Michael Tabrum found a silver lining for CSD11’s ice hockey team.
The Bookworms ended the entire season without an opponent shutting them out of a game. But Tabrum and the Bookworms hoped to leave Ed Robson Arena with a shot at a title. Instead, they’ll have to regroup and wait until next season to accomplish that goal.
Saturday was the final chapter in the Bookworms’ season as Steamboat Springs, the defending 4A champions, handed the eight-seeded D11 team a 4-1 loss in the semifinals.
“I’m proud of each and every person in that locker room,” Tabrum said. “The amount each of them improved this year and to get to where we got, I’m proud of all of them and what they managed to accomplish.”
The Bookworms (14-6-1) advanced to Saturday’s semifinals after they stunned top-seeded Battle Mountain in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
“We started to believe we could do something,” Tabrum said of the team’s mindset after the upset. “That was a big step forward for the program. Our confidence and belief was high after that win and we thought we could get a little further.”
The Bookworms ran into a seasoned Sailors squad that also defeated CSD11 4-1 on Dec. 20. Steamboat Springs (17-4) entered the matchup on a four-game winning streak and fresh off a 3-2 overtime win against Cheyenne Mountain.
Steamboat Springs, the four seed, remained hot after the quarterfinals and Trenten McElhinney gave the Sailors their first score of the day with a goal with 2:03 left in the opening period.
District 11 goalie, Boston Leaver (31) deflects a shot on goal with his shoulder on a shot by Steamboat Springs’ Keller Franco (29) in the first period at Ed Robson Arena at Colorado College in Colorado Springs on Saturday, February 28, 2026. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans)
The Sailors found the net again with 10:21 left in the second period to build a 2-0 lead after Henry Hoffner skated down the ice, passed a D11 defender and put the puck in the goal.
Steamboat outscored CSD11 2-1 in the third period and built a 3-0 lead before the Bookworms established any offense. Harrison Aker scored his third goal of the year and did so with 5:27 left to stave off a shutout, which CSD11 has not experienced since Jan. 11, 2025.
“That felt good because we finished the year without being shut out,” Tabrum said. “I think that’s something to be proud of.”
Steamboat Springs added a final goal late in the third period to give the Sailors four goals for the fourth time in their past five games. The Sailors advanced to Monday’s title game at University of Denver’s Magness Arena and will aim for back-to-back titles.
While this is the final page in the Bookworms’ season, Tabrum hopes this experience allows his team to write a different ending next year.
“Learning from these games and knowing we can get here is huge,” Tabrum said. “I’m hoping this lets us take the next step forward next season.”