DENVER – An overnight snowstorm that stalled traffic on Interstate 25 caused Colorado College’s players and coaches to not make a Thursday morning flight to Duluth, Minn., and they’re now traveling into Minneapolis, then taking a 160-mile bus ride to Duluth.
A drive from Colorado Springs to Denver International Airport that typically lasts about 90 minutes took 3 hours, 20 minutes for 22 players, two coaches, an equipment manager and a trainer, CC coach Scott Owens said when reached by phone in the DIA terminal. It wasn’t a surprise, given that traffic was very slow-moving through a steady snowfall until the Air Force Academy and a gridlock through flurries in Castle Rock and Denver.
Traffic was jammed so much, it took roughly an hour to go from Castle Rock to the toll road that leads to DIA – a short stretch that lasts no more than 20 minutes under normal conditions. Cars had slid off the highway, semi trucks were disabled in emergency lanes and police officers and tow truck drivers were cleaning up crashes. A broken-down semi in Castle Rock even brought traffic to a halt for 10 minutes, blocking the middle lane.
The No. 16 Tigers (16-12-2, 13-10-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) are to still practice Thursday night at Amsoil Arena, where they’ve never played, in preparation for a weekend series against No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth. They’ll also skate Friday morning, as the more ice time, the better for center Rylan Schwartz, who practiced only Wednesday due to the flu, and left wing Jaden Schwartz, who is hampered by upper-body soreness.
Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/cchockey. For the CC blog, visit http://cchockey.freedomblogging.com.
How about the AFA Hockey team? Did those coaches and players get away?
I just chatted with Air Force sports information director Dave Toller, and the Falcons made it to Pittsburgh with no problems at all. So they’re good to go for their weekend series against Robert Morris.
[...] Thursday turned into a long travel day for Colorado College when a snowstorm snarled traffic on the interstate from Colorado Springs to Denver causing the team to miss the flight to Duluth. Rylan Schwartz didn’t practice Friday due to the flue and Jaden Schwartz is hampered by upper body soreness. From Brian Gomez, Colorado Springs Gazette. [...]
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[...] before the 160-mile ( it sure seems longer) bus trip from Minneapolis to Duluth after the Tigers missed their flight to Duluth because of Thursday morning’s snowstorm. Look for the Bulldogs to rely on a strong [...]
Rolodex –
First of all no one cares about Air Force Hockey.
2nd they typically fly Air Force planes paid for via tax dollars out of Colorado Springs. No commercial flying for Air Force teams.
CC flies out of Denver to save on cost whenever possible.
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[...]Tigers miss flight to Duluth, will bus from Minneapolis – Eye of The Tigers : Colorado Springs Gazette, CO[...]…
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[...]Tigers miss flight to Duluth, will bus from Minneapolis – Eye of The Tigers : Colorado Springs Gazette, CO[...]…