Durango hockey wins state championship over Summit 4-2

For the first time since 2020, Durango High School has a state champion.

Despite starting the season 2-5, the Demons hockey team rallied with a senior-laden first line and won 12 of their last 13 games. The final win for history was the 4-2 win over Summit Tuesday night inside Denver University’s Magness Arena for the 4A state championship.

It was the third meeting between the 4A Mountain League foes. Each team won one of the matchups previously.

Tenth-seeded Summit’s Cinderella run ended with it finishing with a final record of 10-11-1 after the loss. Fourth-seeded Durango finished the season 14-6 after its championship win.

“The kids had resilience and they played hard and for the most part played our game,” Durango head coach Brian Ensign said. “We had good team structure and we didn't make it easy with some penalties again but we have good penalty killers and it's just really good for our community. Both Telluride and Durango. We have a strong development program. It says a lot about hockey in the Four Corners area. I’m just happy to represent and have the kids finish with the championship.”

Senior forward Henry Howe got the Demons on the scoreboard with a goal assisted from junior defenseman Dylan LaBorde with 13:30 left in the first period. Durango took a 1-0 lead into the end of the first period. Both teams took seven shots in the first period.

In the second period, senior forward Brady Holbrook scored to put Durango up 2-0 with a goal that was assisted by senior forward Lucas Betz and junior defenseman Mason Rhodus with 9:01 left in the second.

On a power play, the Demons extended their lead to 3-0 with a goal by sophomore forward Wynn Daniels which was assisted by junior forward Bryson Quimby and senior Loudon Doemland with 7:53 left in the second.

“We were beating them to the puck, winning puck battles, cycling really well and really had a lot of opportunities at the front of the net,” Ensign said about Durango’s offense. “So we had good goaltending and good defense... What did surprise me was when we took some undisciplined penalties in the second period.”

There were seven total penalties in the second period. Durango had four and Summit had three. Six of the seven penalties were minor offenses with Howe’s boarding call a five-minute major.

Summit responded with a goal by Cole Stuckey on its own power play with 5:10 left in the second period to make the score 3-1.

In the third period, Durango held Summit scoreless until it pulled its goalie to get an extra man on offense. It paid off as Graham Schuman scored for Summit with 17 seconds left to make it 3-2 Durango.

Ensign said in the third period up multiple goals his team didn’t need to take risks.

“We did send one guy in hard and keep two guys up high so where our normal forecheck is two guys in hard and one up high,” Ensign said about his late-game strategy.

But there wasn’t enough time for Summit and Betz scored on an empty net as time expired to cap off the championship.

The Demons will have a police escort into town sometime Wednesday afternoon, according to Durango Athletic Director Ryan Knorr.

“It's important to thank so many people that contributed to our season and so many supporters in both Telluride, Durango, businesses and support from hockey programs,” Ensign said. “I just want to put out a big thank you to all the folks that stayed at home but watched and supported our program.”

bkelly@durangoherald.com