Michael Dubus is the new ice hockey coach for the Castle View High co-op team and he couldn’t help but feel a little excited after the Sabercats notched a 4-3 win over Mountain View in a Dec. 10 game at the South Suburban Sports Complex.

Dubus and assistant coaches Bryan Heft and Ryan Hubbart spent time on the bench at the conclusion of the Castle Rock school’s game congratulating each other.

The win gave the Sabercats a 2-2 overall record and 2-0 in the 5A South League while Mountain Vista of Highlands Ranch lost for the first time in three games.

A break-even overall record doesn’t sound like much to get excited over, but Castle View is a hockey program that has gone 12-38-3 over the past three seasons.

“We obviously want to get better every single day but with the team we have I really don’t see a ceiling for us,” said Dubus. “I think we can go all the way. We have a long way to go but we’re making progress and that’s the goal.

“We’ve spent some time in the fall and even at the beginning of this season being close and we finally got over the hump and got that big win we’ve been looking for.”

Rock Canyon and Douglas County high schools also take part in the Castle View Sabercats team.

Castle View jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Mason Hoff was credited with the first goal that Mountain Vista tried to clear out of the corner but it hit a player and went into the net.

Brent Baugh got a power play tally to make it 2-0 but Jayen Juan’s power play tally for Vista made it a 2-1 game after the first period.

The first of two goals by the Golden Eagle’ Kristopher Apple Duncan tied the team early in the second period, but Owen Dickinson poked the puck into the net from in front to push Castle View back in front.

Jack Chandler put the Sabercats up 4-2 with a goal at the 52-second mark of the third period and Apple Duncan scored for Vista with 3:27 remaining in the game.

Chandler had an assist to go along with his goal. Austin Hall and Zac Northrup also had assists for the Sabercats.

Reid Watson and Mason Anderson each had two assists for Vista.

“This was a building block,” said Dubus. “It’s been the message that we can’t get too high or low. We just have to continue to get better every day. It is a long season even though it goes quick. We’ve just been trying to weather the storm.”