Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  The sun stays longer in the sky, beating down on ice. As Frosty the Snowman had to eventually say goodbye to the kids in his town, the Nederland Youth Hockey Association teams also have to say goodbye to the skating season.

The NYH season is winding down and Nederland hockey players competed in their final away game last Sunday. Coach Aaron Jones says the kids played on a cold morning in Longmont.

“They showed off their improved skills as skaters and shooters. The Mites don’t keep score in games-- which was lucky for Longmont,” says Coach Jones.

In the second game of the morning, the Nederland Squirt team defeated Longmont by a score of 7-5. It was a high scoring affair that Longmont made challenging in the third period as they rallied for several goals to tighten the contest. Rick Fortunato was the winning goalie for Nederland. Griffin Jones led the way on offense, with three goals for the day. Nederland skated away with the “Golden Boot” for their triumph. The Golden Boot is a traveling trophy between the two hockey programs-- a tradition that started about ten years ago.

The Nederland Peewees and a few Squirts played the final game of the day. “Our Hurricane Winds came up a little short and lost an exciting overtime shootout after the game had finished 2-2,” says Jones.

Gray Schlosser netted his shootout opportunity, but in the end Nederland fell short by one goal.

“It’s been another great season of hockey in the mountains. Thanks to all who support youth sports and smiling kids in our community,” says Jones.

(Originally published in the February 15, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)