ALAMOSA — The valley’s hockey team hosted back to back games against Taos over the weekend. The Taos Tigers swept the weekend’s events with wins of 8-3 and 8-1.
The San Luis Valley Ice Beavers play in the Rio Grande High School Ice Hockey League. The junior varsity teams that populate the league range from all over including Colorado, New Mexico and even Texas. Should the SLV Ice Beavers risk attempting Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) certification, they would enter unclassified competition. Meaning that they would be dropped right into games against large metro area schools and private schools, not the best environment to nurse a budding interest in a growing sport.
Saturday afternoon the San Luis Valley hosted Taos (3-1) for a doubleheader. In game one, the Ice Beavers (0-10) played the Tigers tight in the early going. Taos’ Pol Garcia put in two for the Tigers early in the first period. the SLV’s Daniel Bryant and Evan Sowards both found the net before the first intermission to bring the Beavers even at the first break.
Back on the ice for the second period, Taos took control. The Tigers added four more goals, one of which completing a hat trick for Garcia. Ice Beaver Bryant tacked on his second goal of the day and kept SLV within 3 entering the second intermission.
In the third period, the Tigers showed a little too much aggression being assessed 12 minutes in penalties, of which for misconduct. The SLV couldn’t capitalize and the only goals in the final period went to Taos completing the score at 8-3. After a small break, the two squads were back on the ice.
In game two the Ice Beavers started hot, a fast break turned into a goal for Evan Sowards making it his second of the day and the first of the game. The San Luis Valley’s first lead of the day was quickly erased, 13 seconds later Taos’ Jordan Cisneros beat Taylor Arellano and evened the score at 1 apiece. Once again the Tigers spent plenty of time in the penalty box serving 10 minutes in the penalty box even allowing 38 seconds of a 5-on-3 situation in the final period. Soward’s goal in the first period would be the SLV’s lone score as they fell 8-1 in game two.
After a little rest and relaxation for the holidays, the Ice Beavers are scheduled for another doubleheader on January 4th against Taos. Puck drop for game one is scheduled for 11 a.m.