10/18 Recap: Foothills Fieldhouse (Various)

PIHA’s Rocky Mountain region took center stage Saturday night as Foothills Fieldhouse welcomed the 2025–26 season with an action-packed festival featuring Pro, Semi-Pro, and Minor matchups. Four local programs—Lakewood Fire, Littleton Fire, Arvada Fire, and the Mile High Mavin Tugboats—played host across a thrilling eight-game slate.

Minor Division: Tugboats Dominate Opening Night

The Mile High Mavin Tugboats made a statement in their season debut, sweeping the Pikes Peak Thunder in convincing fashion with back-to-back wins. The first game was a clinical 5–0 shutout, powered by a deep scoring attack and airtight goaltending. Phillip Hartman opened the scoring, while Luke Somen and Max Szejda stood out on the score sheet.

In the second contest, the Tugboats continued to roll with an 8–3 victory, getting contributions from across the lineup including JJ Record, Zach Fleming, and Jacob Huff, who each notched multiple points. Goalie Jeremiah Record held strong between the pipes in both games, helping the Tugboats finish the night 2–0 and immediately establish themselves as a top contender in the division.

Semi-Pro Division: Tight Contests Across Both Fire Teams

The Arvada Fire split their two-game set against the visiting Front Range Thunder in what was a tale of two styles. In Game 1, Nick Karl’s lone second-period goal held up in a tight 1–0 win, thanks to a 19-save shutout by Trevor Roffe. The second game flipped the script as Front Range struck four times in the first period—twice by Mark Ottenberg—to steal a 4–3 win despite a late push from Arvada.

On the late shift, the Littleton Fire and Mile High Blizzard clashed in another even battle. Game 1 saw Littleton fall 5–4 in overtime, despite a flurry of goals from Spencer Coltrain, Graeme Ferguson, and Billy Botswick. Game 2 was a rebound effort, as Littleton secured a solid 4–2 win behind a strong performance from Blake Landon in net and the scoring touch of Joe Oria and Coltrain once again.

Each Fire affiliate finishes opening night with a 1–1 record and plenty of early-season positives.

Pro Division: Royals and Fire Trade Blows in Physical Back-to-Back

In the Pro Division, the evening closed with two hotly contested games between the Lakewood Fire and Parker Royals, with each team securing a win.

The first game went to overtime, where Andrew Decarlo’s second goal of the night lifted the Royals to a 6–5 win. Lakewood’s Cody Whitmore and Adam Frances combined for four goals in a losing effort, but showcased the offensive firepower the Fire can bring.

Lakewood bounced back in the nightcap, winning 5–3 in a more disciplined, focused effort. Frances and Nick Leclaire led the way on the score sheet while Trevor Roffe stopped 15 of 18 shots to seal the victory. Both teams leave the event with one win and a clearer sense of their depth heading into the season.

Rocky Mountain Outlook: Deep Talent, Early Parity

With all three Fire teams debuting across the two divisions, the festival highlighted both the depth of the Rocky Mountain region and the strong parity among its clubs. The Mavin Tugboats were the clear standouts of the day in Minor, while the Pro and Semi-Pro splits hint at a competitive season ahead.