Two-time defending champs end Rampart's hockey season

CENTENNIAL • Rampart’s season came to a close Saturday with a 4-1 quarterfinal loss to two-time defending champion and top-seeded Regis.

“Unfortunately, that’s life,” said Matthew Avila, who assisted on Tyler Tafoya’s third-period goal that broke up the shutout. “You can’t always win.”

The teams never developed much of a rhythm as players cycled in and out of the penalty box. The eighth-seeded Rams, who average just more than six penalties, were whistled for 13.

“It wasn’t bad refereeing or bad play, by any means,” coach Josh McIntosh said. “It’s just how those games go. Sometimes games are just penalty-filled.”

Regis (18-3), which also has 13 penalties, controlled the puck for most of the first period as Rampart (13-6-2) frantically tried to keep the puck out of its end.

Junior goalie Brock Vosburgh made four impressive saves in the first 7 minutes before finally allowing a shot by Marshall Conrad to slip through on Regis’ first power play.

“We tried to play defense the first two periods,” captain Anthony Apodaca said. “We wanted to come out in the third and push our hardest.”

Tafoya’s goal energized the Rams, but a penalty in the Regis zone for elbowing ended Rampart’s chances.