Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The local house teams that played in the recent Rocky Mountain Rumble Tournament didn't finish with winning records.

But the Bantam and Midget Major teams that did represent Steamboat Springs got quality play in, reaping the benefits of tough competition at Howelsen Ice Arena Nov. 29-Dec.1.

Steamboat's Bantam team finished with an overall record of 2-2, defeating the Vail team twice to take third place in the four-team field.

The local Midget Major team completed the tournament at 0-3-1, tying Summit in the consolation round after losing to it in round-robin play.

Denver University's Bantam team won the Rumble, while Laramie finished second. Laramie's Midget team defeated Providence to win that division.

On the Midget side, 12 of Steamboat's 18 boys on the roster recorded points for the host team during the tournament, led by Derek Rule and Jameson Allee's two goals and two assists apiece.

Jake Flax and Peter Mayfield each had two goals, while Danny Weiss, Charlie Pappas, Kris Gayer and Jake Hammerslag all chipped in with one goal.

Hunter Levingston, Jack O'Brien, Weiss, Andy Flax and David Packert contributed one assist.

The highlight of the tournament for the Midget Major team was its consolation tie against Summit. Earlier in the tournament, Steamboat fell to Summit 5-3 but managed to outplay Summit in the final period on Nov. 29.

On Dec. 1, the rematch between Summit and Steamboat was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. In the overtime shootout, both teams scored two goals to finish even. Allee and Mayfield recorded the shootout goals for Steamboat.

Steamboat's Bantam team, however, notched two impressive wins over Vail during the three-day tournament. The first came on Nov. 29, as the host house team defeated the visitors from Vail, 8-0.

Goalie Elliot Girard recorded the shutout for Steamboat. Five different players found the back of the net in Steamboat's lopsided victory, including Darby McNamara's hat trick and Kevin Utu's two-goal output.

Assists were given on seven of the eight goals.

In the consolation game against Vail on Nov. 30, Steamboat's scoring wasn't as prolific, but it managed enough to win 3-1. Utu, Matthew Kauffmann and David Comeau scored the goals, while T.J. Anderson, Comeau and McNamara were credited with assists.

During the tournament, eight players contributed either goals or assists for Steamboat, paced by Comeau's four goals and five assists. McNamara contributed four goals and four assists. Utu found the back of the net four times with one assist.

Anderson delivered four assists for Steamboat, while Kauffmann chipped in with two goals and three assists during the duration of the Rocky Mountain Rumble.

Christopher Troeger had two goals and Lee Wren had one assist.

Tim Anderson and Colin Reid coached the Steamboat Bantam B team. Steamboat's Midget Major team was coached by Darrel Levingston, Dave Strang and Cruger Van Schaack.

? To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com