For a third consecutive season, the Steamboat Springs hockey team will enter the Colorado High School Activities Association state tournament as the No. 2 seed in Class 4A. 

Each season, the top-four seeds earn a first-round bye as well as home-ice advantage in the quarterfinal matchup. The Sailors have had that luxury each year since 2022 when the team was ranked No. 4. 

“Whether we land No. 1, 2, 3 or 4 is slightly less important than making sure we can get that home game in the quarterfinal round,” said Sailors head coach Brian Ripley. “It makes sure we can get other teams to get on a bus and travel.” 

The Sailors closed out the regular season with a 14-4 record, 9-4 in league play. The team scored 79 goals while allowing just 33, a differential of +46. 

Four players collected double-digit goals this season including team captain Angus Frithsen, who led the squad with 14 goals. Senior Finn Baier was the team leader in assists with 16. 

Defensively, Steamboat had six shutouts. The team’s three goaltenders — Jakob Ducklow, Joey Nelson and Shea Shorland — each earned two. 

Ripley said he is impressed with how the team handled itself all season, highlighting how challenging it can be to stay consistent in a season that begins before Thanksgiving and runs through mid-February. 

The defining moment of the season for Ripley was on a long road trip in Colorado Springs prior to the winter break in late December. The team came out on top in each of those three road games including a win over Cheyenne Mountain, which is ranked No. 5 this year.  

Closing out the season, Ripley said the team struggled with illnesses and injuries, ultimately dropping the final two regular season games. The team would have had a chance to get back in the win column last week, but Aspen was unable to make the trip for the regular-season finale due to icy road conditions. 

Having earned the bye, the Sailors will go nearly three weeks between games ahead of the state quarterfinal, which is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Howie Dome. Ripley said the long break offers a chance for his players to heal up while the team continues to preach a good mentality heading into playoff hockey. 

“The mental side of it is really the critical piece,” Ripley explained. “We are going to push through the physical components and make sure guys stay fresh and dialed in on systems and with good touches on the ice. The other side of it is the mentality and making sure we are a unified group, a selfless group and a positive group so everyone is supportive of one another and make sure we have great team chemistry.” 

The No. 2 Sailors will play the winner of No. 7 Colorado Academy vs. No. 10 Colorado Springs District 11 in the quarterfinal. 

Steamboat defeated District 11, 3-2, earlier this season and has not played Colorado Academy. Ripley said the skill gap between the playoff teams is not very big, so the approach heading into the quarterfinal game will remain the same as any other.

“We all believe and we know this team has the capability to really be successful all the way to a state championship,” Ripley said. “You can’t get too far ahead. Every game is going to be a huge challenge and a huge test. The key, too, there is added pressure knowing you have to win to keep going.”