The opening weekend for Regis Jesuit’s varsity hockey program was full of energy and anticipation. The season opener was the Raiders’ annual teddy bear toss in which stuffed animals are thrown onto the ice after the first Regis goal and then donated to the Children’s Hospital. Junior number 81 Avery Osgood would tuck the first goal of the weekend to open the scoring against the Ralston Valley Mustangs which sent teddy bears flying onto the ice. Osgood said, “Scoring the goal is definitely something I’ll remember forever.”
Junior number 92, Vincent Cieslak followed up Osgood’s goal with 2 of his own including an impressive move on a penalty shot. Despite his impressive points that game Cieslak’s focus was not on goal scoring. Cieslak said, “I was mainly just focused on winning our games.” And he claimed that “Honestly, those goals were mainly because of the team.”
Cieslak used the words brotherhood and camaraderie to describe the team and the atmosphere that night. These characteristics have been upheld and promoted through the leadership of senior captain, number 17, Ian Beck. Beck says that the key to leadership is to set a good example. He said, “I just try to lead by example, go to every practice work my hardest, go to every game work my hardest.” And “If I lead by example enough other people will follow.” Ian Beck would go on to close out the scoring with a beautiful goal giving the Raiders the 4-1 win over the Ralston Valley Mustangs.
This huge win was followed by an extremely entertaining battle against the Cherry Creek Bruins. The Raiders would get an early 2 goal lead but the Bruins shot back with 2 of their own to even the scoring and send the game to OT ending in an exciting tie game. Beck said, “We could’ve easily had that win but we kinda let ourselves go at the end there.” Beck ultimately attributed the poor finish to overconfidence because of the 2 goal lead. Osgood mentioned “Sometimes pucks don’t bounce your way and that’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
With 3 big upcoming matchups to close out the schedule before Christmas break, Beck said that the team needs to come to each game with a huge amount of energy and focus. Cieslak said they key for him is to “Eat right sleep right, making sure my equipment is in check.” And to “Worry one game at a time, one shift at a time.”
In his final season with the Raiders Ian Beck wants to make the most of the fleeting time he has left. His personal goal is to just have a good season and have lots of fun. As a team however Beck says “everyone has a goal of winning state.” This is a dream that the raiders have been chasing since Beck’s freshman year and now it is his and the other seniors’ final opportunity to realize the dream that countless squads have chased for years. Cieslak said that winning state and beating the Valor Christian Eagles are the 2 most important goals for the season.
Ian Beck will be sad to leave the program he has devoted himself too in his 4 short years. The locker room will be what he misses most because of all the friendships and memories he has formed. These are far more valuable to him than his time on the ice.
The Raiders’ have 3 upcoming games against the Mountain Vista Eagles, the Poudre Valley Stars, and the Chaparral Wolverines. Best of luck to the team this weekend and for the rest of the season as they chase a state banner.