Kevin Lytle-Story 1

CSU hockey carried by youth

The way that CSU athletes are often judged, at least from the fans standpoint, is how they perform in the big games.

And the biggest of big games for CSU teams is whenever they face the black and gold of CU-Boulder.

Even though hockey is a club sport, the intensity of the rivalry is the same.

It may even be more glaring because the games against CU garner attention that other games within the season do not.

Following a 5-3 victory over the Buffs on Friday night at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, the Rams are 3-0 against their strongest rivals. And they are being led by a group of young players that are proving their worth.

The Rams roster contains 11 freshman and six sophomores, a number that had their coach concerned going into the season.

“To be honest, we have 11 freshmen, they (CU) have nine seniors,” coach Kelly Newton said. “I fully expected this year to be the other way around, and we were just hoping to hang with them. The guys have stepped up, and this might be the year we sweep them.”

The Rams and Buffs play for the final time in the regular season on Friday.

Youngsters have played a key role in the biggest games of the season, wins at Pepsi Center and the Budweiser Center.

“They were a little nervous going into the game in (Pepsi Center), but once they got out there they just realized it was just another game,” said Nik Burge, captain of the Rams. “We now that they’re going to come up big now.”

In the most recent contest against the Buffs the youngsters were the catalyst for victory.

The first goal and the winning goal were scored by freshman Erik Waring, who also added an assist. Sophomore Paul Jenkins added two goals of his own.

They know that a lot of their worth will be determined by how they represent CSU against CU.

“It’s always great to beat CU,” Waring said. “I love CSU from the bottom of my heart. It’s a great pride to put on that jersey every single day.”

The young guns step into an organization with high expectations. According to the CSU Hockey website, the Rams have made the national semi-finals three out of the last four seasons.

The young guys are expected to carry CSU to the same, if not higher places throughout their playing careers at CSU.

One of the teams season goals is to gain a top-two ranking in the West Division of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. A top-two ranking earns an automatic invitation to the regional tournament, which leads to nationals.

According to the ACHA website, the Rams sit in third ranking in the West Division as of Jan. 30. The Rams have a good chance of improving their rank when the new numbers come out after defeating No. 4 CU.

Wherever the season goes, it will be decided largely by the Rams youngsters.