DENVER – A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. Just ask Pine Creek.

The Eagles claimed this year’s 4A state title with a 6-3 victory Monday night at Magness Arena, just one season after Steamboat Springs ended Pine Creek’s bid at its first hockey championship in school history.

“They’re a great team that worked hard and deserved to be in this championship,” Pine Creek coach Chris Moses said. “But, I’d be lying if I said a little bit of retribution against the team that knocked us off last year doesn’t feel a little sweeter.”

The Eagles lost 3-2 in double overtime to the Sailors in the semifinals last season and watched as Steamboat Springs (17-5) celebrated its title while Pine Creek players regrouped and prepared for this year.

Pine Creek demolished their competition this year and closed the 2025-26 campaign on a five-game winning streak. During their playoff run, the Eagles outscored their opponents 9-4 with the majority of those goals coming at University of Denver.

The Eagles (19-2-1) led the title game 2-1 after the first period as Colton Kirk and Conley Polsgrove netted goals for Pine Creek and Gavin Wittlinger scored for the Sailors.

It took 24 seconds for the Sailors, the No. 4 seed, to build a 3-2 lead as Sawyer Vietanen scored a goal with 14:27 on the clock in the second period and then another at the 14:03 mark to give the Sailors the advantage. But Henry Hoghaug, who scored the go-ahead goal for Pine Creek, the No. 3 seed, in the semifinals, struck with 13:28 left to tie it at 3-all.

“Stick to the gameplan and stick to what works,” Moses said. “They were prepared for this and they did enough to get the job done. I’d be lying if I said the magnitude of the goal wasn’t different because this was a state final. But with the ebbs and flow of the game and not getting too high or low, we dug deep and got that answered back.”

Moses said the Eagles’ motto this season was “all gas, no brakes” and they demonstrated that in the final period.

Logan Hemmer opened the flood gates with his goal that gave the Eagles a 4-3 advantage with 10:17 on the clock and said he hoped that score gave his team motivation to clinch the title.

“My teammate, Jack Moats, he shot it … and it went off of (a Steamboat player’s) shin guard,” Hemmer said. “I picked it up and went right through two defenders and saw an open spot. I hit it and it was the most amazing feeling.”

Riley Miltko scored with 2:55 left in the game and Jackson Smetana added another goal late in the period to give the Eagles a 6-3 lead. Players maintained their composure, but the student section erupted.

Chants of “I believe that we just won!” rang out from Pine Creek’s fans as the seconds drained off the clock in the third. As the horn sounded, players’ gloves, sticks and helmets flew into the sky and decorated the ice as Eagles athletes embraced near their bench.

“(The final 10 minutes) felt like an hour. It was so long,” Eagles goalie John Thien said. “But we held on and got that goal from Riley Miltko and that’s when I knew that we had it and we could win. (Those goals) made the butterflies go away and it helped me relax. Once we’re up, I can play better and it calms my nerves.”

To close the season, the Eagles avenged their previous three losses. In the playoffs, the Eagles beat Standley Lake and Colorado Academy, which defeated them in the regular season. And the Eagles purged last year’s playoff loss to the Sailors with a victory for the championship.

“It feels amazing,” Hemmer said. “Last year, we came up a little short to this team. This year, it feels great to get redemption and have our crowd here to see this. This is nothing I’ve ever felt before.”  

Moses knew this would be the result for Pine Creek. After Saturday’s 2-1 win against Colorado Academy, Moses said, “I feel confident we’re going to get the job done on Monday.” Now, the job’s finished.  

“It hasn’t quite hit yet, but maybe it will when I go back to the locker room to celebrate,” Moses said. “They’re deserving of this and they’re going to be state champions for the rest of their lives.”