Aspen vs. Detroit: The Greatest Rivalry in Hockey.

Stirling Cup Opening Face-Off in Aspen. Click 4 Pix.Hockey rivalries are incredibility intense.  You may recall the bitter feelings that existed between the NHL's Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings in the late 1990's.  Both teams had Stanley Cup talent and world class toughness. Detroit and Colorado; the teams, the coaches and the fans all hated each other.   The result; a  full-scale melees on ice, body crunching hits, goalie brawls, McCarty vs. Lemieux and some of the most exciting hockey games known to man.

Click 4 pix:  Aspen vs. Detroit

The years have passed.  The hockey unpleasantries  between Colorado and Detroit have softened.  But now, a new, more friendly rivalry has formed.  Aspen vs. Detroit.  The two hockey power-houses met again during  the 12th Annual WELLS FARGO STIRLING CUP ALL-STAR WEEKEND in memory of Stirling Cooper.  The Detroit RedWings Alumni (Oldtimers) vs. The Aspen Leafs, they went at it.  They faced off again in 2012 at the Aspen Recreation Center in front of a full house.

Last year,  the Aspen Leafs smoked the Wings pretty handily, welcoming them to A-Town with a 7-4 loss.  In fact, Aspen has taken it to the Red Wings old timers in 3 of the last 4 years at Stirling Cup.  The Red Wings always hold their own in the golf, and usually win the party...but on the ice, at 8,000 ft...the Leafs have been the recent champs.  This year Detroit powered up and brought a few younger guys on the trip.  Reading the body language on the Red Wings bench during warm ups. (where I handled the door with skill),  you could see the steely eyed demeanor of the visiting team.  They wanted to win.  Jiri Fischer (6' 5" 235, 32 years old) a former top NHL defenseman who retired pre-maturely due to a heart problem buoyed the blue line for the Wings.  New recruits Stephen Guolla (4 NHL Teams), Keith McKittrick (Red Wings Assistant Coach) and Kip Miller (Hobey Baker winner at Michigan State and 8 NHL teams) added speed and skill to the forward line.  

The Detroit Red Wings prevailed 12-3.The Aspen team led by Aspen Junior Hockey Director, Tanner Williams, AJH President Lindsey Holmbeck, All-Stars Geoff Lubin, Keith Howie, Bret Norris and goalie Jason Flynn were feeling good prior to the opening faceoff.  Former Detroit BAD BOY Darren McCarty set the tone early scoring on a goal-mouth scramble in the first minute of play.  He also dinged the goalie on the mask with a flick shot, and admitted "I was aiming for his throat, just kidding".   Former Wings stars John Ogrodnick, Joey Kocur, Paul Mackinnon, Jon Finstrom, Lorne Knauft and Wayne Presley played a strong game in front of the stellar goal-tending of George Bowman.  The Red Wings proceded to pour it on taking the contest by a final score of 12-3.

Rivalries aside, The Stirling Cup is always a blast.  Parties, camaraderie, golf  and more. All of it is designed to honor the memory of Stirling Cooper and PROMOTE YOUTH SPORTS, FOSTER NEW RELATIONSHIPS and EMBODY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.  Aspen Junior Hockey and the entire community of rink rats always rolls out the red carpet for the entire weekend.   Stirling Cup is always one of the best events of the year in Aspen.  The hockey community in Aspen is tightly knit and the Red Wings truly appreciate the hospitality.   What's not to love.  Just ask all the mites, squirts and pee-wees (and their parents) who get to meet, skate with and make friends with real live NHL stars. 

Click for Pix:  Aspen vs. Detroit:  The Greatest Rivalry in Hockey.

Friends and Rivals. Darren McCarty (4 time Stankey Cup Champ) and Jason Flynn set to get after it.The fans came out to watch Detroit vs. Aspen. Hockey Night in Aspen. Click 4 pix.Jiri Fischer came out of retirement to skate in Aspen. Frenchy and Scotty made the calls. Click 4 pix.Jeff "Whitey" White proved to be quite a sniper...netting 2 goals. Click 4 Pix.Spirits ran high at the Aspen Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings for Stirling Cup. Click 4 pix.Stirling Cup, Aspen Junior Hockey, The Aspen Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings 9/29/12 Click 4 pix.

Aspen is HockeyTown

Well OK, Aspen may not be the original HockeyTown, that moniker has been claimed by Detroit (and others), but Aspen is a real hot bed for icers. 

The Aspen Leaf All-Stars topped the Detroit Red Wings Alumni (a.k.a. Oldtimers) 7-4 in fast paced and well played exhibition match at The Aspen Recreation Center (ARC).  The 11th Annual Stirling Cup All-Star Weekend benefits Aspen Junior Hockey and includes the hockey game, a golf tournament, parties, concerts, a silent auction and plenty of action on and off the ice with the RedWing Old Timers.  NHL Hall of Famer Dino Ciccarelli and noted tough guy Joey Kocur, a 4 time Stanley Cup Winner, joined in the mix this year.  NHL vets John Ogrodnick, Dennis Hextall, 4-Time Cup Winner Darren McCarty, Spartan Kevin Miller, Paul McKinnon, Wayne Presley and Craig Wolanin and more rounded out the Red Wings roster. 

CLICK 4 PIX    ASPEN IS HOCKEYTOWN

The Aspen Leafs took advantage of the friendly home ice at the ARC as age and the altitude (8,000 ft) as well as a short bench worked against the Red Wings squad.  The Wings jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead as Aspen's net minder Greg Baldrica shook off a few cob webs at the thought of facing the veteran NHL players.  Eventually, the Leafs turned up the speed and scored goals in quick succession.  Led by Detroit native Geoff Lubin who netted 2 goals and 1 assist.  Aspen Junior Hockey's new director Tanner Williams (he moved to town 2 weeks ago) showed he belonged by lighting the lamp for Aspen's first goal. Aspen High Coach  Al Butler also tallied once for the Leafs.  The strong Aspen D was anchored by Lindsey Holmbeck, Brett Norris and Peter Scott.

The Aspen Leafs got the go ahead goal.The competitive contest was closer than the final score indicated as Aspen exploded for two late goals to break open a 4 all tie.  Baldrica then stuffed 2 RedWing penalty shots from Darren McCarty (14 NHL Seasons, 4 Cups) and Kevin Miller (620 NHL games, 8 Teams).  A meaningless Aspen goal with 10 seconds left created the final 3 goal margin.  It required a strong team effort for Aspen to top the former NHL pros.  In the end the Aspen Leafs just had a little more gas in the tank. 

The comraderie between the two teams and between the fans and players was fantastic.  The RedWings were happy to meet and greet the fans, and The Stirling Cup game has gone a long way to ease the tension between local Wings supporters and the Colorado Avalanche fans who used to heckle them.  Always a highlight... in between periods, The CHUCK-A-PUCK.  For a $5 contribution fans get a numbered puck to toss on the ice...closest to the center ice face off dot wins a large pot of money.  This years winner Tim Cooney was extremely accurate...his puck landed directly on the dot---he donated the proceeds back to Aspen Junior Hockey.

The Stirling Cup All-Star Weekend is a celebration of the life of the late Stirling Cooper...a beloved local Husband and Father who passed away in 1999.  The beneficiary of the events, Aspen Junior Hockey, is known as one of the finest youth hockey programs in Colorado.  Aspen has built a reputation as a great Hockey Town.  There are plenty of opportunities in Aspen for adults and kids, males and females, youngsters and oldsters to get out there on the ice and play.  Aspen's Winter leagues are forming soon...so click  Aspen Parks and Rec (Ice Hockey) and join a team today.

Click 4 Pix  ASPEN IS HOCKEYTOWN

The Aspen Leafs defeated The Detroit RedWings Alumni in Aspen. Click 4 pix.Hall of Famer Dino Cicarelli wth Aspen Leafs stars Jason Flynn and Geoff Lubin
The puck drops in Aspen. Openning Face Off for the 11th Annual Stirling Cup All Star Weekend.