Steamboat Springs hockey traveled south over the weekend for a two-game set against the defending 4A state champion Durango Demons on Friday and Saturday. 

The pair of games kicked off 4A Mountain League play for the Sailors, who managed to split the two games. 

Steamboat head coach Brian Ripley said his team “struggled to adjust to the physicality and tempo of the Demons in front of a rowdy crowd.” Despite a Sailors goal by Zane Durham to start the game, Steamboat was unable to build on that offensively and ultimately fell 4-1 in Friday’s game. 

Ripley gathered the team before Saturday’s matchup for a meeting to discuss adjustments. He said the group came out with a lot more confidence and set the tone early thanks to first-period goals off the sticks of Sawyer Vietanen and Heck Stephenson. 

The Demons managed to capitalize on power plays in the second to tie the game at two apiece, but Steamboat remained resilient to take the game 4-2 after two more scores from sophomore Gavin Wittlinger, who was later named Player of the Game. 

The Sailors come out of their road trip with a 3-1 record on the season. The team returns home for another two-game set at the Howie Dome on Friday and Saturday against Crested Butte. 

Friday night’s puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Nick Carelli and the Howelsen Ice Arena staff have organized a fundraiser for LiftUp of Routt County. The fundraiser includes a teddy bear toss where spectators can give a donation to LiftUp and will receive a stuffed animal in return.

Once the Sailors score their first goal of the game Friday night, spectators can toss their teddy bears onto the ice in celebration. 

Saturday’s puck drop will be at 12:30 p.m.