The Lakeville product grew up attending the event religiously, and it’s where he initially found his love for hockey, as his family attended countless games at Xcel Energy Center and booked a number of hotel rooms in St. Paul.

It’s also what made leaving his home state so difficult, as McMorrow dreamed of one day playing in the event himself.

However, he was invited to join the U.S. National Team Development Program and left for Plymouth, Mich. ahead of the 2022-23 season. It was a move that felt right at the time and is benefiting him today.

“When I left, I had that realization that I’d never be able to play in the state tournament, and that stung, but you also have to do what’s best for yourself,” McMorrow said. “It’s hard to feel bad for yourself when you get the chance to play at (the NTDP) though, and now I’ve got a great opportunity here in Waterloo, so it’s all worked itself out.”

Brendan McMorrow spent two seasons at the NTDP before joining Waterloo this season. “Even with the role I had up there, I would go back in a heartbeat, and it helped me so much,” McMorrow said. “You get to play with and against the best players in your age group every single day, and everybody wants to help you and see you succeed. So I think in the long run my time there will help me in a lot of ways.” (Photo courtesy of USA Hockey / Rena Laverty)

While it’s been a winding road over the past three seasons, the Denver commit is flourishing this winter in northeast Iowa – where he currently plays for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks.

Sticking with junior hockey
McMorrow spent the past two seasons at the NTDP and skated in 61 games last winter, but he was buried at the bottom of the lineup and struggled to contribute offensively. Still just 18 years old, McMorrow opted to return for another year of junior hockey.

He was drafted by Waterloo in the first round (8th overall) of the USHL Phase II Draft last May and has made the most of his opportunity so far.

“I mainly wanted to come back to the USHL to get those top minutes and be a difference-maker for a team, and I’ve been able to get that here,” McMorrow said. “Being able to impact the game every single shift and play a top-six role is definitely motivating and exciting as a player, and I’m really thankful the coaches and everyone here has had that trust in me.”

McMorrow has shown his impact as he’s scored 11 times through 27 games, and his 20 points are tied for third on Waterloo’s roster. He’s centering Waterloo’s top line, along with seeing time on both the power play and penalty kill. McMorrow is tied for third in the USHL with six power-play tallies.

Brendan McMorrow first started skating around age 3 and was “born into the sport.” His father, John, played hockey and Brendan spent countless hours on their backyard rink as a kid. He loved watching Zach Parise with the Minnesota Wild and currently tries to model his game after Brandon Hagel. (Photo courtesy of Waterloo Black Hawks / Stephanie Lyn Photography)

Waterloo suits him well
Waterloo’s Olympic-sized sheet has certainly aided his skating and play-making ability too, and McMorrow said the game has slowed down in his third USHL season – allowing him to play fast, see the ice and create more offense.

“Playing in Waterloo has been a lot different from where I was at, but it’s been such a good opportunity and the overall atmosphere here is great,” McMorrow said. “I’ve played a lot more, and the people here have been so good to me, so I can’t say enough good things about Waterloo so far.”

The people who work with him every day can’t say enough good things about McMorrow either.

“I think the growth he’s shown even from the start of the season until now has been outstanding and he’s playing with a lot of confidence on the offensive side of the game, and that’s great to see,” said Waterloo General Manager Bryn Chyzyk. “He came in here ready to work from day one, and he’s such a good kid, and I think you’re seeing that extra year of juniors is really benefiting him so far.”

Added Waterloo coach Matt Smaby: “I think if you watch his body of work through the first half of the season, he’s just got such a motor, and he’s so impressive on both sides of the puck. He’s been a driver and set the tone offensively, but he’s been a very reliable defensive player, too, and he can win faceoffs. So, I think he’s been extremely well-rounded for us, and he gets better every night.”

Brendan McMorrow spent the 2021-22 season with Benilde-St. Margaret’s and put up 32 points (9-23-32) over 28 games. “Playing at Benilde was very special and that was a really, really fun year of hockey,” he said. “You see your family, classmates and the band in the crowd, and it’s really your first taste of when hockey gets serious. So, I’m definitely glad I got to experience that.” (Submitted photo)

The Black Hawks were interested in McMorrow before he initially joined the NTDP, and Chyzyk watched him several times at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, saying it was a “no-brainer” when the opportunity once again presented itself last May.

Chyzyk added McMorrow “exemplified a lot of the qualities” Waterloo’s staff looks for in a player, and both he and Smaby believe McMorrow has a real chance to get drafted next summer – especially if he continues playing how he has.

“He’s someone we’ve had our eyes on for a while, and we really believed he could play a big role and big minutes for us, because he’s always working, and he plays the game the right way,” Smaby said. “He’s shown a tremendous ability to pick up the team game and the systems we’re running here, and his work ethic is always at such a high level. And he came in with a great mindset and wanted to be a big part of our team.

“When you’re looking down the bench and trying to find guys that you can depend on and know are gonna do things right, you never have to worry about that with Brendan. So, when you combine how he competes with the fact he’s a very skilled player, you get a dynamic player that can change a game, and he’s been exactly that.”

Now McMorrow wants to continue being that dynamic player and help the Black Hawks make a deep run this spring.

“You don’t want to say you doubt yourself, but honestly, it had been a while since I’d been on the scoresheet a lot and a go-to guy. So, I didn’t really know what to expect coming into this season,” McMorrow said. “But I think getting those first couple goals was huge and helped regain some of that confidence, and then you’re able to hold onto the puck a little more and have the confidence to make more plays.

“I don’t value my game in goals and assists, and I just want to make plays consistently and help my team win, and we’ve got a good group here that can do that. We want to win a Clark Cup, and I haven’t been let down here in any way so far.”

The post Make The Most Of It appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

1. Lakeville North (0-0) The Panthers have yet to play a game although they unseat the Edina Hornets for the number one slot out of the shoot.  They have their sights set on a return trip to the Minnesota State High School hockey tournament in March and know there is plenty of work to do between now and then.  The Panthers are known as one of the most exciting teams in High School hockey and posted a 25-5-1 record last season.  At one point North ripped off a 19 game (18-0-1) unbeaten streak last year.  There is plenty to look forward to with the Panthers who return their top two lines and both can score.  Leading the way is the Poehling trio, made up of seniors Jack and Nick along with sophomore Ryan.  Henry Enebak and Max Johnson anchor the second line and combined for (25g-33a-58pts) last year.   Add in one of the best one-two punches on the blue line with a pair of D1 defensemen in Jack Sadek and Jack McNeely and the Panthers have every reason to believe they can not only return to St. Paul and the State Tournament but win their first ever Class AA title.  Goaltending will be key and former Shattuck St. Mary’s product Ryan Edquist returns to his roots in Lakeville to hold down the fort in the blue paint for the Panthers.  The University of Minnesota goaltending recruit could be key to the Panthers potential success this year.

2.  Edina (1-0-1)  The two-time defending champion Edina Hornets opened the season with an 11-0 thumping of the Holy Family Catholic Fire last week at the Cable 12 Turkey Trot.  Garrett Wait erupted with 6 assists and Matt Masterman had 4 goals in the shellacking.  Dylan Malmquist delivered 2 goals and 2 assists with Casey Dornbach adding a hat trick and and assist in the effort.  The offensive output, coupled with the defensive play illustrated that the Hornets have plenty of depth to bid for their third straight state title.  For now, key leadership losses from last year’s team to graduation pushes Edina down to the #2 slot slot in the MNHockeyMag rankings.  Edina has plenty of depth to lean on from a deep and talented youth program to fill any void that may have been left.  The State Title once again runs through Edina and someone will have to prove they can beat the Hornets on the last day of the season.  On paper to open the season, the Lakeville North Panthers are just a little better.  Edina has won a record 12 state titles in 36 appearances which is a staggering conversion rate.  Their attempt at a three-peat would be the first time since Bloomington Jefferson’s glory teams of 1992-1994 that impressive feat.

3.  Wayata (1-0-1)  A 4-1 win over cross-town rival Maple Grove and a 3-3 tie that wound up as a shootout loss to Edina (recorded in the books as an official tie), the Trojans always have a chance to win based on their defensive play and skill.  Whether blocking shots, staying disciplined in the defensive zone, benefitting from stellar goaltending, or staying on the puck in the offensive zone, coach Pat O’Leary’s teams are difficult to play against and this year’s club will be no different.  Junior goaltender Alex Schilling is primed to take over the number one chore in goal for the Trojans and senior defenseman Alex Stevens has help with sophomore Hank Sorenson holding down the fort.  Junior Max Zimmer (10g-23a-33pts) led the team in points last year and the slick skating offensive talent is back to take on that offensive responsibility again.  Playing in the deep Lake Conference and owning a tough schedule this year will take the Trojans a long way in being a high quality playoff team this year.

4.  Hill-Murray (1-0)  An opening night 3-2 win over the Burnsville Blaze last Saturday was a good start for the Hill-Murray Pioneers.  The strength of the Pioneers is defensively and when that proves out, it means a successful season for coach Bill Lechner’s team.  The Pioneers return their top four defensemen to the table and have depth in goaltending which will have a spirited competition. Senior Sean Wendlandt was the back up to Sam Ilgen last year and will have a healthy battle with sophomore Jake Begley for playing time.  Four year varsity letter-winner Zach Mills will lead the team offensively and he is joined by freshman brother Dylan.  Mikey Anderson is just a freshman, yet he has committed to Scott Sandelin’s UMD Bulldogs to play college hockey.  He moves the puck, has physical strength beyond his years and will be relied upon at a young age to be a key to his team’s success.  The Pioneers welcome in Kyler Yeo, son of Wild coach Mike Yeo, to the lineup and the young man has size, speed, and a three-zoned responsible game.   Never underestimate the Pioneers, in the end-they are always in the mix.

5.  Duluth East (0-0) Yes, the Hounds are the six-time defending Section 7AA champion and yes, a trip to St. Paul goes through Duluth East again this year and most likely will be in the form of a date in the section final at Amsoil Arena in the end of February.  Losses to blue line mainstays Phil Beaulieu and Alex Trapp to graduation will need to be filled but Mike Randolph lost just two other players from his roster last year.  As his teams age and grow, so do their results.  This team is prepared to be elite and is not uncomfortable in playing that role.  Nick Altmann is expected to have another solid offensive year coming off a 20-goal campaign (20g-26a-46pts).  The core of this team is represented in a junior class that two-years ago lost to Edina in the Bantam AA state championship.  Goalie Gunnar Howg (20-7-1, 1.86, .913) is fresh of a 20-win seasons and ready to anchor his team again in goal. Give Randolph talent, and he will make something of it.

6.  Elk River/Zimmerman (0-0)  All the elements are in place for the Elk River/Zimmerman Elks to unseat the Duluth East Greyhounds for the Section 7AA tittle for the first time in 7 season.  The last team to represent the section were the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks back in the day of Patrick White.  That feels like a millennium ago, and the Elks bring on one of the state’s best forwards in Jake Jaremko.  He has been tossed around as a Mr. Hockey Finalist in the preseason and for good reason.  His speed, offensive skills and leadership will be key in the Eks surge this year.  Reggie Lutz (12g-18a-30pts) and Ben Johnson (10g-5a-15pts) return to compliment Jaremko with plenty of depth and help throughout the lineup.  Defenseman Matt Kierstad will provide valuable leadership and experience to the back end with a pair of JV goalies -Joey Grillo and Chase Gauthier – competing for playing time.  The Elks were one goal away in their 3-2 section final loss to the Hounds in making their first trip to the dance since 2005.  This year, they may have enough to find that one goal, maybe two, to be the difference.

7.  St. Thomas Academy (0-0)  There is plenty to look forward to at St. Thomas Academy this year and in their second season at the Class AA, the Cadets are positioned to make another run to the State Tournament.  Nine of their top eleven leading scorers return with speedster Christiano Versich (29g-37a-66pts) leading the way.  The hard driving Peter Tufto (17g-28a-45pts) will be expected to pick up more offensive responsibility and he will be up for the challenge.  Senior Alex Broetzman (25g-24a-49pts) will be receiving plenty of minutes and looked upon to provide leadership, of which the Cadets are never in short supply.  Goalie Matt Snow won 10 games last year and earned an Elite League spot for his efforts while working split duty with Charlie Hallett.  The Cadets will have little trouble on the offensive end this year and have four returning defensemen on their roster including Seamus Donohue who will be heading off to the Air Force Academy to play is college hockey after this year.  The Cadets, as usual, will be a difficult team to play each night and every team in the league is on notice that they will have to skate and be ready for a high tempo hockey game with St. Thomas Academy.

8. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (0-0)  The Red Knights may very well be worthy of a top three ranking by the time the year comes to a close.  As the season opens, Ken Pauly’s Red Knights land in the eighth slot with plenty of offensive depth.  Mark Kaske is expected to have have a memorable season.  Chase Jungels, Carter Roo, and Blake transfer Cade Gleekel add to the offensive fire power with veterans such as Will Duda and Zach Risteau providing the Red Knights offensive depth that will be a challenge for many teams on a nightly basis.  Defenseman Ben Newhouse returns for what should be a highly productive season as the Union College commit will be expected to lead the defensive corps that is made up of juniors Nick Austin, Peter Heimbold, and senior Jack Lawton.  Goalies Jalen Long and Ryan Bischel are both back and combined for 15 wins last year in backstopping their team to the Section 6AA Final where they lost to Eden Prairie 3-2.  The Red Knights enter the Metro West and full-time conference play after playing two seasons of independent hockey with their run and gun style looking to advance past the section final is a legitimate reality for this hockey club, although it will be difficult.

9.  Eden Prairie (0-0) The defending Section 6AA champions saw a pair of Mr. Hockey Finalists (Luc Snuggerud and Steven Spinner) graduate and they will indeed leave a gaping hole in this team from a leadership, offensive and defensive perspective.  However, three state tournament tested defensemen return in Brady Schoo, Marc Sullivan, and Andy Aguilar to lead Lee Smith’s back end.  Michael Graham maintains a dynamic skill set that includes a power and finesse game.  He is just a junior yet his veteran presence will be leaned on this year.  Other key contributors are Riley Argetsinger who is the prototypical power forward for high school hockey, Cole Lawrence, another big body that will be tough to contain on the offensive end of things.  Much has been said about the arrival of Casey Mittlestadt who had an impressive High School Elite League.  He will be challenged in the rugged tight checking of the Lake Conference as the season wears on yet has the ability to be a difference maker and Smith raves about the young talent and his offensive skill blended with a power game.  The Eagles will have a question mark in goal and look to answer that quickly this year.  If they can, they will be in business and the mix again this year.

10.  Cretin-Derham Hall (0-0) The Raiders enter the top ten returning 13 players, most of them impact performers last season.  They have athletes and many perform in multiple sports and have a rounded competitiveness to their game.  The Raiders are always a physically strong team and they have plenty of skill this year.  Nick Reis led the team in goals (25g-21a-46pts) and points last year and will be looked to again.  Brett Huebner will be playing D1 baseball next year and dished out 27 assists last year (9g-27-36pts) to finish second on the team in scoring.  Joe Dekker, Max Jackson, Cal Crawford, and Aitor Flood all play other sports with the Raiders boasting a number of Dvision I athletes on the roster in those sports.  Jim O’Neil’s team posted a 17-7-3 record last year and has the ability to top the 20 win mark this year.

Others receiving consideration:  Stillwater, Prior Lake, Hopkins, Centennial, Moorhead, Farmington

The post MHM Boys Class AA Top 10 appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Rarely do teams meet three times in a high school hockey season and four meetings is all but unheard of.  The Benilde-St. Margaret’s (BSM) Red Knights and Eden Prairie Eagles met for the fourth and final time this year in the Section 6AA Finals and Eden Prairie earned a hard fought 3-2 double overtime win over the Red Knights propelling the Eagles to the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament and  a 3-1 season record against BSM.

The teams have a similar make-up, each having a number of talented seniors and a pair Division I college hockey players that are current teammates and will continue to be while playing college hockey at the same school.  Eden Prairie’s Luc Snuggerud and Steven Spinner, both Mr. Hockey semifinalists, will be playing their college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  BSM’s Johnny Austin and Spencer Naas will be both attending UConn and play their college hockey for the Huskies.  Naas is a Mr. Hockey semifinalist as well.

Not surprising, the top players were peppered on the score sheet and helped figure in the final outcome.  Spinner and Snuggerud hooked up early in the first period for the 1-0 Eagle lead.  Snuggerud sprung Spinner  on a short breakaway and made a quick handed move to freeze Red Knight goalie Jalen Long and deposit the puck through the five-hole for the 1-0 lead at 2:55.  The goal was Spinner’s 20th of the season.

The game saw a number of momentum changes and the first period closed with the shots on goal deadlocked as seven apiece yet the Eagles had the 1-0 lead.  The Red Knights responded with a pair of second period goals, the first coming at 2:57 of the second period.

Naas supported the puck up the right wing wall on an Eagle clearing attempt and handled it toward the Eden Prairie net.  He scooted behind the Eagle defense and out-waited goalie Jake Gerdes to deposit the puck in the open net to even the score at a goal apiece.  The goal was the 31st of the season for Naas.  Ben Newhouse assisted on the goal that sparked the Red Knight second period.

The Red Knights (15-9-3) took the 2-1 lead at 14:03 off a stifling forecheck by Nate Meyer.  He forced a turnover and found a trolling Will Duda who blasted his second goal of the season  from theta low slot area past Gerdes for the 2-1 lead heading into the third period.  The assist was the second of the game for Meyer.

The Eagles Colton Schmidt, back in the line up for the section playoffs, missed games from January 11th through February 19th that totaled 11 games.  Schmidt’s presence has been felt during the post season and he tied the game at 2:49 of the third period on the power play on a set up from Spinner.  Schmidt has (2g-3a-5pts) in his last three games back in the lineup, all playoff games.

The first eight minute overtime session yielded little in offensive chances and  just a 2-0 shots on goal advantage for the Eagles.  Early in the second overtime, The Eagles (17-8-3) were whistled for a penalty, putting the game in the hands of the potent Red Knight power play.  A blocked shot by the Eagles forced a turnover and Jack Keely raced up the ice and fired the puck over Long for the game winner marker early in the second overtime.

The Eagles victory was their third of the season against the Red Knights and the second that needed overtime.  It is the seventh time the Eagles have earned a trip to the state tournament with the last coming in 2011 which was Kyle Rau’s senior season that yielded the dramatic overtime goal.  Eden Prairie is in search of their third state title.

The Red Knights delivered a memorable performance during the Section 6AA Final and none was more touching than the embrace at center ice between Spinner and Naas, great friends with a high respect of not only each other but the game.

The post Eagles Work Overtime to Advance appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

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SAINT PAUL—The ticket to the Class AA Minnesota State Girls’ Hockey Tournament for Hill-Murray and Benilde-St. Margaret’s was the right combination of dynamic offense and suffocating defense. The Pioneers (95) and the Red Knights (93) arrived in St.  Paul sporting the highest goals scored/goals against differentials among the tournament’s eight participants, putting them on a collision course for the title game.

The matchup between the two private school powers, one from east of the Mississippi and the other from the west, did not disappoint. But Hill-Murray, on the strength of balanced scoring and great goaltending, defeated the Red Knights 5-3 on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center to earn its first-ever girls’ state hockey championship.

“I was really, really pleased with the way we played,” Hill-Murray coach Bill Schafhauser said. “Benilde’s an awesome team, obviously, and we knew we had to be our best tonight and I think we were.

“We saved the best for last this weekend which I think was awesome.”

Goaltender Leah Patrick was outstanding for Hill-Murray in a 23-save effort, stopping several Benilde grade-A scoring opportunities in the process. The Pioneers, the 2013 state tournament runner-up, went three lines deep on the scoresheet and got a pair of goals from Jess Bonfe along with two points from Sarah Bobrowski (1-1–2).

“If we had an unsung or breakthrough type of player this year, it would be Leah,” Schafhauser said. “It’s a neat process to witness a s a coach to have a goaltender win over a team and get their confidence and she did great.”

Benilde senior Kelly Pannek scored all three of the Red Knights’ goals and finished with seven goals and four assists for the tournament. The 11 points give the University of Minnesota commit 99 for the season (41-58-99). Abigail Miller turned aside 17 of 22 Hill-Murray shots for Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

“I’m glad I could play well, but I would have traded that for a win here today,” a disappointed Pannek said after the game.

Hill-Murray jumped out to a two-goal lead as Bonfe scored twice before the game was 10 minutes old, the first one coming at just the 1:17 mark, and the Pioneers led the rest of the way.

“We just got off to a bad start,” Benilde-St. Margaret’s coach David Herbst said. “We kept battling but when you dig yourself a hole like that it’s tough to get out, especially in the state tournament.”

It took the Red Knights less than two minutes to bounce back from Bonfe’s second goal and trimmed the deficit to one when Brittany Wheeler’s shot from the left circle handcuffed Patrick and, for the second time in as many nights, Pannek pounced on a loose puck in the crease to get Benilde on the board.

The Pioneers maintained that 2-1 lead entering a second period which saw them pull away as Hill-Murray extended its lead on Jac Kaasa’s goal a mere 29 seconds into the middle stanza. Bobrowski’s shot from in close was denied by Miller but, Pannek’s crease-clearing attempt bounced off Kaasa’s leg for two-goal Hill-Murray cushion.

The gap was nearly widened to three just past the game’s midway point but Miller stopped McKenzie Steffen’s shorthanded breakaway attempt as well as Bobrowski’s follow-up shot. But Lindsey Featherstone scored her fifth of the season with just 2:17 left in the second to make it 4-1 and Patrick preserved the lead heading into the break with a terrific right-pad save on Caitlin Reilly’s back-door redirect with 25 seconds to go.

“That first goal kind of sucked the wind right out of us and we just couldn’t get back on track,” Herbst said. “I thought the third period we came out and we battled and we really played pretty good hockey.”

The Red Knights indeed came out strong in the final period, receiving a much-needed lift when Pannek’s shot from the left point beat Patrick clean to make it 4-2 only 18 seconds into the third and five seconds into a BSM power play. From that point the Red Knights began to apply consistent pressure in the Hill-Murray end.

It was Patrick who stole the show at that point, stoning Kippin Keller’s breakaway attempt at 10:16 and thwarting Reilly’s one-timer off a Pannek feed a minute later. “It was pretty intense,” Patrick said of the sequence. “I just tried to keep my focus because I knew if I lost it, it would be a lot harder to take the breakaway.”

“They have great [defensemen] and play great team defense,” Pannek said of Hill-Murray. “It’s hard to be down three goals and try to battle back one at a time because they’re so talented defensively and [Patrick] played a great game.”

Bobrowski then put the game away at 14:03 with a shot that caught a piece of BSM defenseman Kassandra Petersen’s stick on its way past Miller. Pannek added a late goal to complete her hat trick but it was too little, too late for the Red Knights.

“We had a number of opportunities and if we would have capitalized on those opportunities it would have been a different game,” Herbs said. “Their goalie played good, she came up with some big saves, and that’s what happens in a tight game like that.”

“It’s hard, it’s a hard three days for the kids mentally and physically,” Schafhauser said. “So to have your best game in the championship game, in my opinion, is a testament to their conditioning and mental strength.”

The post Pioneers Reach Top of the Hill appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

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SAINT PAUL—Big-game players step forward in … well, big games and Kelly Pannek did just that in Benilde St. Margaret’s 2-1 win over Lakeville North in Friday night’s Class AA girls’ state tournament semifinal at Xcel Energy Center. Pannek, who led the Red Knights in scoring this season with 88 points (34-54–88), had an assist and scored the game winner to lead BSM to its third championship game appearance and first since 2004.

Pannek broke a 1-1 tie at 3:37 of the second period when she followed up her own shot to bang home a loose puck sitting in the crease behind Panthers goaltender Abby Cooper. The celebration was briefly interrupted as officials reviewed the play to determine whether Pannek’s teammate, Kaylee Druk had interfered with Cooper but it was determined Druk was pushed by a Lakeville North player.

“When Kaylee kind of got pushed in front and the goalie was down you kind of hope that the puck’s going to pop out,” Pannek said. “It was just laying right on the [doorstep] and I just hammered it home.”

The Red Knights held the Panthers in check the rest of the way including the game’s final minute when BSM withstood Lakeville North’s late rally with Cooper on the bench for an extra attacker and Benilde’s Brittany Wheeler serving a cross-checking penalty.

It was a situation Pannek admitted the Red Knights don’t often face.

“But I thought we handled it really well,” Pannek said “To be able to kill that off with 45 seconds left is huge for us.”

“The third period I told them we’ve got to play a system of third person high and they executed that to perfection,” Benilde-St. Margaret’s coach Dave Herbst said. “So I’m pretty proud of them the way we carried out our game plan and kept everything simple.”

BSM goaltender Abigail Miller backstopped the win with 13 saves while Cooper turned aside 24 shots for the Panthers. The Red Knights, state champions in 2002 and 2004, advance to face 2013 runner-up Hill-Murray at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night in St. Paul. The Pioneers defeated Eden Prairie 1-0 in the other Class AA semifinal.

Lakeville North, which was making its third consecutive state tournament appearance, came to St. Paul with high aspirations after a third place finish a year ago. But the ninth-ranked Panthers mustered only 14 shots on goal in their effort to advance to the championship game for first time.

“There was just no heart out there tonight and I didn’t see it in anyone,” a visibly frustrated Lakeville North captain Dani Sadek said. “The last few years here we’ve had a lot of heart and it just wasn’t there tonight and we came up short.”

“We were waiting for somebody to take over … and get a spark going,” Lakeville North coach Buck Kochevar said. “We did have shots on net but no one was driving hard and it’s frustrating.”

The contest got off to a relatively inauspicious start with each team barely dipping a toe in the water offensively as they combine for just two shots on goal through nearly the game’s first ten minutes. But the Red Knight’s drew first blood on Kassandra Petersen’s goal at 13:13 when she received a cross-ice pass at the right point, sidestepped oncoming Panther forward Megan Lebens and fired through a screen beating Cooper on her blocker side.

But Druk was sent off for hooking at 15:38 and the Panthers took advantage when captain Dani Sadek scored her ninth of the season, rifling a shot through traffic over Miller’s right shoulder with 10.9 seconds remaining in the first period. To the disappointment of Sadek and her teammates, however, it was the only shot to elude Miller all night.

“By the time we got anything going …,”Kochevar began to say before Sadek interjected saying, “… the damage was done.”

The post Panthers Succumb to Pannek Attack appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

The young man, a high school senior, is tall and lean with a friendly way about himself.  As a student, he carries a 3.7 grade point average and is humble, patient, and respectful to an interviewer that was about to discuss something the young man likely would not be comfortable speaking about, and that is himself.  Zack Hale is the subject of the interview and he is a three-year member of the Red Knights hockey team and also is Jack Jablonski’s closest friend.

Hale has been a mainstay on the Red Knights’ roster for three seasons while playing in the shadows of the 2013 Mr. Hockey award winner Grant Besse  and several other Division I college hockey recruits.  TJ Moore (Holy Cross), Dan Labosky (Colorado College), Spencer Naas (UConn), and Christian Horn (St. Lawrence) have all committed to play college hockey in that span.  They have been vital cogs on Red Knights’ teams that Hale as been a part of and naturally, those players have captivated much of the on ice attention.

Hale was widely viewed as one of, if not the top freshman hockey players in Minnesota while playing for the Minneapolis-Park Storm Bantam A team.  Along with his pal Jablonski, the duo had plenty of success appearing in youth hockey state tournaments at the Pee Wee and Bantam levels as members of the Storm.  Hale was considered the key ingredient to those team’s success and offensive numbers were plentiful for the slick skating, intense competitor.

While those prolific offensive numbers have not followed him through his high school hockey seasons, his work ethic and humble character evolved with perspective, compassion, and loyalty.  It has shaped a person that is the “True Mr. Hockey.”

A hockey player is born

Zack Hale is the third of four children to parents Todd and Amy, who were high school sweethearts while attending Southwest High School in Minneapolis, MN.  Amy grew up an avid hockey fan cheering for Dino Ciccarelli and the Minnesota North Stars.  She also had an appreciation for high school hockey and the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament.  Todd grew up playing hockey for Southwest High School and is your typical Minnesota guy who grew up playing and appreciating the game in the State of Hockey.

At a young age, Zack  was playing many sports with soccer being at the top of the list.  “I started playing all sports at a young age, mostly soccer,”  Zack said.  “My mom wanted me to get into hockey actually, and now my dad is the driving force behind that.  I started playing (hockey) when I was seven.”

Among things discussed by Amy and Todd were the financial obligations to the game and the toll it can take on a family with two working parents.  Both worked hard to make ends meet.  Todd works a third shift as a machinist and Amy is a preschool teacher.  Together, they worked to manage a family of four kids and the needs associated with that.  Amy’s drive to expose her son to the game won over and eventually Zack was on the ice.

“I said, ‘let’s let him play, I will do everything.  I will drive him to the rink and when Zack started playing his dad got more’…,” Amy’s voice faded.  As she thought of her words Amy added,   “He’s (Todd) a little more hockey nuts than I am now.  I had to beg my husband to let him play.”  For Todd, knowing the time and financial commitment to the game is big, he was a little more guarded in getting Zack into the sport.

“As much as I liked the idea, I didn’t know if it was a wise decision for us to take that leap into it,” Todd said.  “Obviously, I love the game and he wanted to play it, from that moment I was absolutely hooked.”

At the time when Zack was getting fitted for gear to begin play, former North Star and Boston College standout Mike Fidler was developing and coaching hockey players in Southwest Minneapolis with Mike Jablonski, Jack’s father.  The duo began coaching when Jack Jablonski and Mike Fidler’s son Miguel were four-years old.

While a number of boys had been playing a lot of hockey for up to three years with Fidler and Jablonski at the helm, Zack Hale caught the eye of Mike Fidler when he was first beginning as a player.

“Zack tried out, I think the boys’ second or third year and he was on another team and Mike and I were always looking for somebody to help our team.  I see this kid on the ice and he just looked really aggressive and he had no skating skills at all, but he was just going a million miles an hour trying as hard as he could,” Fidler said.

“I looked at Mike and asked him who that kid is.  Mike knew his name and I said we have to see if we can get him to skate with us,” Fidler said.  “We went over to talk to Zack one time and he was just such a nice kid.  He was really humble, he would barely make eye contact with me.”

Hale began playing with Fidler and Jablonski’s team.  Eventually, a Fire team  was created, one that garnered players from around the Twin Cities.  The roster was loaded with big name talent that remain household names today.  Tyler Nanne (Edina and Ohio State), Steven Spinner (Eden Prairie and Nebraska Omaha),  Luc Snuggerud (Eden Prairie and Nebraska Omaha), Jack Walker (Edina and Victoria WHL), Keegan Iverson (Breck and Portland WHL), and Jack Sorenson (Wayzata) were all a part of the team.

Fidler noted that he and Jablonski wanted to give Hale the opportunity to develop with that group of players.  Fidler recalled a conversation he had with Mike Jablonski.  “I am going to let him skate with us because this kid is going to be really good someday,” Fidler said.  “We just let him practice with us all year.  Mike and I liked him so much that we said let’s just let him keep skating and he will get better and he did and he developed some skills.  The kid always had a smile on his face.  To this day, when I see him at the rink, he makes a point to come over and say, ‘Hey Mike how are ya doing?’ ”

Hale was asked about when he felt he turned the corner in being a formidable hockey player.  He was forthright in his answer and said,  “Up until my second year of Squirts, I wasn’t a very skilled player. I just tried to work hard.  I had Mike Fidler as a coach and we had a lot of skilled kids on that team so I just worked hard and tried to keep up with them.

Hale and Jablonski’s squirt team. Hale is pictured in the second row, 4th from the left and Jablonski is next to him on his right.

“I started getting more skilled at squirts then through PeeWees got better and we kind of formed a good core group of guys.  Me and Jabby, Keegan Iverson, Curt (Greenbush), and Noah (Fortmeyer).  We combined with St. Louis Park and had a good group of guys and kept working hard,” Hale noted as his Minneapolis mite teams would become the Minneapolis-Park Storm.

It was through those times of development where his bond with Jablonski would form.

Friendship forms

Many interviewed for this story point to Zack’s desire to be with his buddies as a key thing in is life and it has been something that he has strived to do.   “What I see in Zack is he is loves to be with his buddies.  He would rather be with his hockey buddies than anyone else,” Amy said.

“He has always been one of my best friends,” Hale observed of his friend Jack Jablonski.  “He is really, my oldest teammate.  I have been on his team pretty much every winter since we were like 8 years old and on a line for most of those years.  I know him extremely well on and off the ice.  He is my oldest and closest hockey friend.”

Jablonski didn’t flinch when pointing to Hale as his closest friend and said, “It was a blast, Zack has always been a tremendous teammate of mine and its been an unbelievable experience all the way up to now.  It’s just been weird kind of realizing that it’s almost over.  It has been a fun 10 years or so.”

Their personalities interlink as most friendships do.  Jablonski is more out-going while Hale is the more laid back of the two.  Jablonski concurred with that assessment and said, “I don’t know what it is.  I think it is just the personalities.  He is a very laid back and I am not as laid back as him but for some reason, it just clicked and ever since then we have just become best friends ever since.”

Hale and Jablonski at the Pee Wee A State Tournament.

They continued to play sports whether it be golf, baseball, and hockey together and it led to one of the best Bantam teams in the State their freshman year.  A number of kids came from different programs that comprised the Minneapolis-Park Storm that season and the team took the hockey world by surprise finishing fourth in the Minnesota Bantam A State Tournament.

“That bantam year we had a bunch of different kind of guys and it was really cool to get to know all those guys that I never really thought I would,” Hale said.  “The team was really unselfish, hard working that really loved the game.  We still go out and play pond hockey together it is just pure fun.”

Prior to that season many of the players needed to make their school decisions and the players were already attending St. Louis Park, Minneapolis Schools, and Benilde-St. Margaret’s.  It meant tough decisions were being made that included hockey and academics.

“It was like a family and it was really hard when they split up and went to different high school,” said Amy who also served as the team manager through the years.  The decision was not easy for the Hale’s and one thing that was key was the desire for Zack to be in an environment to succeed in the classroom and on the ice.  Ultimately, being with his friend Jablonski was a key part to the final decision.  A transition would be in store for Zack as he went to a school that does have a lot of kids from well-off families to begin his freshman year.

“We were worried about that,” Amy said of the financial differences from attending a public school in Minneapolis versus a highly regarded Catholic school that costs in the five digit range a year to attend. “I am a preschool teacher and his dad is a machinist.  Some of the houses I drop him off at, they are so privileged and they don’t even know how privileged they are. Many take trips and have nice cars, and it’s just a different world really, but he fit in just fine.  He isn’t flashy and it hasn’t been a problem.  He doesn’t ask for a lot and does very well there.  Zack is very popular and people just like him.  It was a tough decision to choose where to go to high school. The fact he got to stay with Jack at Benilde helped, so at least they were going to be together.”

For Jablonski, saying goodbye to that group of kids, at least as teammates, was difficult and said, “It was hard to let go of that group of people.  It was one the years that was meant to be.  We all came together and we were all family practically in that year and knowing that six of us were going to go to Benilde we were going to still know each other but not all were going to play hockey moving into the future and half of them were going to St. Louis Park and half of them were going to go wherever, knowing that is what made that year so much more special.”

Life changing events

In late December of 2011, the annual St. Louis Park Holiday Classic was underway and a pair of highly regarded sophomores were skating between the varsity and junior varsity teams as most younger players do.  Especially at BSM where the talent is deep and development for players requires finding ice-time for the younger players.

Hale and Jablonski were suited up for the junior varsity team against a deep Wayzata team in the St. Louis Park East rink.  The two sophomores were slated to play two junior varsity periods and be available for two varsity periods later that night.

In the blink of an eye, a check on the end wall to Jablonski sent him to the ice and then to the hospital where he would be for months recovering from a serious neck injury that left him paralyzed at the time from the neck down.  Hale was on the ice with his line-mate but didn’t see the check.

“We both played JV that tournament.  We played two periods of JV and then a couple of periods at varsity.   We were playing Wayzata and I was actually on the ice so didn’t see the hit directly but the puck went in the corner and he went in there, he got hit and I kind of turned around and went to go get the puck and I didn’t really know what happened.  I just turned around and saw him laying there.  I didn’t think much of it at the time but obviously……” as his voice tailed off it spoke volumes.

Uncertainty of Jablonski’s prognosis hovered not only over the Red Knights but the entire hockey world, there was a surreal feeling surrounding not only the Red Knight team but every game that was played.  Parents coaches, and fans were sensitive to heavy hits.  There was a sense of legitimate fear that permeated the stands from the parents perspective.

In weeks, the Minnesota State High School League led by Craig Perry and Minnesota Coaches Association Executive Director Mike MacMillan stepped forward with a series of rule changes that when implemented calmed the fears of many involved the game.  Meanwhile, a worldwide media frenzy followed the Red Knights and Jablonski for the coming months providing plenty of challenges and forcing the team to have to deal with the reality of the situation.

Still, when asked if he ever considered hanging up the blades after the Jablonski’s accident, Hale didn’t hesitate in saying no.

“Not really that much,” Hale responded.  “When it happened, it was just kind of shock and then as we kind of settled down more and actually thought about it, it was kind of a realization that hockey was kind of my whole life up to that point and when it gets taken away from your best friend like that you realize it’s not everything.   He is going to have to pursue a whole different life.  There is a lot of other things than hockey and it’s not the most important thing and I realized it’s not everything.”

Hale was right as there were other things in life other than hockey and another life changing event was occurring at the same time.  Just four days after Jablonski was injured, Zack’s mother Amy admitted she needed to seek help for alcoholism and checked herself in for in-patient rehabilitation.

Hale turned to hockey and said, “It made me appreciate being able to come out and play.  At that time when it happened, I was kind of a mess because my mom was struggling severely with alcoholism at that point.  I was very confused and frustrated that whole winter and wondering when everything was going to come back together and my life was going to get rearranged.”

Zack said the support from BSM school was key to keeping him focused and moving forward.  “The support was pretty amazing.  I never really told anybody about my mom but school counselors, Mr. J our chaplain, would always talk to us and have meetings with us and just see how we were doing,” he admitted. “My parents, teachers, past coaches all helped a lot.”

He also had another person in his life that would help and it would come from what many would feel is an unlikely source.  While in the hospital struggling with the mounting physical and emotional world that was now Jack Jablonski’s, it was Jabby that was there for his friend.  They both are keenly aware that those moments when they were alone, helped bond them even closer as they both dealt with the injury and now Zack’s mother’s situation.

“I know that he was going through a tough time when I had my accident and even the situation I was in, I tried to help him out as much as possible,” Jablonski said.  “I know whenever I saw him when I was in the hospital it was kind of just at time for both of us to just exhale and  kind of go back to just the friends that we were before, just be ourselves and not have to deal with all of the outside drama in either of our lives and I think that is what has helped us become closer as this happened and I think knowing that  we both have things in our lives that are going on it helped us become closer.”

Amy was upbeat about where things evolved.  As she looked back on the events, and reflected on the positives that came from it.

“Right about the time Jabby got hurt, shortly after that is when I went into rehab.  On top of that, not only his friend getting hurt, it was a very difficult year for him,” Amy said.  “To not know what’s going on with my mom.  Over almost two years later, hopefully it has made us stronger.  I hope that I showed him you can come out of a really bad place a better person which is what I really tried to do.  I hope that had a positive effect on him.  He has learned a lot about that world and alcoholism and what it can do.”

Zack pointed out that his mother has been sober for some time and with a calm demeanor and relief to his voice said, “She’s been sober for over a year now.  She’s better now and a lot more calm and I think more wise I guess.”

A true teammate and friend

This story isn’t about numbers, wins, or losses.  It is about a young man who puts others before him because it is the right thing to do.  Zack Hale is not a self-promotor, and this story came to light from his coach Ken Pauly who told a writer the virtues of Zack Hale.

With hours visited in the hospital and time together hanging out, Hale and Jablonski moved forward in life with a new perspective.  The words humble, compassionate, respectful, loyal, and empathetic have all come from the mouths of the eight people that were interviewed for this story.  Actions speak louder than words, and Hale’s actions as a person exemplifies the person he is.

Hale immediately felt for what his friend was going through and said, “‘It probably got pretty lonely for him laying in that bed all day. We tried to get out there as much as we could and update him on what’s going on.”  He went on to add, “When people would see Jack and tell him how well he was doing and he was progressing real well they only really see the positives only and didn’t really see the struggle and the psychological battle that he constantly went through especially at that time and still goes through.”

When Zack was in second grade, Amy pointed out that he would stay in at lunch and help feed special needs children in his class before he would go out to recess.  “In second grade a teacher told me, ‘Zack stays to feed so-and-so during lunch when the kids go out and play for recess,'” Amy said.  “He would do that first, and then go out and play.” She beamed with pride only a parent could when that story was shared.

When he was in middle school, a student invited the entire class to a birthday party.  Zack and a friend were the only kids from the class  that ended up showing up at the party.  Todd said as parents they knew that Zack may be out of his element and stopped by to pick him up.  He declined the ride and said that he should wait until the food was served as he did not want to be disrespectful to the family.

He would repeat his help with lunch and this time it was with Jablonski after Jack returned to school.   Hale helps feed Jablonski every day at BSM and also changes out his personal waste bags. These are steps most don’t see and something Hale does everyday because that is what friends do.

“I feed him, this new semester I am not in his lunch but I have fed him pretty much every day at lunch and change his bathroom tube,” Hale acknowledged. “I feel like I am the friend he is the most comfortable around and figure that is what a good friends do.”

“We will go early a few minutes before lunch goes on and get the food and stuff before everyone comes in and it gets too busy,” Jablonski said.  “We just get the food and he will help feed me depending on the type of food or whatever it is, so he is definitely willing to do anything to help me out with the situation.”

Hale has accepted his place on the team and continues to maintain a positive attitude.  Former Red Knight legend and Minnesota Gopher Troy Riddle coaches the forwards and had plenty of accolades to shower on his senior forward.

“No matter what, when he comes to the rink he’s a guy that comes with a smile on his face,” Riddle said.  “He brings the energy up when he is here.  He is one of those guys that tries out there and he leaves the game out there and when the game is done, he leaves it out there.  He doesn’t bring it with him wherever he goes. That is tough to do as a person and as a former player I know that is something that is really hard to do and he does that well.  When he is done, he leaves it out there.”

Jablonski summed up the character that Hale has as a person and noted that he is liked by all as a caring non-judgmental person who does not thrust himself upon people for attention and said, “He’s shy until you get to know him.  A lot of people freshman year kind of thought he was a weird guy because they didn’t know him.  Once you get to know him, they really appreciated how nice of a guy he was and what he was willing to do for someone.  I don’t know one person that doesn’t like him and I think that says a lot about him. He’s been a great friend to everyone and he is always there to have fun.  He is definitely there when you need him to be.”

Hale has seen his ups and downs as a person and player over his four years at BSM.  The coaches have stuck with him for the person he is and the amount of skill he possesses.  Without question, over the course of his career he would have certainly liked to provide more numbers which are sexier for those that follow the game.  That is not Hale’s style.  He is a contributor in life and has provided his best for the team and his friends in ways that can’t be measured.

“He could be like any other kid, feeling sorry for himself, pouting, giving up, most kids would have quit and said this isn’t for me,” Riddle said.  “With Zack, the biggest battle most people have in life is showing up.  He does it with a smile on his face and he still takes care of the team on and off the ice in ways we only wish we can have every year.”

Life today

Today, life is winding down for Hale as a high school hockey player.  He is in the final weeks of his regular season and preparing for the playoffs.  Competing at the next level is something he is certainly interested in and has been in touch with some Division III schools out east.

“I would like to continue playing hockey out east in the NESCAC,” Hale said.  “I think D3 would be a good fit for me.  I would receive a good education, keep playing hockey and see where it goes.”  There was little doubt when Hale was a freshman leading the Bantam A team to the State Tournament that he was a legitimate Division I college hockey prospect.

Todd suggested as much as he we was well aware of where his son was at.  “I was assured at the time there was a DI offer somewhere,” Todd said.  There were instances where much of what he and Amy worked for went to Zack’s hockey including needing to refinance the home to pay for some hockey bills. “I am not going to lie, some of my motivation was if I made these sacrifices it was going to save itself and pay college tuition or something else down the road.”

As of now, a Division I scholarship does not appear to be in the offing.  However, Hale has the potential to do special things on the ice, and there is a great chance he can continue toward that goal.

In regard to Hale’s potential to play at the next level Riddle did not hesitate when addressing the question whether he would take Hale at the next level and said, “Absolutely I would.  One it starts with skill and he has that.  The stuff he has gone through most men don’t go through or it takes a half a lifetime to go through it and he has already done most of that and as he gets older he is going to be that type of player that no matter what sees life a little differently and comes through on the other side.  As a coach and as someone who has seen this, you want guys like that on your team.  You don’t  always have 17 top high end forwards on your team.  You need character guys and you need guys that show up and push those other guys and he definitely would do that.”

More importantly, it is people like Hale who excels as a quality person that allow for the game to have talented coaches such as Riddle giving back to the game.

“He makes me want to keep coaching,” Riddle said. “Guys like that are guys that listen to you and he does what he can, does what he is told and does it with a smile on his face and he comes right back at ya.  That’s the reason why we all keep coming back to the rink when you are dealing with those kinds of kids, it’s a no-brainer for me and it’s made my transition from dealing with hockey an easy one when I get to come back and help guys like Zack Hale out.

As for Jablonski, a life in California is something he desires as the cold weather takes a toll on him as keeping warm is always a difficult task.  He also acknowledge the proposition of not seeing his friend every day will be a difficult task to deal with.

“I want to make my way down to California in the next few years.  It’s a little cold up here for me but it will be tough not seeing him every day,” Jablonski said. He continues to work to make progress dealing with his life situation and has an outstanding perspective on where he is at.

“I am doing well,” Jablonski said.  “Obviously, I understand the situation I am in and what to expect in the future.  With this team, hockey has kept me busy and satisfied and I am happy to be here more than anything.  Progress, right now I am working on getting stronger and keeping myself in shape and just stay strong an healthy in that case.  Right now, there is nothing major that I have been able to do lately.  In my situation, you work out and work out to stay in shape and then and you just wait for that one day when something big happens. It’s just at the point that your are waiting and you just have to stay positive, understanding what is going on at the time.”

Jablonski would like to pursue a career in broadcasting or hockey as he has already immersed himself in both areas serving as a student assistant coach with the BSM team and also appears every Wednesday night on Sports Radio 105 The Ticket to talk hockey.

Asked about the senior class and all that has surrounded it in the wake of Jablonski’s accident Hale said,  “We are pretty together and I can see us carrying on.  It is kind of weird it has become a very major part of our grade and it’s changed a lot since sophomore year.  I think it will keep changing and adapting with everything and how Jabby is doing.  It has changed a lot and I think as he grows, we are going to keep growing.”

Academically, he has held it together being on the honor roll every semester he has been in school at BSM.  It has been a roller coaster ride of emotion both on the ice and off for Hale.  He has stayed true to himself and is always honest with where things are at.  He summed up his life in high school at BSM this way and said, “It’s been pretty sporadic.  Lots of ups and downs with a lot of emotion on both sides of the spectrum.  Obviously in the sophomore season with the injury and then the (state) championship.  It’s been a lot of fun to play with these guys and to experience high school hockey in Minnesota, it’s such a fun team to play with and prestigious school.  It’s been pretty exciting and you never really know what you are going to get next.”

The high school experience is about so much more than just a game.  Zack Hale embodies a young man who has grown up incredibly fast with dignity, pride, and honor.  He is a person who delivers every day for those around him never putting himself first.  It is a person like Zack Hale who, regardless of his numbers, is the “True Mr. Hockey.”

The post The True Mr. Hockey appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

1.  Wayzata Trojans (11-3-0, 0-0-0)

Last Week: vs Benilde-St. Margaret’s (W 2-1), vs Holy Family Catholic (W 3-2 ot)

This Week:  vs Hill Murray (1/9)

Pat O’Leary’s Trojans continue their impressive string of games as they are winners of 7 straight and are 8-1-0 in their last nine games.  The Trojans, along with the Lakeville North Panthers, are the two hottest teams in Class AA hockey.   While they didn’t blow anyone out last week, a 2-1 win over the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights and a 3-2 overtime win over Holy Family were recorded in the win column for a successful week.  Chandler Lindstrand’s goal at 4:41 of the second period stood up as the game winner against BSM.  The Trojans continue to take care of business in the Section 6AA with wins over BSM and Holy Family. Both of last week’s wins improved the Trojans section record to 2-0 and improves their bid to defend as Section 6AA champions.  While they are not particularly lighting up the score column averaging 3.36 goals per game, the Trojans have been filthy defensively allowing just 1.5 goals against.  They have been playing with a ferocity that is expected of them and it has anointed them as the #1 team in the MinnesotaHockeMag.com rankings for this week.

2.  Lakeville North Panthers (9-3-1, 7-1-0)

Last Week:  vs Hill-Murray (W 3-0)

This Week:  at Eagan (1/7) at Rochester Century (1/9), vs Prior Lake (1/11)

The Panthers haven’t lost since December 7th and that was to the St. Thomas Academy Cadets by a score of 5-2.  Since then, they are 7-0-1 in their last 8 games and have earned quality wins over Burnsville (5-2), Bloomington Jefferson (4-2) and (5-1), Eden Prairie (7-0), Hill-Murray (3-0), and tied Blaine (3-3).  Their losses were to Eastview (4-3) to open the season, Minnetonka (4-2), and the STA game.  The Panthers have turned the entire high school hockey world’s heads with their play and to see what they are doing live and turning of the scoreboard is impressive.  They are playing some of the best hockey this state has to offer at this moment.  Averaging nearly 4.5 goals per game, the Panthers are led by Jack Poehling (13g-13a-26pts) who is a well rounded player that wins draws, battles in all three zones, and is terrific off the rush and closes around the net.  They use a pair of goalies in Will Dupont (6-1-1, 2.25, .897) and Jake Oettinger (3-1-1, 1.94, 928). What is impressive for Oettinger is he is a freshman that has earned wins against Hill-Murray, Eden Praire, and Bloomginton Jefferson.  He also has a tie with the Blaine Bengals.  Right now, the Panthers have earned the second slot of the Minnesota HockeyMag.com rankings on the strength of some major wins against top ten teams and the wins have not been because of a fortunate bounce.  This team is beating teams defensively and offensively night in an night out.

3.  Blaine Bengals (9-2-1, 7-0-0)

Last Week:  vs Andover (W 5-3)

This Week:  at Minnetonka (1/7), vs Elk River (1/9)

The Bengals rebounded from the 4-0 loss to the Wayzata Trojans with a sturdy 5-3 win over an underrated Andover Husky team.  They overcame 2-0 first period and 3-2 second period deficits to erupt for three goals in the third period to pick up the hard fought win. The Bengals once again are at the top of the Northwest Suburban Conference with a 7-0 record and have the depth to score from multiple sources. Three players are tied for the team lead in points.  Joey Lau (8g-14a-22pts), Brandon Noterman (8g-14a-22pts), and Tyler Cline (15g-7a-22pts) lead they way not only in production but with senior leadership.  They will need to keep the puck out of their own net as they have allowed 7 of their 28 goals against in their last two games if they would like to earn a trip to the State Tournament for the first time in two seasons.

4.  Burnsville Blaze (9-4-0, 5-1-0)

Last Week:  vs Edina (W 4-2)

This Week:  at Bloomington Jefferson (1/7)

Like many teams that open the season searching for an identity, the Burnsville Blaze certainly are playing as though they have found it.  Like most teams that are surging to the top, the Blaze are 7-1 in their last 8 games with quality wins over Edina (4-2), Minnetonka (3-0), St. Thomas Academy (3-2), Eastview (6-1), and Wayzata (1-0).  Their losses have come to top ten teams in Hill-Murray (5-3), Lakeville North (5-2), and BSM (5-4). Brock Boeser (12g-14a-26pts) proves to be a game changer every night and the emergence of Jack Ahcan (4g-11a-15pts) on the blue line has helped the Blaze maintain the puck and play the attacking game that they execute so well.  Goaltender Dyllan Dubbesmeyer (9-4-0, 2.08, .916) has posted three shutouts this year and has ben a back-bone to his team.  After starting the season 1-3, he and his team is 8-1 in their last 9 games.

5.  Edina Hornets (12-3-0, 0-0-0)

Last Week:  vs Cretin Derham Hall (W 5-2), vs Burnsville (L 4-2), vs White Bear Lake (W 5-1)

This Week:  at Hill-Murray (1/11)

The Hornets held down the top spot for the second time this season last week and were tossed from that perch after losing to the Burnsville Blaze by a score of 4-2 last Thursday for this week’s rankings.  They were solid in their win against Cretin-Derham Hall and delivered 3 second period goals to earn the victory over White Bear Lake.  The Hornets are 7-1 in their last 8 games and have earned a split with  Burnsville thus far.   Two of their three losses have come to teams that were ranked in the top ten at the time of their meetings.  All three of Edina’s losses have come away from the friendly confines of Braemar Arena where they are stand a perfect 6-0.  Miguel Fidler (11g-14a-25pts), Cullen Munson (10g-11a-21pts), and Tyler Nanne (4g-15a-19pts) are a trio of seniors who have paced the way for the Hornets this season.  They are joined by fellow senior goaltender Andrew Rohkohl (11-3-0, 2.05, .923) who has paced the way for the Hornets.  As they continue through their difficult schedule, the tilt at Aldrich Arena with Hill-Murray will be great test for the Hornets away from Braemar.  The game with the Pioneers is the second time this year.

6.  Hill-Murray Pioneers (9-2-0, 4-0-0)

Last Week:  vs Lakeville North (L 3-0)

This Week:  vs Wayzata (1/9), vs Edina (1/11)

The Pioneers have lost two straight games, the first being handed down by the Edina Hornets and the most recent a 3-0 loss to the surging Lakeville North Panthers.  They will have a chance to right the ship or slip into a legitimate slide as the second half of the season makes the turn.  It won’t be easy as #1 Wayzata and #4 Edina on the schedule.  One thing is certain with the Pioneers, it is always about the long term success with big goal of the state tournament in St. Paul in its midst.  With  26 state tournament appearances and three state titles to their credit, it has been a solid formula.  Make no mistake, the Pioneers will look to get in the win column this week against two difficult opponents.  Mitch Slattery (7g-12a-19pts) leads his team in points and Josh French (10g-8a-18pts) paces the way in goals.  Zach Mills is second in goals with (9g-2a-11pts) and Joey Anderson (10g-8a-18pts) has been his consistent self and is third on the team in points.

7.  Benilde-St. Margaret’s (9-3-2)

Last Week:  vs Wayzata (L 2-1)

This Week:  vs St. Thomas Academy (1/7), at Minnetonka (TCF Bank Stadium)

After going on a 5-0-2 in seven games that followed a pair of 7-3 losses to Hill-Murray and Holy Family Catholic, the Red Knights have delivered their share of wins during that time.   A solid 5-2 win over Eden Prairie was an impressive win to go along with their two wins over Moorhead (9-1, and 4-2).  The big test came in the form of the top ranked Wayzata Trojans and while moral victories don’t bode well for top ten rankings, the Red Knights did win in the regard that they played well on the big sheet and will need to in the Section 6AA finals should they qualify for the finals at Mariucc Arena.  BSM also won in the fact that they held a top 5 team to 2 goals and delivered in a defensive game.  This week once again will test the mettle of the Red Knights as they take on a top team in STA and then crosstown rival Minnetonka as they take it outside at TCF Band Stadium in s critical Section 6AA game.  Spencer Naas (19g-16a-35pts) makes a case for being the best player on the ice every night and pushing him is defenseman Ben Newhouse (4g-19a-23pts).  Wing Carter Roo (14g-8a-24pts has hit his stride with the Red Knights and has been key in offensive production to the Red Knight surge.

8.  Grand Rapids Thunderhawks (11-3-0, 1-0-0)

Last Week:  vs CEC (W 5-1), vs Hopkins (W 6-1)

This Week:  vs Hermantown (1/7), vs Duluth East (1/9)

It is a big week for the Thunderhawks who are coming off a pair of solid wins over Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (5-1) and Hopkins (6-1).  Avery Peterson (18g-18a-36pts) has been a man among boys on the ice and picked up (9g-9a-18pts) in his last 5 contests.  Hunter Shepard is (11-3-0, 2.68, .925) is key to their success and he presents problems for opposing teams in the net for Rapids.  After dropping a pair of games to Edina (4-3 ot), and Eden Prairie (7-4) at the Edina Holiday Classic, the Thunderhawks have won 6 straight with solid wins over Elk River (3-2), and Brainerd (3-1).  Currently, they are 4-0 against their section and a win over Duluth East would all but lock up the #1 seed.  Beating the Hounds will be easier said than done as they are always well coached and ready to play their sectional foes.  A solid Hermantown team comes first meaning the Thunderhawks do not want to get caught looking ahead to Thursday’s game as the Hawks are a very good hockey team.  The Thunderhawks will be closing out a 7 game home-stand this week.

9.  St. Thomas Academy (7-3-1, 2-1-0)

Last Week:  vs Totino Grace (W 3-1), vs Mahtomedi (W 8-2)

This Week: at BSM (1/7), vs South St. Paul (1/9), vs North St. Paul (1/11)

The Cadets stay put at the #9 slot for this week with two wins over un-ranked opponents.  They endured a pair of tough one goal losses in the Schwan Cup Gold Division with a 3-2 loss to Burnsville and 5-4 overtime loss to the Breck Mustangs.  Since then, STA has responded with three straight wins by a combined score of 17-6.  Tom Novak is on a tear over his last five games as he has collected big numbers for his Cadets squad (3g-9a-12pts) and will consistently be looked to for leadership in getting it done for his team.  A big test is on deck for the Cadets at the St. Louis Park Rec Center Tuesday night.  That game can be seen live streaming on bsmhockey.com.

10.  Eastview (9-2-0, 4-2-0)

Last Week:  vs Bloomington Kennedy (W 5-1)

This Week:  vs Rosemount (1/7), vs Eagan (1/11) at TCF Bank Stadium

After starting the season 3-0 with wins over Lakeville North, East Ridge, and Hopkins, the Lightning hit a bump in the road falling to Burnsville (6-1) and Bloomington Jefferson (4-1).  They have earned 5 straight wins and have a big South Suburban and Section 3AA game against the Eagan Wildcats outside at TCF Bank Stadium this Saturday at 8pm.  Zach Driscoll (9-2-0, 1.98, .923) has been his dependable and as advertised self in the goal this year.  Offensive balance is the key to the Lightning this year and that bears itself out with 7 players who have picked up 9 points or more in 11 games this year.

Others Receiving Votes:  Duluth East, Elk River/Zimmerman, Roseau, Cretin-Derham Hall, White Bear Lake, Eagan, Eden Prairie,

The post MHM Boys AA Top Ten 1/6/2014 appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

1.  Edina Hornets (10-2-0, 0-0-0)  The Hornets put together two quality weeks of wins to catapult to the top spot unseeding Hill-Murray in the MHM Class AA rankings.  The culmination of their last 6 wins in a row over those two weeks was the 4-2 victory at the Schwan’s Cup Gold Division final Saturday night.  The Hornets rallied from three goals down in the third period against Burnsville to capture a 4-3 overtime semifinal win to earn that right.  Edina opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over the #1 ranked Class A Breck Mustangs. This week they have three games that include a face-off with the 7-1-1 Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders,  a re-match with the Burnsville Blaze from the Burnsville Civic Center and that game can be heard on Sports Radio 105 the Ticket and seen right here on MinnesotaHockeyMag.com, and a stiff test with the White Bear Lake Bears.

2.  Hill-Murray Pioneers (9-1-0, 4-0-0) The Pioneers won 9 straight games before falling to the Edina Hornets in the Schwan’s Cup Gold Division final game by a score of 4-2.  That loss moved them down one slot to #2 this week.  The Pioneers have been scoring goals at an efficient clip and this week was no different leading up to the Edina game.  They opened the tournament with a quarterfinal round win over Duluth East 6-3.  They also topped Minnetonka 5-3 to set up their game with Edina.  The Pioneers are off all week until Saturday when they face the Lakeville North Panthers who have cracked the MHM top ten with a terrific run at the St. Louis Park Holiday Classic.

3.  Wayzata Trojans (9-3-0, 0-0-0)  In a season that is seeing teams jump in and out of the top ten and returning again, the Wayzata Trojans are the epitome of this trend.  After opening the seasonk in the top ten, they faded with three losses, all before December 7th.  Since then, they have won five straight games including three at the St. Louis Park Holiday Classic.  They opened with a 3-2 win over the Moorhead Spuds and followed that up with a 6-1 win over the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars.  The biggest test was with last week’s #3 Blaine Bengals and the Trojans passed with flying colors in earning a 4-0 win.  It was a win that featured a steady performance in all areas of the game.  They have two big Section 6AA games this week as they play host to the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights on Thursday and then travel to Victoria to battle the Holy Family Catholic Fire on Saturday.

4.  Blaine Bengals (8-2-1, 6-0-0) The Blaine Bengals had an interesting week at the St. Louis Park Holiday Classic as the hammered the Maple Grove Crimson 9-3 in a quarterfinal game that doubled as a Northwest Suburban Conference game. They ran into a stiff challenge from the Lakeville North Panthers that ended in a 3-3 tie with the Bengals prevailing in the shootout.  Up next was the championship game with the Wayzata Trojans and that resulted in a 4-0 loss moving the Bengals down a notch to #4 this week.  They are still an incredibly deep team that puts pucks in the net and has the ability to light it up on any given night.  This week on deck for the Bengals is a conference game with the Andover Huskies on Saturday afternoon.

5.  Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights (9-2-2) Since losing two straight games a few weeks back, the Red Knights are 5-0-2 since.  Their week consisted of a 3-3 tie with Bloomington Jefferson that resulted in a shootout loss at the St. Louis Park Holiday Classic.  The Red Knights finished with back-to-back wins that included repelling the Moorhead Spuds 4-2 and handling the Eden Prairie Eagles 5-2.  One game is on the docket for the Red Knights this week and that is a Thursday night affair with the Wayzata Trojans.

6.  Lakeville North Panthers (8-3-1, 7-1-0) After starting the season 2-3, the Panthers have found their groove and are on a 6-0-1 run in their last 7 games.  This past week it was a successful St. Louis Park Holiday Classic that featured a 7-0 shellacking of last week’s #4 Eden Prairie Eagles, a 3-3 tie with the #3 Blaine Bengals, and a 5-1 win over the #8 Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars to take third place in the tournament.  The unbeaten string will be on the line as they have a huge test with the #2 Hill-Murray Pioneers this Saturday.

7.  Burnsville Blaze (8-3-0, 5-1-0)  The Blaze started the season 1-2 and are 7-1 since.  Their only conference loss was to #6 Lakeville North and wins this week in the Schwan’s Cup Gold Division against St. Thomas Academy by a score of 3-2 and Minnetonka 3-0 delivered a third place finish.  They were 17 minutes away fro the championship game and a rematch with the Hill-Murray Pioneers yet saw it slip away against Edina.  The Edina Hornets rallied for three goals in the third period and won in overtime to stop the Blaze winning streak at seven games.  This week, two tough games are on the schedule, the first with the #1 Edina Hornets in a re-match from last Saturday’s championship game.  That game can be heard live on Sports Radio 105 The Ticket and also seen streaming simulcast on MinnesotaHockeyMag.com  The Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars close out the Blaze week on Saturday.

8. Grand Rapids (9-3-0, 1-0-0)  The Thunderhawks played three games in a row this past weekend at home and won all three.  They opened play with a 5-4 win over Mahtomedi, followed that up with a 7-2 trouncing of St. Francis and topped Brainerd by a score of 3-1.  They are on a 4 game winning streak and face off with Cloquet-Esko-Carlton and have the scrappy Hopkins Royals on Saturday.

9.  St. Thomas Academy (5-3-1, 1-1-0) The Cadets staved off banishment to the Silver Division of the Schwan’s Cup with a win over Prior Lake in the 7th place game of the Schwan’s Cup Gold Division.  One goal losses to #7 Burnsville (3-2) and #1A Breck (5-4) could have gone either way yet a 2-3-0 run over the last five games puts them on the edge of the top ten.  They have a chance to improve their standing with games against Totino Grace and Mahtomedi this week.

10.  Eastview Lightning (8-2-0, 3-2-0) The Lightning put together three straight wins at the Schwan Cup Silver Division as they defeated Andover (4-1), Roseville (2-1), and Centennial (2-1) to run their winning streak to four games.  The Lightning are a deep team that had a dicey run two weeks back but have worked they way through it.  This is a team  that can beat anybody in high school hockey.  The Lightning face-off with the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles who are playing some solid hockey to date in their only game this week.

Others Receiving Votes:  Eden Prairie, Elk River, White Bear Lake, Eagan,  Duluth East, Cretin-Derham Hall,  Roseau, Bloomington Jefferson, Brainerd/Pillager/Pierz,

The post MHM Boys AA Top Ten – 12/30/13 appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Wayzata 4 Blaine 0
The Wayzata Trojans continued their torrid play as they dashed through the St. Louis Park Holiday Classic field with three straight wins. A well rounded effort that featured goals from four different Trojans and 26 saves by Jen Vaughn Ahrens propelled Wayzata to the shutout victory. Jack Sorenson, Mathtew Freytag, Alex Stevens, and Max Zimmer dented the twine for Wayzata in the win. It was a well played game by both teams and contested to the final minutes as the Trojans carried slim leads of 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 after the second period.

Wayzata (9-3-0, 0-0-0) opened the tournament with a hard fought 2-0 win over the Moorhead Spuds and defeated Bloomington Jefferson by a score of 6-1 to earn the shot at the title game with the Bengals(8-2–1, 6-0-0). The Trojans are winners of five straight and six of seven games.

Lakeville North 5   Bloomington Jefferson 1
The Lakeville North Panthers erupted for three third period goals to pull away from the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars and deliver a 5-1 win in the third place game of the Sports Authority St. Louis Park Holiday Classic. Tristan Hazlett led his team with a goal and two assists and Ryan Poehling and Max Johnson each had a goal and an assist to spark the Panther victory.

It was an impressive weekend for the Panthers (8-3-1, 7-1-0) who opened with a dominating 7-0 victory over the Eden Prairie Eagles in the quarterfinal round of the tournament. They wound up closing out regulation and overtime in the semifinal with a tie against the Blaine Bengals who ultimately won in a shootout. The game went in the books as a 3-3 tie. The Jaguars left the tournament with a 6-4-1 record.

Benilde St. Margaret’s 5  Eden Prairie 3
The Consolation final was a game that not only was for thrid place, but also positioned the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights and Eden Prairie Eagles in a key Section 6AA contest. The two teams are slated to meet in the regular season two more times and a win in the tournament not only captured third place, but also put one team in better position from a section seeding perspective. The Red Knights prevailed in a 5-2 win over the Eagles as the Red Knights peppered the Eden Prairie goal with 37 shots on goal while only allowing 18 against.

Going 2-6 on the power play, the Red Knights also won the special teams battle as they held the struggling Eagle power play to an 0-5 effort. Nick Austin, Spencer Naas, Johnny Austin, Chase Jungels, and Carter Roo all scored in the Red Knight effort as Jalen Long made 16 saves to earn the win in goal as his team improved to 9-2-2 at the midway point of the season. The Eagles are now 8-3-0 on the season including 1-3 in their last four. Eden Prairie opened the season with a 7-0 loss at the hands of Lakeville North and then defeated the Maple Grove Crimson by a score of 3-2.

Maple Grove 4  Moorhead 3
The Maple Grove Crimson welcomed back three players that were ejected for majors in their quarterfinal round game of the Sports Authority St. Louis Park Holiday Classic and salaved a win in the seventh place game. Losses to the Blaine Bengals by a score of 9-3 and then the Eden Prairie Eagles was follwed by a 4-3 win over the Moorhead Spuds in overtime. Sam Huff tied the game at three with 4:05 left in the third period to force overtime. That set up a Josh Passolt  goal :37 into the extra session that earned the much needed win for the Crimson. Passolt had goal and an assist and Matt Vogl had 3 assists in the win for the Crimson who improved to (6-5-1, 4-2-0) on the season.  Aaron Herdt led the Sppuds with 2 goals and an assist as their recored fell to 5-7-0.

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The St. Louis Park Holiday Classic wrapped up day one of action and the semifinals are set.  There were two lopsided scores to open the day and two tight games that closed out an entertaining day one to set up the semifinals of the tournament that will play out Friday and stream live on NorthStarSports.tv.

Lakeville North 7   Eden Prairie 0
The Lakeville North Panthers took control of the first period as they captured a 4-0 first period lead and never looked back.  Jack Poehling delivered a hat-trick and an assist to lead his club with four points.  Nick Poehling and Jack McNeely each tallied three assists in the win.  When needed, it was the power play that delivered for the Panthers as they were 3-4 with the man advantage against the Eagles.

Meanwhile, Eden Prairie (7-2-0) was held off the scoreboard with the man advantage for the second straight game as they were 0-2 on the power play and held to just 18 shots on goal for the entire game.  Freshman goalie Jake Oettinger was perfect on the quality chances sent is way in making 18 saves for the shutout. The Panthers (7-3-0) face-off with the Blaine Bengals in the first semi-final game scheduled for 5pm.  That game can be seen streaming live on NorthStarSports.tv.

Blaine 9   Maple Grove 3
Six unanswered goals and nine of the game’s first ten goals by the Blaine Bengals were too much for the Maple Grove Crimson to overcome as they were overwhelmed by the Blaine Bengals by a score of 9-3 in their quarterfinal game of the Sports Authority St. Louis Park Holiday Classic.  The game served as conference game as well.

In a penalty filled game that featured 75 minutes in penalties, of which 61 were assessed to the Maple Grove Crimson, the Bengals were 0-6 with man advantage while the Crimson were 1-5.  The major dust up that created much of the issue centered around three Maple Grove players that received major penalties and game misconducts for a fracas that broke out around the Crimson net.  No Blaine players received more than a double minor in the incident.  Gone from the game were goalie Cal McKenney, leading scorer Josh Passolt, and top defenseman Nate Erickson.

Blaine (8-1-0, 6-0-0) already owned a 3-0 lead prior to the penalties on goals by Brandon Notermann, Easton Brodzinski, and Luke Noterman.  Seven different players scored for the Bengals who outshot the Crimson 46-21 including a stunning 38-7 margin after two periods.  Both Noterman’s each had 2 goals and 2 assists to lead their team in points.  Defenseman Alex Copa had 3 assists in the effort as well.

The thumping recalls memories of the Maple Grove 15-1 win over the Bengals in the Section 5AA finals two years ago.  The Bengals will face off with a well balanced Lakeville North Panthers in the first semifinal of the tournament.  The game can be seen at NorthStarSports.tv.  The Crimson (5-4-1, 4-2-0) will play the Eden Prairie Eagles in the consolation semifinal on Friday afternoon.

Wayzata 3   Moorhead  2
in a tense and contested game, the Wayzata Trojans topped the Moorhead Spuds by a score of 3-2 in the quarterfinal of the Sports Authority Holiday Classic.  A Mark Senden goal at 4:59 of the third period gave the Trojans a 3-1 lead and stood up as the eventual game winner.

Wayzata’s Jack Sorenson and Moorhead’s Grant Weiss exchanged first period goals to send the game to the locker room tied at a goal a piece after one period.  Midway through the second period Matthew Freytag wired a blast fro meth right point off a draw won in the Spuds zone by Sorenson for the 2-1 lead.  Aaron Herdt added a goal for the Spuds at 14:05 of the third period setting up a tense close to the game.

Alex Schilling made 23 saves to earn the victory for the Trojans  (7-3-0) while Jacob Dittmer was solid in goal making 32 saves for the Spuds.  It is a semifinal game for the Trojans against the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars at 7:30pm.  That game can be seen streaming live on NorthStarSports.tv.  The Spuds (5-5-0, 1-0-0) will face the Red Knights of Benilde St. Margaret’s for the second time in a week.  BSM prevailed 9-2 in that game.

Bloomington Jefferson  4   Benilde-St. Margaret’s  3 (so)
The Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights opened the Sports Authority St. Louis Park Holiday Classic with a 3-3 tie after regulation and an eight minute overtime period with the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars.  Still, a winner needed to be determined and the Jags won a shootout to advance to the semifinals of the tournament to face the Wayzata Trojans Friday evening.

The speed of the Jaguars (6-3-1) have is aways a given every year or so it seems.   However, it was the physical play coupled with their speed that took the Red Knights by surprise in the early going of the contest that resulted in a 2-0 Jaguar lead.  Goals by Drew Redepenning and Johnny Panvica forced the issue in the first stanza.

The Red Knights (7-2-2) had little room to work, particularly in the first period and much of that was a credit to the Jaguars play.  “They physically said they were going to slow you down,” Pauly observed.  “We don’t play Jefferson a lot but I have never seen a Jefferson team play that physical.”

The Red Knight power play is flat out devastating entering the game clicking at a 37.1% clip.  It did not disappoint as Johnny Austin scored his 2nd goal of the season.  The power play marker came with :25 left in the first period.  Even Fleming dented the twine in the second period for his 5th goal of the season as he beat Jaguar goalie Grant Martens to tie the game at two.

Martens turned aside 41 Red Knight shots and was peppered in the third period as the Jags were outshot 16-1 for the period and 44-17 for the game.  Charlie Strauss, a converted forward to defense, lifted the Jags back to the lead by a score of 3-2 with a power play goal at 12:02 of the second period.

Through the third period, the Red Knights didn’t panic and neither did the Jags.  Still, the Red Knights came in waves and it was Carter Roo that evened the game late in the third period with Red Knights on the power play.

It was impressive and efficient as the unit went to work late in the third period. At 13:30 of the period,  it was Roo who took a nifty back hand through the legs feed by Ben Newhouse at the goal mouth for the easy tally in the opening net evening the game at three.  The goal was Roo’s 7th of the season.

The Red Knights, 3-0-2 in their last five will work to be unbeaten in regulation for the Holiday Classic tournament.  They have a re-match with the Moorhead Spuds in the consolation semi-finals on Friday afternoon at 2:30pm.

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