DENVER – For the first time since 2019, the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team is a state champion.
On Tuesday night at the University of Denver’s Magness Arena, the top-seeded Raiders won 3-1 over No. 2 Valor Christian to claim the Class 5A title and did so by knocking off the defending state champion and an old rival in front of a raucous crowd.
“The support we got was just phenomenal,” Regis Jesuit’s Reece Peterson said. “And for the team, we haven’t been back since 2019, so it just feels so good right when we get back here to win.”
On a night throughout which both goaltenders played well, the first period on Tuesday night ended in a scoreless stalemate. With 15 minutes, 46 seconds left in the second quarter, Peterson opened the scoring with a goal assisted by Ian Beck.
With Valor Christian, which entered the game having won two of the last three 5A hockey championships, chasing late in the fourth quarter, Parker Brinner gave Regis Jesuit a two-goal lead when he scored an unassisted open-net goal with 57 seconds remaining. Valor Christian’s Brock Benson – assisted by Andrew Jenkins and Maddux Charles – cut the lead to one with a goal at 19 seconds left in the game.
Regis Jesuit, however, was able to hold off the Eagles and Beck scored another unassisted goal with one second left on the clock.
“Valor’s a great team and I just would not want to play anybody else in the state championship,” Peterson said. “It feels so great to win. All props to Valor, they gave us a great game. We just pulled out on top.”
Tuesday’s victory was heavily influenced by the great play from Regis Jesuit’s freshman goaltender Easton Sparks, who allowed just one goal while facing 24 shots.
“They’ve trusted me the whole year,” Sparks said. “I had to prove myself, obviously, being a freshman. But they’ve trusted me and we’ve made that clear. I have their back, but they also have to have mine. That’s exactly what they did. It’s an unreal feeling and it just felt great.
Valor Christian’s Maddox Charles led the 5A playoffs with seven points. Beck was second with five, and Regis Jesuit’s Vincent Cieslak and Valor Christian’s Andrew Jenkins tied for third with four.
Regis Jesuit has the second-most state championships in Colorado history with seven. Valor Christian is fourth with three.
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