosenberg scored the game-winner, though he didn’t realize it at first.

“I didn’t even know it went in until everyone started cheering,” Rosenberg said. “That feeling is awesome. Everyone jumped on top of me. I couldn’t see anything. I was just so hype.”

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Summit’s season ends after an impressive 14-5 run, winning eight of its last nine games before falling to the Demons.

“The message all season was: Don’t let the game come down to bounces or the refs — and we kind of let that happen today,” Summit coach Chris Miller said.

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The two Western Slope teams faced off at Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs on Saturday morning. The contest was highly competitive from start to finish. Glenwood found a way to win despite struggling in the first two periods.

Summit started strong, controlling the pace in the first 25 minutes. The Tigers’ fast and physical play forced Glenwood onto its heels early. After a Demons defensive breakdown, the momentum appeared to be in Summit’s favor.

Summit senior Eli Powers and junior Owen Lewis connected to put the Tigers up 2-0 with six minutes left in the second period. On an odd-man rush, Powers delivered a pass to Lewis, who placed the puck into an open net.

“Summit’s a really good team. We knew it was going to be a battle,” Glenwood coach Tim Cota said. “We got stronger as the game went on. We’ve done that all year. We’ve proven we can do that. We’re a blue-collar hockey team, and we wear teams down.”

After struggling for a period and a half, the Demons found their rhythm. Momentum shifted with three minutes remaining in the second period when Glenwood scored twice in an 11-second span.

Glenwood senior captain Wylon Deter scored three seconds into a late second-period power play. From the point, he fired a wrist shot through traffic, finding the back of the net. He turned to his bench, urging his teammates to keep pushing.

Eleven seconds later, senior Beck Weatherred capitalized on a loose puck in front of the net, beating Tater to even the score.

“Those 15 seconds changed everything,” Miller said. “Going up 2-0 put us in a good position, but a couple of mistakes and some poor net-front coverage can do that. That’s the way hockey goes sometimes. You never really know what you’re going to get.”

From that moment, it was a new game. Summit senior goalie Matthew Tater made several key saves to keep the score tied even after Glenwood found its footing.

“I was just saying, ‘Get another one while they’re on their heels,’ and they did,” Cota said.

The third period showcased both teams at their best. It was back-and-forth action, with both goaltenders making critical saves to keep their seasons alive.

Zevin and Tater proved why they were their teams’ last line of defense. The final two periods featured strong forechecks and numerous odd-man rushes, but both goaltenders stood tall. Tater faced 41 shots, making several improbable saves.

“(Tater) was great,” Miller said. “He made all the saves he was supposed to and the ones he had no business saving. He kept us in it the whole way. It’s just unfortunate it had to end this way.”

In the end, Zevin, a freshman, proved why he earned the starting role for Glenwood. He finished the regular season with the lowest goals-against average in the state at 1.33 — fifth-lowest in the nation.

“I just love being out there competing with the boys,” he said. “My captain, (Wylon) Deter, told me he’s got us, and I’ve got them. I just have so much trust in my team. If we keep playing our game, we’ll be tough to beat.”

Glenwood is now one win away from its first state championship win in program history. The Demons will face No. 2 Steamboat Springs on Monday at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus.