Feb 8, 2025 | Game Recap
The Colorado Grit ended their three game skid in fashion, defeating the El Paso Rhinos 6-2 at the
El Paso County Event Center Saturday night. Strong offensive play, a barrage of shots on net,
and key defensive plays helped the Grit pull away in the third period after a tightly contested first
40 minutes.
The game got chippy early when El Paso’s Brendan Coughlin and Colorado’s Kennon Reyelts
dropped the gloves, bringing the crowd to life. The early fight set the tone for a physical battle,
but it was the Grit who took control offensively.
Colorado peppered the Rhinos goaltender with 26 shots in the opening period but had trouble
breaking through. They broke through when Lucas Mann found the back of the net off a crisp
setup from Noah Gronlic, putting the Grit ahead 1-0. Despite being heavily outshot, El Paso
responded late in the period when Beckett Hinchsliff netted his 15th goal of the season, tying the
game at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
The Grit wasted no time reclaiming the lead as defenseman Luke Helgeson buried his own
rebound just 2:04 into the second period. However, El Paso answered again on the power play
when Hinchsliff tallied his second goal of the night, knotting the game at 2-2.
Colorado continued to control play,with a great forechecking effort throughout the game. Their
efforts paid off on a power play of their own, as George Poirier capitalized on a nice passing play
to restore the Grit’s lead at 3-2.
Despite the Rhinos’ offensive increase in the third, the Grit shut them down defensively and
capitalized on key opportunities. The momentum fully swung in Colorado’s favor when forward
William Johnson buried a short-handed goal, extending the lead to 4-2 and deflating the home
crowd.
Nicholas Noble added to the fire with a goal of his own, and Poirier struck again off a wild
bounce, putting the game out of reach at 6-2.
The Grit’s offensive dominance, combined with key defensive stands, propelled them to a much-
needed win to snap their losing streak. Looking forward, the Grit return to home ice next
weekend when they face the New Mexico Ice.
Feb 7, 2025 | Game Recap
The Colorado Grit’s losing streak gets pushed to three on Friday night at the El Paso County
Event Center, as they fell 4-3 in overtime to the El Paso Rhinos. Despite having the lead for
most of the game, the Grit were unable to hold off the Rhinos comeback attempt.
The Rhinos came out with intensity, pressing hard on the forecheck and pinning the Grit deep in
their own zone. El Paso forward Benjamin Winkelmann found an opening and capitalized on a
loose puck, scoring his fifth goal of the season to give the Rhinos a 1-0 lead.
Despite the deficit, Colorado looked to bounce back fast. With just under three minutes
remaining in the period when forward Lucas Mann buried the equalizer. His shot found the back
of the net and brought the game level at 1-1, sending the teams into the first intermission tied.
Colorado wasted no time grabbing the lead in the second frame, as Nolan Smith buried a short-
side goal just 39 seconds into the period, putting the Grit ahead 2-1. Fast pace play continued
with both teams trading penalties, leading to a stretch of 4-on-4 play. The extra space worked
in Colorado’s favor, as Evan Smutney pounced on a rebound to extend the lead to 3-1.
However, the Rhinos refused to go away quietly. With 7:17 left in the period, Roope Tuomioksa
cut the deficit to one, finishing off a beautiful feed from Kyle Arias. Colorado’s discipline issues
continued late in the period, as they took a costly tripping penalty with just ten seconds left,
giving El Paso a power-play opportunity heading into the final frame.
The Rhinos wasted no time making Colorado pay for their late penalty. Just 33 seconds into the
third period, Andrew DellaDonna found the back of the net, tying the game at 3-3 and swinging
momentum in El Paso’s favor.
El Paso thought they had taken the lead on a power-play goal,but after review, the referee
waved off the goal for a high stick. The game took a rough turn when Rhinos forward Kimble
delivered a massive hit that was ruled a five-minute major for head contact, resulting in his
ejection. However, Colorado was also assessed a roughing penalty in response, leading to two
minutes of 4-on-4 action before the Grit had a brief power-play.
The game tightened up, leading to a physical and chippy remainder of the game. Neither side
could break through, and regulation ended with the score still tied, forcing overtime.
In the fast-paced 3-on-3 overtime, it was the Rhinos who found the decisive moment. Harper
Lolacher sealed the win for El Paso, slipping behind the defense and burying a slick backhand
shot past the Colorado goaltender to end the game.
The loss marks yet another frustrating night for the Grit. Looking forward, the Grit will get their
chance for revenge as the two teams are set to face off again tomorrow night. The Grit will look
to shake the three game skid and get back on track.
Feb 1, 2025 | Game Recap
The Colorado Grit fought throughout the night but ultimately fell short in a 3-2 shootout loss
against the Shreveport Mudbugs on Saturday night. The defeat marked another loss for
Colorado during their playoff push, extending their winless streak over the last two years and
sealing a weekend sweep for the Mudbugs.
The Grit came out hot, looking to snap their drought. They struck first when forward Sheldon
Rioux found the back of the net with his seventh goal of the season, giving Colorado an early 1-
0 lead. However, Shreveport wasted little time responding. Forward Andrej Paricka capitalized
and buried an unassisted goal, leveling the score at 1-1.
Colorado stole the lead back halfway through the period when Lucca Ori took advantage of a
defensive play, slipping one past the Mudbugs’ goaltender. The Grit’s momentum was short-
lived, though, as Paricka struck again, scoring his second of the game to send the teams into
the first intermission deadlocked at 2-2.
The second period saw an increase in physicality and goaltending. Both teams tightened up
defensively, and goaltenders made big saves on both sides of the ice. The Mudbugs earned two
power plays while the Grit had one, but neither team could convert. Strong defensive efforts and
solid goaltending kept the score at 2-2 heading into the third period.
The physicality continued into the third period, but the Grit struggled to generate any offensive
momentum, managing only three shots on goal. Shreveport dictated the pace for much of the
period, but Colorado’s goaltender stood firm to keep the game level. Despite a late push from
the Mudbugs, regulation ended with the same 2-2 tie that had been held since the first period.
With both teams locked in a defensive standoff, overtime provided little chance for mistakes.
The goaltenders continued to stand tall, denying every opportunity thrown their way. With
neither side able to break through, the game went into a shootout.
It took just three shooters for Shreveport to seal the victory. Colorado’s shooters were unable to
beat the Mudbugs’ netminder, while Shreveport managed to bury the winning attempt, clinching
the win and completing their weekend sweep.
Despite a promising start, the Grit remain winless over the past two seasons. Looking forward,
your Grit will take on the El Paso Rhinos on the road Friday.
Jan 31, 2025 | Game Recap
The Colorado Grit entered the game looking to end their losing streak against the Shreveport
Mudbugs, having gone 0-4 against the Mudbugs last season, the Grit were hungry to change the
narrative. However, despite a fast start, Colorado fell short as Shreveport pulled away in the
second period and shut the door in the third to secure a 5-2 victory.
The Grit wasted no time making their presence felt. Just 21 seconds into the game, forward
Lucas Mann found the back of the net for his third goal of the season, giving Colorado an
immediate 1-0 lead. The early tally set the tone for a high-paced and physical matchup.
Shreveport quickly responded, with Lucas Deeb snapping home a wrist shot to even the game at
1-1. The back-and-forth continued when Greeley forward Nicholas Noble took advantage of a
defensive miscue, scoring unassisted at 10:13 to regain the lead for Colorado. However, the
Mudbugs weren’t done, as Brent Litchard buried his 14th goal of the season, slamming home a
net-front opportunity to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the first intermission.
Shreveport turned it up in the second period, and it paid off. At the 10-minute mark, Kyan
Haldenby pounced on a rebound from the slot and beat the Grit goaltender to give the Mudbugs
their first lead of the night at 3-2.
Momentum stayed with the home team as Gleb Akimov extended the lead to 4-2, putting
Colorado on their heels. Tempers flared at the end of the period, leading to a heated scrum that
made officials separate the two sides before heading to the locker room.
The final frame was a physical battle, with both teams trading hits and battling. The Grit had
three power play opportunities but failed to capitalize, unable to break through Shreveport’s
disciplined penalty kill.
Colorado pushed the pace, generating several scoring chances, but Mudbugs’ goaltending stood
tall, denying every attempt. In the closing minutes, Brent Litchard sealed the victory with his
second goal of the night, delivering the final dagger and securing the 5-2 win for Shreveport.
The Colorado Grit and Shreveport Mudbugs will rematch tomorrow night at 7 p.m. as the Grit
look to bounce back from the tough loss.
Jan 26, 2025 | Game Recap
An elite powerplay unit and solid goaltending performance power the Grit to a 4-2 win over the Odessa Jackalopes Saturday night at the Greeley Ice Haus.
The Grit came into the game looking to bounce back, currently sitting at 14-17, one seed out from playoff contention. The Jackalopes look to sweep the weekend series and continue increasing their playoff hopes, currently at 17-16.
Odessa got the scoring going early as defenseman Caden Morgan buried a snapshot from the left point only 3:59 into the game. The Jackalopes dominated early in the first period, but the Grit got back on track on the powerplay as Grit defenseman Luke Helgeson tipped home a shot from Lucca Ori on only the second shot of the game for Colorado. The game got chippy as a scrum in the corner led to offsetting penalties and for Odessa forward Chistian Tavare to be ejected from the game. Both goaltenders locked down the nets for the remainder of the period, sending the game to intermission tied at one apiece.
This game marked the first career NAHL start for Colorado goaltender Nolan Francis. Out of North Ridgeville, Ohio, Francis looked to leave a mark in his first chance between the pipes. Saving 30 out of 32 shots, Francis made huge saves throughout the night, including shutting the door on a breakaway in the second to keep the score even, along with a huge glove save in the third to preserve the lead. The Grit defense dominated, holding the Odessa powerplay to scoreless(0/6).
Fresh off of a dominant penalty kill, Grit forward Sheldon Rioux buried the wrist shot on a two on one to open the second period scoring early making the score 2-1. The lead was short lived however as less than a minute later, the Jackalopes answered back again as defenseman Shea Barry deflected home the equalizer on a shot from forward Nicholas Puricelli.
Boos rained down from the crowd as for the second night in a row, the Grit had a goal waived off by the officials. Boos quickly turned to cheering as Grit defenseman Evan Smutney ripped home a powerplay goal with 4:39 left to play in the period. In a period filled with penalties, the Grit entered the locker room with a 3-2 advantage.
Grit Defenseman Alexander German made his return to the lineup tonight and made an instant impact, registering an assist and several big hits throughout the night.
The third period was a back-and-forth battle dominated by the goalies. Despite power play opportunities from both teams, neither team was able to open the game up. The Grit defense held on in the final minutes and buried an empty-net goal to end the game 4-2 and even the weekend series.
Looking forward to next weekend, the Grit will take on the Shreveport Mudbugs on January 31
