Lewis-Palmer rallies to win hockey state title in overtime

BROOMFIELD • An emotionally trying season and a nerve-wracking state championship game were in overtime Saturday when the puck stood still for Lewis-Palmer.

Check out more photos from the game. 

Junior forward Kyle Lee rushed to the puck and took his best shot.

Lewis-Palmer 3, Ralston Valley 2.

The Rangers, outshot 34-10 and admittedly outplayed throughout by Ralston Valley, poured off the bench at 1st Bank Center to celebrate the school’s first state title.

“When the goal went in, it was like time stood still,” said coach Steve Fillo, who lost his son and former L-P hockey star Stevie in an auto accident last August. “We saw a scrum, and I guess it’s like the first moment you jump out of a plane. Time stood still for that instant. You just couldn’t believe it.”

As most of the Rangers rushed toward Lee to celebrate the goal, defenseman Josh Cronk skated the other direction toward the clear hero of the game — goaltender Brent Schwarz.

Schwarz stole the state title for an otherwise exhausted Lewis-Palmer team. Rangers forward Kyle Lachner — who would play a strange but important role late in Saturday’s win — ended Friday’s intense semifinal against Cheyenne Mountain with an overtime goal at about 10:30 p.m. The opening faceoff Saturday was 16 hours later, and the Rangers were tired.

Although the entire game seemed to be played in Lewis-Palmer’s defensive zone, Schwarz kept turning away shots. With about 2 minutes left in regulation, the Rangers trailed 2-1, had been outshot 32-5 and hadn’t had a good scoring opportunity since Cronk’s goal in the second period. But Schwarz was undeterred.

“I believed,” he said. “I had faith. I knew my team would pull through.”

The momentum turned during an odd moment. Lachner and Ralston Valley’s Dean McGaughey started fighting in the corner and both players were ejected. Fillo admitted the time spent separating the players and clearing them from the ice gave his weary team a much-needed break.

As order was being restored, Ralston Valley’s Mitchell Pijanowski skated by Lewis-Palmer’s student section and taunted them, gesturing at the scoreboard.

The game wasn’t over.

With Schwarz on the bench, a Rangers shot into traffic was blocked, but senior Brandon Roseboro rushed up in the play and snapped the puck into the net to tie the score 2-2 with 1:09 left.

In overtime, Lewis-Palmer’s Chris Clark got a good shot on goal, and it rebounded to a perfect spot for Lee.

With so much space and time to consider the opportunity in front of him, Lee said he was worried about shooting too high. But the shot was perfect.

“I’m still in total shock about the whole thing,” Lee said, holding the championship trophy. “I’ve never won anything like this before. This is a big deal.”

ROAD TO THE STATE TITLE

Video highlights of loss to Air Academy

Video highlights of win over Pine Creek

Video highlights of quarterfinal win over Air Academy

Photos of win over Pine Creek

Photos of quarterfinal win over Air Academy

Photos of state championship win over Ralston Valley