Undefeated Battle Mountain hockey team rises to No. 1 ranking in CHSAA polls
The Huskies defeated Colorado Springs and Glenwood Springs over the weekend to improve to 4-0-1
Sloane Thompson/Courtesy photo
The Battle Mountain boys hockey team continued its undefeated start to the 2025-26 season with three-straight victories over the weekend.
The Huskies dispatched Rampart 11-1 at home on Dec. 10 and took down Colorado Springs 3-1 and Glenwood Springs 4-1 on Friday and Saturday, respectively, to move to 4-0-1 on the year.
“The team showed that hard work and dedication pay off by tackling a long week of practices and games,” head coach George Wilson stated in an email to the Vail Daily. “The team was disciplined on the ice and that paid off with minimal penalties across all three matches. This allowed us to capitalize effectively on our power play opportunities with critical goals.”
Mitchell Humphrey got the train rolling with a goal and an assist in the dominant victory over Rampart.
“(He) had a stellar week, contributing significantly with a goal, an assist and logging critical minutes to help the team in each game,” Wilson said of the senior.
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Two days later, Luke Reynolds and Miles Kipp led the way against Colorado Springs District 11. Reynolds scored twice and Kipp added a goal and an assist in the victory. Reed Garrison and Grady McGalliard also each had assists in the game as Jan Machecak tallied 26 saves in the net.
Battle Mountain converted three power play goals against Glenwood Springs — the No. 3-ranked team in the preseason polls. Wilson said “excellent puck movement” helped position the Huskies to capitalize on scoring opportunities. After a scoreless first period, Battle Mountain scored twice in each of the next two periods. McGalliard, Kipp, Garrison and George Greyson each scored goals in the win for the Huskies while Wade Lehrman put the Demons on the board in the third with his third goal of the season.
The string of successes catapulted Battle Mountain to the No. 1 spot in the Dec. 15 CHSAA Selection Seeding Index. The pipeline is looking healthy, too. Under the direction of new coach Soren Bredeson — a former Metropolitan State University defenseman — the Battle Mountain junior varsity team is off to a 2-0 start after a 7-1 win over Caprock Academy and a 7-2 victory over Colorado Springs District 11.
“Overall, Huskies hockey is in a promising position and the future looks bright,” Wilson said.
Battle Mountain will travel to Denver on Dec. 19 to face Grandview before returning home against Caprock Academy on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. at Eagle Pool and Ice Rink.
Due to unseasonable weather and ice conditions, the team’s pond hockey event has been canceled, Wilson noted. The alumni game, however, will take place on Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Eagle Pool and Ice Rink.
“Join us for an evening of fun and fantastic hockey as your favorite former Huskies players hit the ice once more,” Wilson stated. “This event will be a ‘Fill the Skate’ fundraiser to support Huskies hockey and help make up for the cancellation of our pond hockey event.”
