After six goals and 11 points in 14 games, the 6-foot forward wondered how the year would pan out in his favor if he stayed in Omaha instead of going back home to Prior Lake for his senior year.

Then he thought about not just the promising outlook on his season with the Lakers, but the Vermont commit also had his sights set on one particular calendar date: a match-up with East Grand Forks on Hockey Day Minnesota 2022 in Mankato.

“That’s a game you want to be a part, of no question,” said Bump, who has amassed 20 goals and 40 points through 17 games with the Lakers this season. “I definitely considered my development and what would be best for me, and the USHL would have been a great league to stick around in, but I couldn’t miss this game. I couldn’t miss this experience with my buddies and teammates.

“It’s a memory I won’t forget.”

East Grand Forks’ Jaksen Panzer had a similar dilemma. The junior forward started the year with nearby Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League where he notched five goals and 13 assists in 16 games. Panzer leads East Grand Forks with 17 goals and 33 points in 15 games this year.

For Panzer, equally as alluring was the potential promise of another Minnesota State High School Boy’s Hockey Tournament where the Green Wave has made six appearances in nine years.

“Of course you come back (to high school) with the goal of making the state tournament,” said Panzer, who plans to attend the University of North Dakota post-high school. “We’ve gotten really close the past few years and we’re right there.

“But, I also saw this Hockey Day game as one that you really only get one shot at, and not everyone even ever gets this chance. To have a full crowd and prime-time television — bigger than even the state tournament broadcast — who wouldn’t want to come back and play with their team in a game like that?”

Bump also acknowledged the crowd following the Lakers 7-1 victory against the Green Wave.

“That was the coolest thing,” said Bump who tallied 4 assists and a goal in the game. “I had my mom and dad there and just to see everyone cheering us on, it was pretty great.”

Between the crowd, the broadcast and the phenomenal set-up from host city Mankato: Any regrets?

“Absolutely not,” said Bump.

“None at all,” chimed Panzer.

The post No Regrets appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

They capitalized when it mattered and the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders are a win away from a state championship.

“We have so many high-end kids,” said head coach Derrick Brown following the win. “And today, we were opportunistic. We found ways to get the puck to the back of the net. At the end of the day, the scoreboard reads 6-2, but they really did give everything they had. I’ll give them a ton of credit. They brought up the intensity and the pressure. “

St. Cloud scored two goals on their first four shots, courtesy of Jack Smith and Ethan Cumming and skated with a 3-1 lead with only 9 shots on goal after the first period.

East Grand Forks turned it on in the second, with 16 shots on net which also included a 48 second 5-on-3 advantage but couldn’t convert either power play.

They did end up scoring towards the end of the frame on even-strength but they still trailed 4-2 heading into the second intermission.

“For us, that 5-on-3 power play that they had, I think that was kind of the momentum turner of the game,” said Brown. “We got through that and then after that, we felt pretty good about our chances the rest of the game.”

On the other end of the ice, East Grand Forks disagreed that failing to capitalize on the 5-on-3 was the turning point. Instead, the team was never able to make it a one-score game.

“I’m not going to say it was the turning point,” said head coach Tyler Palmiscno. “It could’ve made it a different game but we were never able to get it back to one goal.”

St. Cloud added two more goals including an empty-netter in the final period to seal the win.

Meme of the year

There was a funny moment before puck drop as Crusaders defenseman Jon Bell took a spill during introductions. He eventually assisted on his team’s second goal but he’s aware his tumble is going viral.

pic.twitter.com/bSj8OZH8Eq

— eli swanson (@eswany33) March 8, 2019

“All I can say about that, is it’s the high school meme of the year,” said Bell after game.

With their win, St. Cloud Cathedral will play the winner of Mahtomedi vs. Greenway in the Class A title game on Saturday.

Photo Gallery by Tim Kolehmainen of Breakdown Sports USA for Minnesota Hockey Magazine. Follow Tim on Twitter at @BreakdownUSA.

The post Opportunistic Crusade appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Beaver alum Jim Scanlan hired to lead BSU’s women’s program.

Bemidji State University Director of Athletics Tracy Dill today announced the school has hired East Grand Forks High School athletic director and head girls hockey coach Jim Scanlan to fill its vacant women’s head coaching position. Scanlan was selected from an impressive list of fellow finalists in former Minnesota State men’s hockey coach Troy Jutting, current Bemidji State women’s assistant Amber Fryklund and Minnesota State women’s assistant coach Brett Bruininks to become the school’s fifth women’s head hockey coach.

“We are really excited to have Jim on board as the new women’s hockey coach here at BSU,” commented Dill. “He brings a wealth of experience, not only at the collegiate level, but also a tremendous amount of success at the high school level. More importantly, he has a deep love for Bemidji State University and I really believe he will do a great job on the recruiting scene and will continue to move our women’s hockey program forward.”

“I am extremely humbled to be given this opportunity,” said Scanlan. “I don’t think there is any other place I would have tried to get back into coaching at this level.

“Bemidji State has meant so much to my family and me. Now to be able to come back and work here as the head women’s hockey coach is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He added, “It’s really, really special.”

A two-time All-American goaltender for the Beavers from 1978-82 who helped lead BSU to a pair of national titles as a player, Scanlan replaces Steve Sertich who retired on March 17 following an eight-year run guiding the Beavers. Scanlan brings a wealth of hockey coaching experience—both men’s and women’s—with him back to Bemidji.

Scanlan, on the bench as his East Grand Forks team took on Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato in the class 1A quarterfinal game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Wednesday, February 19, 2014. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

He recently capped off his sixth season at the helm of the East Grand Forks High School girls team by leading the Green Wave to the Minnesota state tournament for the first time in program history and a runner-up finish to The Blake School. Scanlan, who was named the 2014 Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year, compiled a 110-51-6 (.677) record leading the EGF girls’ program.

As coach of the EGF boys from 1996-2005, he went 148-109-15 (.572) and led them to four trips to St. Paul (1989, 1999, 2001 and 2002). Prior to that, Scanlan served as an assistant coach at North Dakota (1989-96) and Michigan Tech (1985-89).

Scanlan graduated from Bemidji State in 1985 with a degree in physical education and health. He later earned a master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in athletic administration from Western Michigan University in 1988.

As a collegiate goaltender, Scanlan played for legendary R.H. “Bob” Peters at Bemidji State from 1978-1982. A four-year letterwinner, the captain was in net 85 times, logging a career record of 62-19-0, while backstopping the Beavers to a NCHA regular season title in 1982 and four consecutive trips to the NAIA national tournament, including national titles in 1979 and 1980. The NCHA Player of the Year in 1982, Scanlan was selected as an NAIA All-American to conclude the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons. Scanlan also left his mark on the BSU goaltending records. He remains amongst the top ten in six major goaltending categories. He is fifth on BSU’s save percentage list (.907), eighth in goals against average (2.821), is third on BSU’s goaltending victories list (62), ranks sixth on the Beavers’ career saves list (2,211) and his 4,807 minutes in net stand eighth in Beaver hockey history. In addition, only one goaltender in the 58 years of Bemidji State hockey has accumulated more shutouts during his career than Scanlan’s nine. Was enshrined into the Bemidji State Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1978-79 and 1979-80 men’s hockey teams, Scanlan was named as one of the Bemidji State men’s hockey program’s 50 Legends for 50 Years in 2005-06.

Scanlan’s wife Cyndy is also a Bemidji State graduate and the couple have three grown children: Briana, a former BSU soccer player and 2012 graduate, Jaclyn, a senior soccer player at North Dakota State University and Joey, who is an incoming freshman at BSU.

The post Bemidji State Gives Thumbs Up to Scanlan appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

THIEF RIVER FALLS—In a battle of a high powered offense against a stout defense East Grand Forks defended its Section 8A crown with a 3-2 double overtime victory at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls.

East Grand Forks entered the game only allowing 11 shots per game in the playoffs and just over 14 shots per game during the regular season. Warroad featured the line of Jared Bethune, Kobe Roth, and Kyle Sylvester who have a staggering combined point total of 252.

East Grand Forks goes up 1-0 on Colton Poolman’s shot past Alex Burke
(Photo / Bruce Brierley, East Grand Forks Exponent)

It would be the Green Wave who would strike first. Tye Ausmus’ shot was blocked by a Warrior defenseman and Colton Poolman would swat the puck out of the air and past Warroad goaltender Alex Burke for the 1-0 lead at 4:19 of the first period.

The period would end with the Green Wave leading 1-0. Warroad had some good opportunities To even the score and outshot East Grand Forks 10-7.

Warroad came out with an added intensity in the second period and scored just 1:11 into the period when the Warriors dumped the puck into the East Grand Forks zone. Colton Poolman knocked the puck out of the air and a streaking Kyle Sylvester picked up the puck and beat Josh Weber to tie the game.

Kyle Sylvester, Jared Bethune and Koby Roth Celebrate after Sylvester’s goal.
(Photo / Bruce Brierley, East Grand Forks Exponent)

While East Grand Forks outshot the Warriors 12-9 the scoring opportunities favored Warroad who had several breakaways during the period but could not get another past Weber.

East Grand Forks took the lead again at 6:40 of the third when Tanner Tweten pounded in a rebound for a power play goal. The Green Wave looked to be headed to a successful defense of their Section 8A title. Jared Bethune and the Warriors were not going to go quietly into the night. With 1:32 left in the game Bethune called for the pass and rifled a water bottle shot past Weber to send the game into OT.

Warroad players respond after East Grand Forks goal in double overtime
(Photo / Bruce Brierley, East Grand Forks Exponent)

Warroad was able to apply solid pressure in the first eight minute overtime putting four shots on Weber but he was up to the task.  6:38 into the second overtime Grant Loven ended the game on a nice pass from Tweten , as Burke came out to play the shot, finding Loven wide open in front of the net, and putting it into an open net.

The Warriors end their season 22-5-1 and East Grand Forks will advance to the State Tournament with a record of 25-2-1.

The post East Grand Forks ousts Warroad in second overtime of Section 8A final appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.