Heather Rule writes about the legendary player and coach, Willard Ikola.

This story was originally published in the 2025 MN State High School Hockey Tournament Guide.

The post Willard Ikola: Humble Giant appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Heather Rule has a recap of the Class 2A girls’ state hockey championship.

This story was originally published in the 2025 MN State High School Hockey Tournament Guide.

The post Girls Class 2A: Comeback Kids appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

After having a solid junior season as a transfer from Wisconsin, Malmquist has emerged as the Tommies’ most potent offensive threat as he currently has 19 points, with 13 of them being assists. Two of his six goals have been shorthanded.

Malmquist may put on a good show on the ice at times, but when asked about his accomplishments so far, he stays humble. However, he does admit that as an Edina alum, he’s embraced the stigma of being a “cake eater” to hockey fans around Minnesota.

“I think it’s awesome,” he said, with a laugh. “You grow up and guys know what Edina is. You get so used to it. You never really hear it (at first) because you’re always around other Edina guys growing up, but when you branch out, you’ll hear it. I think it’s funny.

“We were playing at Bemidji State this year and we were coming off intermission during Saturday’s game and they had some Bemidji alumni thing. We were walking through the tunnel and one of the alumni screamed ‘Hey Malmquist, you cake eater.’ It was a crucial game, so I was trying to stay focused, but I smirked and laughed at it. I’m used to it and it doesn’t bother me at all.”

It’s hard to rattle Malmquist on the ice as he carries himself with a quiet poise. As a former tennis player, he knows how to take advantage of any opportunity that comes his way.

“I like having the puck,” he said. “I like having the plays there for me and being able to see the whole ice sheet and seeing guys move to where they’re going to be. I like when I can do some quick cut-ups and enter the zone with speed and use my edges to change direction to try to catch people off guard. I also like if there’s a play and I can take a chance to try to do it by using my speed.

“Hockey is like a tennis match in a sense. Each shift and each period and each game is brand new. Maybe in different games, I try to use my speed depending on the team, and other times, I’ll need to be a lot smarter and use my head more than my legs.”

Liam Malmquist said being called an Edina “cake eater” doesn’t bother him. (MHM Photo / Ryan Stieg)

College-hockey decision was a tough choice
When it came time to decide on where to play college hockey, Malmquist had a tough time deciding as he wanted to find the perfect fit like his father found playing for Harvard or his brother Dylan found suiting up for Notre Dame. Liam eventually found it in Madison playing for the Badgers.

“It was a tough decision,” he said. “I was talking to other schools and a lot of the people I was talking with were really nice, and I have nothing but good things to say about my recruitment process. I wanted to make sure I was going to a place where I was going to get an opportunity. I didn’t want to rush, but I also had an opportunity to play junior hockey at the same time. Madison, at the end of the day, was the right fit. I respected (then head coach) Tony Granato and his way of thinking about the game and how he approached recruiting me.

“My two years in Madison were unbelievable. We didn’t have the best records or the playoff runs that we’d hoped for, but the guys were really nice and supportive. I learned a lot from my first two years just going to a big school with a city feel to it. At the end of the day, it worked out where I got to experience it and now, I’m back closer to home.”

After Malmquist’s sophomore year at Wisconsin, Granato was fired and replaced by former Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings. After some initial discussions with his new coach, Malmquist decided the perfect fit might be somewhere else.

“I was still hoping to play hockey in Madison, but they had Mike Hastings come in, and I had a couple conversations with him prior to entering the portal,” Malmquist said. “I have nothing but respect for him as well. He’s the real deal. I wanted to express what I thought I could be and where I saw myself. I’m sure he had his own system and his own ideas in place, and it didn’t end up fitting mutually.

“So, it was a personal decision to enter the portal. I kind of took a leap of faith. I had a lot of people supporting me and people who had my back and taught me how to manage. It was pretty stressful and it’s hard when you’re at a place for two years and it feels like your home. But then time moves so fast and you kind of blink and it’s gone and then you’re back to where it started with recruitment.

“I was fortunate to talk with some schools and heard a lot hockey minds and perspectives on things, and I guess it all shifted when I got the call from (Tommies head coach) Rico (Blasi), (assistant coaches) Leon (Hayward) and Cory (Laylin). They were super supportive and really excited to talk to me. It was easy for me at the time because I knew what they were bringing in and I knew a lot of the guys already and who they had already recruited from the portal. My decision to leave Madison wasn’t against anyone. It was just kind of personal and wanting to try a different experience. I’m taking what I learned at Madison and am trying to continue to grow at St. Thomas.”

Before skating with Wisconsin and St. Thomas in college hockey, Liam Malmquist won the Class 2A state championship with Edina in 2019. (MHM Photo / Ryan Stieg)

Malmquist has produced on the stats sheet for Tommies
The Tommies were predicted to be better last season, but ended up surpassing preseason expectations by finishing second in the CCHA. Malmquist was a big reason for that as he finished with 10 goals and was second on the team in points with 27. When asked what created that sudden offensive explosion, Malmquist said there were a lot of factors, but it might’ve just come down to a new mindset.

“I think the biggest thing when I got to St. Thomas was the feeling of ‘I’ve got nothing to lose,’” he said. “Rico was really appreciative of who I was right away, and he gave me confidence and an opportunity that a lot of guys would want. I had the support of teammates and some really good guys and got set up with special teams with really good players. It kind of took off and after that first game at St. Cloud, we got that win and everything burst wide open. It was just, go out and play and just enjoy it.”

Now that he’s on track to probably having an even better statistical season this year, Malmquist said that he’s continuing to block out the noise around him.

“When you’re not focusing on the things you can’t control, things tend to work out point-wise,” he said. “You get compliments and you get some confidence from it. I’m just continuing on what it was last year. Everyone in that room, including myself, is there to win a hockey game. I know everyone will do whatever they can to get a result. Individually, I try not to focus on any of that. If we can get a clean breakout and move five guys on the ice and snap it around five or six times and create a chance, that catches my eye more than stats.

“It goes back to having confidence in myself. Last week, I was playing with (teammates) Matt (Gleason) and Lucas (Wahlin), who are unbelievable players, and two years ago at Madison, I maybe wasn’t playing as much. Now, I’m here as a senior, and it’s pretty amazing. I’m playing a top role on a top team with all these top players.”

Malmquist may be underrated nationally, but right now, it’s clear that he’s the Tommies’ top guy.

The post Tommies’ Top Guy appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

The right-shot forward split last season between Edina High School – where he helped the Hornets win the Class 2A state title – and the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. He had six points (1-5–6) over 20 USHL games and expected to return to Omaha this fall.

However, those plans changed with that July phone call, as Cowan was dealt to the Madison Capitols.

“I remember I was out running sprints and my music stopped playing, and I saw I was getting a call from (Omaha general manager David Wilkie),” Cowan recently told Minnesota Hockey Magazine. “At first, I thought he was maybe just checking in after main camp or seeing how the summer was going, but we got talking, and he told me I was traded to Madison.

“I was completely shocked and, honestly, I had no idea it was coming. But I got a call from (Madison GM/head coach Andy Brandt) that night, and he said they were really excited to add me, and I’m really happy it worked out the way it did. It’s a fun group of guys, and there are a lot of Minnesota kids here too, so it’s been a good fit and I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far.”

Cowan has not only fit in with his new club, but he’s hit the ground running.

He scored in his Madison debut against Omaha on Sept. 19 and added two more goals the next day, leaving the USHL Fall Classic with a team-leading three goals. Cowan missed Madison’s next two games with a nagging upper-body injury and missed the Oct. 5 game at Tri-City, too, but he added an assist the day before on Oct. 4 as the Capitols earned a 3-2 road win against Tri-City.

Bobby Cowan scored three goals in his first two games wearing a Madison Capitols sweater in the USHL. (Photo courtesy of USHL)

Cowan was a ‘no-brainer’ choice for Madison
The St. Thomas commit flashed that offensive potential over the past two seasons, racking up 83 points (41-42–83) over 60 high school games with Edina. So when the Capitols had the opportunity to acquire Cowan, it was a “no-brainer.”

“The biggest thing we were intrigued by was his ability to score,” Brandt said. “He got the opportunity to play in the league last year in Omaha at the beginning and the end, and that’s big too.

“He was coming off a high school season where he had a lot of success, and then you come into a league that’s extremely competitive and teams are fighting for playoff spots, too, so that gives you really good experience and an idea of what to expect at our level. I think that helped Bobby prepare for this season and get off to the start he has.”

Brandt said the trade came together quickly but was a win-win for both clubs, especially with Madison needing to replace its top seven goal scorers – who combined for 141 of Madison’s 218 tallies last season.

Madison’s staff believed Cowan could “help fill that void” and be a threat whenever he’s on the ice.

So far, the 18-year-old forward has done exactly that.

“His work ethic has been tremendous and I’ve been extremely impressed with how Bobby approaches every day,” Brandt said. “To be completely honest, I didn’t know a ton about him coming into this season. I knew he was a kid that some labeled a little bit of a late-bloomer, but he’s gotten better every single year.

“I think we’re already seeing he can be a high-end skill player in our league and he works extremely hard on the ice, in the gym, and he’s helped from a leadership standpoint too.”

Madison teammate Mason Moe also faced Cowan as an opponent, when Moe played for Eden Prairie.

“He’s always been a guy that’s not fun to play against,” Moe said, of Cowan. “He’s super skilled, super crafty and he works hard, and he’s done that for us (in Madison) too. He just makes a lot of plays and he’s a really good teammate, too, so it’s been a lot of fun playing together so far.”

Bobby Cowan scored three goals and two assists for the championship-winning Edina Hornets in the 2024 MSHSL Boys’ State Hockey Tournament. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Cowan finds his confidence
In addition to that work ethic, the other key to Cowan’s early success has been simple: Confidence.

“I really haven’t had a ton of confidence in the past, so that’s been a big thing for me this year,” Cowan said. “Playing at Edina was a great experience, but I didn’t play varsity until my junior year and, honestly, I didn’t even have that much confidence going into my (junior season).

“All my teammates and the kids I’d compare myself to were on varsity the year before so I was behind them and didn’t know how much I’d be able to even play coming in. But when I look back, it was more of a mental thing and it pushed me to get better.”

Cowan said he initially contemplated staying in Omaha last season but ultimately decided he’d likely regret not playing with his childhood friends and making one last run at a state title – a decision that paid off.

However, the USHL experience he gained last season shouldn’t go unnoticed either. Especially down the stretch, as Cowan played 11 games after his high school season and got an idea of what it takes to be successful in the league. He recorded five of his six USHL points in that stretch too, including his first career goal in Omaha’s season finale.

Cowan said the first few games have felt easier as a result this season and he felt “a lot more ready” coming in – which has been reflected in his play. He also came into this season wanting to make a good impression on his new coaches and make the most of his opportunities.

Mission accomplished so far.

“Bobby put in the work all summer and throughout camp, and you could tell he was hungry coming in here,” Brandt said. “So to see him perform the way he has, it should give him a ton of self-confidence, and I think he’s a player that’s ready to break out.

“It all goes back to watching how hard he worked over the past three weeks though. While we were excited to see Bobby get rewarded, we also weren’t surprised, because he was ready for Pittsburgh. He’s done a great job so far and he’s going to be a big part of our group, and we’re hoping he can build on it throughout the year.”

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“It’s fun to watch yourself up there,” Bertram said, after a 2-1 win over Chanhassen for the Class 2A boys’ state hockey title on March 9.

Bertram delivered 33 saves and had a .971 save percentage as he helped the Hornets bounce back from a 2023 state championship loss against Minnetonka by the same 2-1 score. In addition, he matched the achievement of his father, Matt Bertram, who helped Edina win it all in 1988.

“He’s always had that one up on me with the state championship, and now I’ve got it, so I’m right there with him,” the younger Bertram said.

Edina goalie Joe Bertram made 33 saves in net during the state championship game. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Hornets coach Curt Giles liked how Bertram withstood a flurry of shots for Chanhassen in the final minutes. The Storm skaters, down a goal, couldn’t find a way past Bertram to knot the game up.

“I’m glad he saw [the puck] like a beach ball because that looked like a peanut to me,” Giles said.

Bertram felt locked in. The Storm had 10 third-period shots and outshot Edina 34-23 for the game.

“You know, it actually went by pretty quick,” Bertram said, of the final minutes. “When the game is happening so fast and with them putting pressure on, I wasn’t looking at the clock too much. It’s just worrying about the puck.”

Bertram kept Chanhassen from writing a perfect finish to a storybook state tournament appearance. The Storm captured the state’s attention with a 2-1 upset of once-unbeaten Minnetonka in the Section 2 title game on Feb. 29 to reach the program’s first-ever state tournament.

“From the first game they played, two or three years ago now, they competed,” said Chanhassen coach Sean Bloomfield. “A passion allowed them to learn the game really well. They embraced how to become a better hockey player on and off the ice. That’s why they got to where they did.”

Chanhassen looked poised to finish the story with a perfect ending after a defensive first period. The Storm broke through for a goal by Tyler Smith in the second period. Chanhassen outshot Edina 24-14 through two periods, sparked mainly by a 14-5 second period.

Edina committed penalties in the first two periods, but the Hornets killed both power plays. Bertram had his hands full in net with numerous close calls, but his teammates helped prevent another puck going in.

Chanhassen’s Tyler Smith celebrates scoring a goal for a 1-0 lead in the state title game against Edina. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Chanhassen’s Gavin Uhlenkamp gave the Hornets defense trouble in the first two periods with five shots on goal, and Andy Earl had eight shots on goal. Mason West had the most success attacking the net for the Hornets with four shots on goal.

Edina broke through early in the third period as Robby Hoch found a seam to fire the puck through. The Hornets sniped a second goal with Bobby Cowan firing a power-play goal with 6:55 remaining.

“I always shoot the puck. If you don’t shoot it’s not going to go in,” Cowan said. “This one got the better of him, but props to him. He played great, too.”

Chanhassen didn’t have an answer after that point. Edina players really wanted to put the sting of last year’s title game loss behind them in the process.

“This group of kids that we had this year was one of the easiest groups we’ve ever had to get prepared to play hockey. They wanted to win today,” Giles said. “They wanted to do it today. They had a desire. We could tell they wanted to win this very, very badly.”

The post Class 2A: Hornets Weather The Storm appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

“Right Back Where We Started From” by Maxine Nightingale, which was released in the 1970s.

Whether coincidence or part of a set playlist, the song seems fitting for a deep Minnetonka Skippers team that returned a bunch of key players from last winter’s dominant Class 2A state championship team.

Only two games in, Minnetonka turned in a couple of dominating efforts on its home ice, outscoring Rosemount and Andover by a combined 18-3 margin. The Skippers put up a 10-3 victory over Rosemount to open the season Friday before an 8-0 shutout of Andover, a program it met in last year’s state semifinals (though this time without the since-graduated line featuring Cooper Conway, Gavyn Thorsen and Cayden Casey).

With so many state champions – and multiple Division I commits – returning to Minnetonka’s squad this season, Skippers coach Sean Goldsworthy acknowledged that his team isn’t starting from square one.

“First off, they’re committed to each other,” Goldsworthy said. “So, when they all come back, it makes things easier on each other. We have a lot of returning kids from a team that had great success last year. So that matters.”

Minnetonka comes into the season as a top-ranked team, according to the preseason rankings from Let’s Play Hockey magazine, while Andover is ranked No. 10. And the Skippers shut out the Huskies while outshooting them 42-5 on Saturday evening.

Minnetonka and Andover boys hockey shake hands after the Skippers won 8-0 on Nov. 25, 2023 at Pagel Ice Arena as part of the Tonka Thanksgiving Preview tournament. (MHM Photo / Heather Rule)

Senior Javon Moore had hat tricks both days, giving him a team-leading six goals and 10 points through just two games. His effort against Andover was highlighted by a breakaway, shorthanded goal in the first period. His second hat trick in as many games came with just more than 10 minutes left in regulation, sending the game to running time with a 6-0 lead.

Moore is followed by the senior Garry brothers; Luke with two goals and five assists and Gavin with three goals and four assists. Against Rosemount, the Garry brothers scored goals 50 seconds apart for a 2-1 lead. Gavin recorded a hat trick, and senior Hagen Burrows added five assists on Friday.

Depth? They have that, too. A dozen players have at least a point on those 18 goals over two games.

The goal right now, Goldsworthy said, is to “get the fall hockey out of them,” which usually takes eight to 10 games, he added.

“I think what you’re seeing is these kids are committed to getting it out of their system in about four or five games,” Goldsworthy said.

Minnetonka lost only twice last season, to Chanhassen and Wayzata, on the way to a state championship. Even though it’s cliché, staying in the moment throughout the season helped drive that successful title run, Goldsworthy said.

“You’ve got to stay in the week,” Goldsworthy said. “That’s what we did last year. These kids know when they do that, our success came from living in the moment.”

Despite the shutout loss, Andover split its games in the Tonka tourney, defeating No. 3-ranked Chanhassen 3-2 on Friday behind a pair of Casey Rodgers goals. The Huskies came into the season looking to replace the production of its top line from 2022-23; Conway-Thoreson-Casey scored 65% of the team’s 167 goals last season.

Chanhassen, which fell an overtime-goal short of the state tournament with a loss to Minnetonka last year, starts the season 0-2 with a one-goal loss to Andover and a 2-1 loss to Rosemount on Saturday. The Storm, who hit the ice just before the school’s football team took the field at U.S. Bank Stadium on the way to a thrilling Prep Bowl championship, trailed the entire game before getting a goal in the final minute of regulation.

Thanksgiving means puck drop on boys hockey
Most of the boys hockey teams got started with their seasons over the weekend. After the turkey coma ends, hockey players and fans head to various rinks on Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend for regular-season hockey and various holiday tournaments.

On the same night that Edina’s football team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Centennial in the Class 6A Prep Bowl, the No. 2-ranked Edina Hornets – last season’s runner-up in hockey – shut out No. 8-ranked Maple Grove 3-0 in the Wayzata Turkey Trot at Plymouth Ice Center. Wayzata started its season off with a pair of victories against No. 7-ranked Moorhead (6-1) and Maple Grove (6-4) in its home Turkey Trot.

White Bear Lake opened its season with a 4-3 overtime victory over Duluth East at home. Nolan Roed scored a pair of goals, including the winner at 2:37 of the extra session.

In Class 1A, last year’s runner-up Warroad lost 3-2 in overtime to St. Cloud Cathedral. Griffin Sturm scored the winner just before the final horn in overtime. Murray Marvin-Cordes scored both Warroad goals.

The post Tonka Is Back appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Notes and quotes from Day 2 of the Class AA state tournament

No. 2 Edina vs. No. 3 Duluth East

Greyhounds top Hornets in state semis for for third time since 2011

Fluke goal, stellar goaltending the difference as Greyhounds head back to title game

Luck of the Hounds

For a game that more than lived up to the hype, the game-winning goal did not quite measure up.

Duluth East junior defenseman Frederick Paine’s wrist shot from outside the blue line near the Edina bench deflected off Edina goaltender Garrett Mackay’s blocker and straight up in the air. Mackay lost track of the fluttering puck and it dropped harmfully behind him across the goal line for a 3-1 East lead 9:08 into the third.

“My coach (Dylan) Mills always tells me to put shots on net, so it’s like why not put a shot on net from the red line and it worked,” Paine said.

“That puck is round but it doesn’t always bounce round,” Edina coach Curt Giles said. “It was one of those flutter balls. You talk to any goaltender, they’d much rather have a direct shot shot at them than have a knuckleball come at them.”

Duluth East goaltender Parker Kleive congratulates teammate Frederick Paine on his third-period goal which turned out to be the game winner in the Greyhounds’ 4-2 CLass AA state semifinal win over Edina. (MHM Photo / Jonny Watkins)

Kleive vs. Walker: Advantage Kleive

Duluth East goaltender Parker Kleive came up big early, late and everywhere in between, finishing with 24 saves. Edina’s Samie Walker, a Minnesota Mr. Hockey favorite and Gopher recruit, factored in several of them, but a few stand out. 

The Hornets nearly got on the board just 2:36 into the game when Walker fed Jett Jungels for a breakaway opportunity, but Kleive was equal to the task and made a huge early save.

Kleive’s biggest save, however, came just over two minutes into the third period when Mason Nevers found Walker all alone just to Kleive’s right. Walker tried to wrap the puck around the sprawling goaltender but Kleive made a diving save to keep it a 2-1 game.

“He definitely played a good game,” Walker said of Kleive. “We had a ton of chances that we could have capitalized on that we missed and just a couple of bounces that didn’t go our way.”

With just over two minutes to go, after Nevers closed the gap to 3-2 for the Hornets, Kleive denied Walker once again from point-blank range and Nevers’ rebound attempt was shoved underneath the backside of defenseman Carson Cochran.

“It was just like a flash, like the time went by so fast. Just a bunch of people on top of me and I couldn’t even see the puck. I saw it hit my toe and it like bounced over a little bit … it’s always nice when the D try to help out and stop the pucks.”

Rapid Fire

The opening period was marked by a flurry of goals just past the midway point as the teams combined for three goals in a 2:08 span which ended with the Greyhounds holding a 2-1 lead.

Edina took the game’s first lead when Evan Shoemaker made a nifty move through the left circle and tucked the puck past Kleive just inside the far post at the 9:24 mark.

Nevers nearly made it 2-0 Edina when his shot from in close clanged off the left post. The missed opportunity hurt more when the Greyhounds tied it up 17 seconds later on Garrett Worth’s fourth of the tournament.

The Greyhounds weren’t done, taking their first lead just 55 seconds later on a goal by Ian Mageau. The senior forward carried the puck up the left wing boards and made a strong move cutting to the net around an Edina defenseman before shoveling the puck past Mackay.

More than Worth it

Worth added an empty-net goal, giving him five for the tournament and a Class AA leading 47 on the season. Remarkably, the senior has yet to receive a Division I college offer, much to the bewilderment of his coach Mike Randolph.

“I’m really frustrated because there’s not a lot of goal scorers around and I don’t get it,” Randolph said. “This guy knows where to go. Put him with the right people and he’s going to score goals. He’ll score at every level.”

Putting on the hits

Mike Randolph-coached teams are known for their physicality and this Greyhounds squad lived up to the reputation of their predecessors. Duluth East hit Edina early and often and did not allow the speedy Hornets to fly through the neutral zone as they are accustomed to doing.

The hit that drew the most fan reaction came less than four minutes into the second period when Duluth East’s Ricky Lyle read Walker’s drop pass to Jungels in the left offensive circle and the junior forward leveled Jungels with vicious open-ice check.

Hounds and Hornets History

Friday’s meeting between the two storied programs was the first since March 6, 2015 when Nick and Ash, the Altmann brothers, banded together for a pair of goals to lead the unseeded Greyhounds to a 3-1 win over then No. 2 seed, and two-time defending champion Hornets.

The teams have met five times in the state tournament since 2011, with four of those coming in championship play. Edina’s lone win in that span was a 3-2 state semifinal win in 2013 en route to capturing the first of the Hornets’ two straight titles.

No. 1 Minnetonka vs. No. 5 Centennial

One night after battling back from a two-goal deficit to eliminate St. Thomas Academy in the quarterfinals, Centennial jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Hayden Brickner and Jack Menne just 4:19 after the game’s opening faceoff. Like the Cadets, however, the Cougars watched the lead, and ultimately a Class AA title game berth, slip out of their grasp.

Bobby Brink and Josh Luedtke each scored twice for the Skippers in a 6-2 win, a hard-earned win considering the 54 shots Minnetonka fired on Centennial goaltender Travis Allen.

“We know it’s a 51-minute game,” Minnetonka coach Sean Goldsworthy said. “That’s kind of how we treated it. First four minutes didn’t go the way we wanted it but we had a lot of hockey left.”

Centennial goaltender Travis Allen makes one of his 48 saves against Minnetonka in the Skippers 6-3 Class AA state semifinal win over the Cougars. (MHM Photo / Jonny Watlkins)

The Travis Allen Show

Like Philadelphia goaltender Ron Hextall winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing cause against the Edmonton Oilers in the 1987 Stanley Cup final, Allen was the MVP of this game with his 48, often spectacular, saves. Allen even had the hat to show for it, donning winter headwear straight out of the movie Fargo, a donation from the Lino Lakes police department with the city’s crest affixed to it. The Cougars bestow it on the player deemed to be Player of the Game.

Allen, who as made 81 saves through two games of the tournament, said he thrives on all the action.

“I was having a blast out there, it’s not often you get shelled like that and can keep the game tied,” Allen said. “It’s my dream game, I just love getting shelled.”

“It’s not my dream game,” Menne interjected.

Scary moment

Centennial star Lucas McGregor struggled to leave the ice under his own power late in the second period after a collision at center ice with a Minnetonka player. McGregor got back on his feet and hobbled to the bench, immediately taking a seat in the back where he was examined by a trainer. 

McGregor returned to the ice following the second intermission and scored his first goal and second point of the tournament with 3:51 to play.

Tonka on the Brink

Minnetonka is in a position to win its first-ever boys’ Class AA hockey title thanks in no small part to star forward Bobby Brink. Only a sophomore, Brink led the Skippers in assists with 49 and, with four goals so far in the state tournament, has reached the 20-goal plateau. 

Brink scored twice against Centennial, getting the Skippers on the board in the first period and notching the go-ahead shorthanded goal just 59 seconds into the third period. Brink’s follow through on his third-period shot hit the post, knocking his stick out of his hands. The lack of lumber had no effect on his goal celebration, though.

Despite a mounting shots advantage with little to show for it, Minnetonka simply kept coming with the knowledge it was just a matter of time. David Andes scored what turned out to be the game winner 5:48 into the third and Luedtke put the game away four minutes later with his second of the game and the fifth point of the tournament for the Skippers defenseman.

“I think what you’re seeing is that we don’t have any panic,” Goldsworthy said. “We believe we played the toughest schedule in the state this year and, when you do that, it galvanizes you and it prepares you to be in situations like that.”

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All Images by Jeff Wegge and Jonny Watkins

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