LPH State Tournament/Expo issue

Volume XLVIII • Number 12 • Issue 1274

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March 5, 2020

Years 20 72 0 ✯2

MARKS THE SPOT

TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN pages 30-31

IN THIS ISSUE JOHN RUSSO

Let’s Play Hockey

JACK BLATHERWICK

Team concepts (Part II) ... pg. 7 To participants in the high school playoffs: you’re all heroes ... pg. 8

ANDY NESS

Skill versus drill ... pg. 7

JOSH LEVINE Setting goals for your training in the off-season ... pg. 9

GIRLS HS STATE TOURNAMENT RECAP

EXPO Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4

pgs. 18-19

Summer 2020 Hockey Training & Development

There is nothing so likely to produce victory than to be well prepared to meet the enemy

full clinic line-up & online registration at

www.mnmadehockeytraining.com

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MINNESOTA TWINS TICKET PACK

SUN, MAR 15 • 6:30 PM

Ticket pack includes a Twins/Wild co-branded chair

wild.com/twins

IT’S GONNA BE CLASSIC. Be among the first to get updates on tickets and other important Winter Classic information. You will also be entered to win a ticket package for two (2) to the 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® © NHL

wild.com/winterclassic

™/© 2020 MLB

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March 5, 2020

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March 5, 2020

Let’s Play Hockey

Minnesota Wild to host St. Louis Blues in 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at Target Field

Reconstituted CCHA to begin Commissioner search Aims to have new leadership onboard by July 1

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) announces the search for a Commissioner beginning with the 2020-­21 academic year (position available July 1, 2020). Seven prominent NCAA Division I men’s hockey playing institutions have formed a new Division I men’s hockey conference, the CCHA, that will begin play with the 2021-­22 season. The seven institutions include: Bemidji State University; Bowling Green State University; Ferris State University; Lake Superior State University; Michigan Technological University; Minnesota State University, Mankato; and Northern Michigan University. These programs have a proud history of college hockey success, with multiple appearances in the NCAA Tournament, as well as individual player success in the NHL and professional leagues around the world.

Academically, these institutions all value environments for their student-­athletes to succeed in the classroom and in life outside of hockey.

The search will be guided by Dr. Morris Kurtz, a noted athletics and hockey consultant, who has been guiding this entire process since its inception, including the readopting of the CCHA brand. According to Kurtz, reviving the CCHA moniker was well-­received and provides energy and momentum as the league begins this critical search process.

“Our announcement of the rebirth of the CCHA was well-­received by those that recognize the tradition, goodwill, and equity associated with the name. That good news provides a foundational platform that can be leveraged in moving ahead and as we look for someone to step in and take the reins as our new Commissioner,” Kurtz said.

Kurtz believes there will be no shortage of well-­qualified candidates for the position.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity for someone to step in and write the next chapter in the CCHA’s storied tradition. Interestingly, when we begin play in 2021-­ 2022, that will mark the 50th year since the inception of the original CCHA. I am excited about what lies ahead for these institutions as they seek to leave an indelible mark on the college hockey landscape.”

Interested candidates should access the CCHA Commissioner Recruitment website at www.CCHAsearch.com.

For additional information, contact, Morris Kurtz, Ph.D. at Mobile: 320-­557-­ 8600 or MKurtzConsutling@gmail.com.

Join us this week for the Let’s Play Hockey Expo!

MARCH 6-7, 2020 St. Paul RiverCentre

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SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The National Hockey League announced that the Minnesota Wild will face off against the St. Louis Blues in the 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®. Last month, the NHL announced that the Wild would host the 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 1, 2021; on Feb. 23 the League announced the 2019 Stanley Cup champion Blues as the Wild’s opponent for the outdoor game.

The 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® continues the tradition the League established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the onset of the new year. The outdoor game on New Year’s Day 2021 will be the 13th NHL Winter Classic and the 31st NHL regular-season outdoor game overall.

The 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will be the Wild’s first NHL Winter Classic and second NHL regular-season outdoor game, with their previous such matchup coming in the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™, a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Feb. 21, 2016. The game will be the Blues’ second regular-season NHL outdoor game, with their previous such matchup coming in the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, a 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Jan. 2, 2017.

Ticket information for the 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will be announced at a later date. Minnesota Wild Season Ticket Members, suite and premium seat holders will be given the first opportunity to purchase 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® tickets. For more information about the game, to receive alerts when ticket information becomes available and to enter for a chance to win tickets to the 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, please visit Wild.com/WinterClassic.

The Central Division rivals have

split a pair of best-of-seven series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Wild taking the 2015 First Round matchup in six games and the Blues claiming the 2017 First Round series in five games.

Target Field is home to the Minnesota Twins and one of the premier sporting and entertainment venues in the Upper Midwest. The venue was named Sports Facility of the Year in 2011 by the Sports Business Journal and was recognized as having the best game day experience in all of sports by ESPN the Magazine in 2010. Over its first decade, Target Field has hosted Major League Baseball’s Postseason (2010 and 2019) and All-Star Game (2014), multiple sporting events including Minnesota prep tournaments, an international soccer match (2016), NCAA football games (2017 and 2019), and several concerts and music festivals.

The 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will be broadcast live on NBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Game time, ticket information and other events surrounding the game will be announced when available. NHL Social™ will have exclusive coverage on all social platforms using the hashtag NHL #WinterClassic. Fans can sign up for news and information on for the 2021 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at www.NHL. com/2021WinterClassic.

Minnesota Wild single-game tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office wild.com/tix and ticketmaster.com. For information about Season Tickets, including 5-game, 11-game, half season and full season plans, please visit tickets.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative by calling or texting 651-222-WILD. Visit www.wild.com/pressbox for the latest news and information from the team including press releases, game notes, postgame multimedia and game day statistics.

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5

Inside Minnesota Hockey www.minnesotahockey.org

Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota and the premier developer of hockey players in the state. With over 67,000 registered players and coaches, it is the largest state governing body for amateur hockey in the United States.

The beauty of big games

by STEVE MANN University of St. Thomas assistant women’s hockey coach Kristi King has been a part of some really big games.

Before joining the Tommies, King coached Centennial High School to the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament title game in 2018. Prior to her college playing days at Bemidji State University and the University of Maine, King skated for Stillwater High School, where she led the Ponies to two State Championships and one runner-up finish.

With all of that big game experience comes a learned understanding of how to handle adversity as well as pressure.

As tournament play gets underway, King shared tips for young players facing the excitement, and anxiety, of playoff hockey.

Minnesota Hockey: Y o u ’ v e played and coached in big playoff games. What are some tips you have for youth hockey players as the season gets to this critical point?

Kristi King: My advice to players of any age is to keep things simple and try not to over complicate things. Don’t do anything you haven’t been doing all year. Eat the same things you ate before regular season games. Listen to the same music. If you like to take a nap before

games, do that as well. That consistency will translate from off the ice on to the ice. The second thing is to focus on having fun. I always told my high school players – some of these moments, like section finals, may be the highlights of your careers, so try to have some fun

with them.

Minnesota Hockey: Do you have any advice for kids feeling really nervous, so much so that it is making them feel physically ill or impacting their play?

Kristi King: One thing that worked for me is hearing people tell jokes or watching a video before a game, something that made me laugh. Laughing tends to relax you. You need to take the time to breathe and almost go through a meditation before the game to calm your nerves. Then, usually after the first couple of shifts, you’ll start to relax. Just know that once you get out there, you’ll be fine.

Minnesota Hockey: What about advice for goaltenders who shoulder a lot of responsibility?

Kristi King: It’s a game, have fun with it. Goalies can be extremely hard on themselves. So, having a short memory is important. Take it one shot at a time.

– BIG GAMES – continued on page 8

Cognitive training for tournament play

Tournaments can be one of the more exciting parts of youth sports.

In effect, they are a season within a season. The physical and mental toll of tournament play cannot be underestimated. With tools such as The Hockey IntelliGym, players are more prepared more than ever.

Fatigue from the compressed tournament schedule has both a physical and psychological component. Some effects of fatigue include heavy legs, inability to read opportunities, and lower on-ice spatial awareness As a result, coaches and players at times can tend to only train for the physical ardor of tournaments. And while building up strength and anaerobic ca-

pacity is critical, only focusing on these elements leaves a team at a disadvantage.

The Hockey IntelliGym has helped teams prep for tournament play in a powerful way. Originally designed to train fighter pilots, this software program helps athletes improve their hockey sense – including awareness, anticipation, decision making, concentration, and execution – which in turn improves the chances of performing in key situations. This has become an important tool when it comes to competing in tournament play.

Spatial awareness and quick decisions lead to higher team performance.

This is critical during any compressed

playing schedule. Players gain an edge when they preserve their mental capacity and can exploit time and space in a robust way against fatigued opponents.

The edge provided by technology such as The Hockey IntelliGym can be the difference between winning and losing a big tournament.

Thousands of players at all levels have utilized The Hockey IntelliGym to gain a leg up on the competition. USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program has utilized the software since 2009 resulting in an unprecedented run in international play.

Learn more about The Hockey IntelliGym at USAHockeyIntelliGym. com. Think faster. Play better.

Coaching Excellence nominations closing soon

In an effort to recognize our state’s excellent coaches, Minnesota Hockey, in partnership with Park Dental, provides the Coaching Excellence Award to recognize youth hockey coaches at all levels whose behaviors provide for a positive athletic experience, allowing players to develop to their greatest potential, have fun and learn to love the game.

The best youth coaches, regardless of what level they coach, typically share some of the same characteristics. They have a passion for the game that they strive to share every time their team hits the ice. They work diligently to teach age-appropriate fundamental skills in a way that makes sense to their players, and they place an emphasis on teaching their players lessons such as teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and respect that go far beyond the wins and loss they experience.

Perhaps, most importantly, great coaches care about kids almost as much as their parents do, and they show it every day.

Parents, players, officials and other coaches can now nominate coaches for the 2020 Coaching Excellence Award. Selected coaches will have the opportunity to attend a Minnesota Wild practice during the 2020-21 season, and all coaches meeting the award’s criteria will receive a recognition certificate. The certificate will be sent to the nominator at the end of this season so that the nominator can make the presentation to the coach at the team’s banquet.

To nominate a coach, go to minnesotahockey.org/coachexcellence.

ice

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March 5, 2020

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5th Annual

RUSHMORE CUP

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA Teams and Individuals Accepted

JUNE 4-7, 2020

Boys 2010, 2009, 2008; Girls 12U

JUNE 11-14, 2020

Boys 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

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Four days of fun playing hockey and seeing the sights!

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Registration Deadline April 15, 2020

763-242-9575 “Providing kids an opportunity to play the game they love”

northlandhockeygroup.com Contact us at info@northlandhockeygroup.com Like “Northland Hockey Group” on Facebook

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March 5, 2020

Team concepts (Part 1I)

Last week we discussed the importance of playing together as a team to be successful. We went over the concepts of responsibilities, enforcement, and effort. This week we will continue with additional concepts.

Effort (continued) There are several areas where effort makes the biggest difference.

• Defense going back into their own end for a dumped puck. Extra effort to the puck gives an extra second to make a good pass or a couple extra strides to beat the forecheck. This is a very critical second.

• Forwards on a forecheck or whole teams of forwards that forecheck all the way to the puck will be more successful.

They will be able to pin the opponent in their end and create many good scoring opportunities. “Normally,” players start coasting on a forecheck 30 to 50 feet away from the puck or on the way in.

Watch for this in games – it is the norm for most forecheckers. I’ve had the privilege of coaching with Eddie Christian (in the Elite League). We are extremely compatible because we both understand the effort/responsibility formulas. He tells his forwards to go to “ultimate” effort (125 percent) over the blue line on a forecheck. Then, when the inevitable slow down to 80 percent comes, they will still be at 100 percent. It works!

Take a look at the success Eddie has with his forwards.

• All players, in races for the puck.

This is what coaches call “winning the little one-on-one battles.” These are the little competitive one-on-ones that constantly happen all over the ice during games. The teams that put out that extra effort to win those battles have the puck more often. Again, players have to skate all the way to the “battle.”

two attacking wings.

COACHES’ CORNER

by JOHN RUSSO

Proper Defensive Orientation That is a big fairly subjective three words. It means that “team concepts” involve important defensive as well as offensive priorities. Probably one of the best coaches of defensive orientation I have ever seen is Jacques LeMaire of the Minnesota Wild. Most coaches in the NHL would agree. The key is to not stifle the offensive threat at the same time.

That is why I called it proper defensive orientation. Too much defensive orientation not only kills offense, but also the beauty and enjoyment of the game itself. That all being said, defensive play must be balanced in for every team. That means that every defenseman is part of the offense and every forward is part of the defense. That is pretty easy to say to a team. It is not so easy for a team to do, however.

For defensemen some of the items are: • Staying up with the play (close behind) as the forwards move up the ice. Many (a high percentage) defensemen are “lazy” up the ice. Not only are they not available as the “trailer” pass, but they give up the offensive blue line sometimes before they even get there!

They are at the red line when the puck turns around at the top of the circle or even deeper, and they can hold the blue line.

• Moving the puck quickly to the forwards. Defensemen who rush up the ice with the puck too often are not helping the offense – and they are hurting the

7

defense of the team. Good puck movement offensively helps defense.

• Learning to shoot properly. Shooting from the point should be “strategic.”

That is, it should be done in a way that can create a goal, not necessarily score a goal. Again, a concept that few defensemen grasp well. A defenseman with many assists and few goals likely gets it.

• Not letting opposition forwards behind them in the neutral or offensive zones. It just means defensemen can’t be too offensive.

For forwards some of the items are: • Backchecking hard and all the way to the net. Good backchecking makes a defenseman’s job easy, because there are few odd man rushes. Defensemen can step up and defend the blue line or can more easily push the rush to the outside if they have support from forwards.

• Covering well in the zone. Centers are defensemen and wings have specific assignments in the defensive zone.

Breakdowns of forward coverage are just as likely to be the cause of a goal as a defenseman breakdown.

• Not being too offensive in the offensive zone. Most coaches don’t want all three forwards deep in the offensive zone because it creates odd man rushes back up the ice. I like to have one forward at the top of the circle unless and imminent scoring opportunity exists.

One forward should keep at least one opposition forward in front of them at all times. Again, I like a high center with

Playing a “Short” Game Playing a short game simply means that passes should be short and crisp with players moving up the ice. Long outlet passes with players one or two zones up the ice is not often successful. If a pass does click all the way from the defensive dots to the red line, the player with the puck normally has no “support” – so an attack is not fruitful. Four or five short passes up the ice with full three forward (and good trailing defensemen) support is what gets the puck to the net with good chances. Support is the key word.

At all levels of youth hockey, most players don’t play full games with support as their objective. Consequently, when watching a game, we see a player with the puck with no good options that can improve their position – they dump the puck or give it up, or shoot from bad positions. If support were available, they would have good passing options that would move the puck up the ice – or at least move the puck to a better location.

Most coaches call this “playing well without the puck.”

This short game must be initiated by the defensemen; they can’t too often carry too far. It must also, however, be supported by the forwards. Forwards that just “head for the other end” when their defensemen get control of the puck are often providing good support. There are times when it is good to have a forward head into the neutral zone – to drag a defenseman with or to take advantage of opposition pinching too aggressively.

Most times, however, it is best for forwards to be in a position to take a good, short pass – that can be forwarded onto a teammate with the same idea in mind.

The very basic “3-0 flow drills” up the ice are good ways to teach forwards a short game. Next week, we’ll wrap up this subject with Part III.

Skill versus drill Skill development is a phrase that is thrown out quite a bit, especially in the summer. What is skill development?

How and what skills can all skaters improve on?

The first thing MN Wild Skating & Skills Instructor people have to understand is the difference between a drill and a skill. The skill is a specific part of a player’s game that can be worked on. A crossover is a skill. Walking the blue line is a skill. Pulling the puck off the wall is a skill. You can break down a skill as much as you would like.

For example, a stride is a skill that can definitely be improved upon. But how far can we break it down? We can break it down into the load phase, the extension, the return. We can get as detailed as we would like, depending on the skater’s age and ability. The drill is what we design to help practice and improve the specific skill.

I always say don’t lose the skill in the drill. What I mean by that is sometimes coaches worry so much about the actual function and pattern of the drill itself, the execution of the skill gets lost. Consider a simple turning drill for younger skaters. We are so concerned about the actual pattern of the drill itself, we can lose track of the fact the kids may be actually butchering the power turn form. So in actuality, the skill itself is not getting better, we are just repeating the same poor habits over and over.

The main idea is to improve the nuts and bolts of the technique of the skill.

Andy Ness

Years ago when I started working with pros, I had a good practice plan with really good drills prepared. After the practice, I had talked with one of the players who had set up the sessions and he explained to me that more “drills” is not what the guys want. They would like an explanation and the actual fundamentals of the skills broken down within the practice. When you look at these guys that have played in the NHL for 10 plus years, can you imagine how many 1-on-1s they have done? Or 2-0s? Or the best one, 3 man weaves. Guys have done these “drills” literally thousands of times. It’s the “same old, same old.”

Guys want more. They want to learn.

They want new and different drills that actually help improve individual skills.

This gets skaters engaged and makes the practice session more valuable. It is just a matter intense preparation and planning. There is so much information out there it’s really a matter of understanding what skills to teach, and how to implement them into a productive practice plan.

This is one area why all the pro players that we have like to work in small groups. The hour session is like gold. Every minute has to be used productively and with a purpose. Guys at this level don’t want to waste their time.

They want get to moving, they want to do skills that they feel will help improve their game, and they don’t want to stand in a line with 30 other guys. This is where the improvement happens. Guys will actually get the quality repetition that they desire.

Hopefully, that helps makes sense of what skill development actually is.

It’s not that actual “hockey drills” aren’t

Players want new and different drills that actually help improve individual skillsm which gets skaters engaged and makes the practice session more valuable. important but there is much more that we can do to help our skaters. I like to sit and watch a game and write down drills while watching live action. Trying to be creative is the key. Coming up with your own drills steams creativity and will help keep skaters engaged and challenged.

Andy Ness is the head skating and skill coach for the Minnesota Wild. He has also been an assistant skating instructor for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.

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March 5, 2020

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Let’s Play Hockey

To participants in the high school playoffs: you’re all heroes

by JACK BLATHERWICK

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

My phone rang at 5:30 a.m. This was weird, because Herb Brooks usually waited politely until sunrise, and that wasn’t for another hour. I knew it was him, however, even though my phone didn’t show the name of the caller. It didn’t show anything digital; it was one of those ancient rotary-dial versions.

“Yes,” I muttered after fumbling to get the right end of the phone pointed to my ear. Without pause, Brooks growled in his early morning monotone, “Cardiac, you misquoted me.”

“Huh?” I couldn’t imagine what he meant.

“You misquoted me,” he repeated. “You wrote that I said playing in the State Tournament was one of the greatest hockey experiences of my life.

That’s not accurate. I said it was THE GREATEST hockey experience of my life, not ONE of the greatest.”

This, from a man who played in two Olympic Games; coached the University of Minnesota to three National Championships; prepared and pushed his young Olympic team for six months to defeat the ‘unbeatable’ Soviets and win the 1980 Gold Medal; introduced to the NHL an innovative style of offensive hockey with the New York Rangers, who won more games than they had ever won before; eliminated the league-winning Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of playoffs each year, then lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion NY Islanders in seven legendary games.

And he’s saying that playing in the State Tournament beats all that?

“Playing with friends I grew up with at the park and my buddies at Johnson High School,” he continued. “There is nothing like that in the world. Each year the section playoffs are so intense, because it’s every kid’s dream – from the time we could tie our skates – to play in St. Paul, on TV and in front of packed auditoriums. It’s life or death to get there, and you live through the ups and downs with your closest friends.”

Maybe that intensity is why Jack Jablonski would get sick in the car on the way to the Xcel to support his team-

mates. They would eventually win the championship and raise their sticks to salute him as he watched from his wheel chair. They were a team of close friends for life.

Maybe that intensity is what would lead a 40-year-old former hockey player and state tournament season ticket holder to leave the school where he taught in upstate New York, hitch-hike 2000 miles, and show up just before the first game Thursday, at the spot where we tailgated each year.

It is one of the great privileges of my life to have watched these playoffs and the state tournament for seventy years.

It is the great spring party at the end of a long winter. It’s the St. Paul Mardi Gras, to be sure – but it is so much more. I write to salute every player who partic-

ipates. Consider it a unique honor to be one of the builders of this Minnesota tradition. You may not think of it that way a day or two after being eliminated in the playoffs, but you’re all heroes to us old-timers in the back row.

Your skills are often magical: skating is better every year, passes land perfectly on a teammate’s stick, shots ring off the crossbar, and goaltenders make impossible saves. Sometimes the skill is not quite at the level of the speed, but without fail, year after year, the effort is heroic, the celebration pileups almost dangerous. The tears of defeat are genuine, and – win or lose – it’s all shared with your friends. That’s what makes this experience one you will never forget.

BIG GAMES

time. Just remember what you’re good at, and work harder, be persistent, sacrifice a little more, to make up for maybe not having as much talent. Never count yourself out of any game.

If you’re expected to win, understand that there’s no taking time off or a period off or a shift off. Everything has to be 100 percent. Because no matter how much more talented you might be, if they outwork you, they will beat you.

So, take care of little things, win battles, block shots, do some things that maybe you didn’t have to do in the regular season.

Minnesota Hockey: What should players be focused on, or not focused on, during the game so they avoid succumbing to the pressure?

Kristi King: It’s tough because there are so many outside factors going on in the playoffs. Just have to stay in the moment and take one shift at a time.

You have to remind yourself to stay in it mentally, otherwise you may get caught up in the excitement and the louder crowd and not be at your best. Leaders of the team need to set an example and stay calm and positive.

Either way, players need to enjoy every moment. Win or lose, those feelings won’t go away and you will cherish these times forever. So have fun with it and take it all in. Those moments are what will make you want to go back and play again.

continued from page 5

Don’t over think it. Try to have fun. You will make mistakes and let some goals in. You just have to have trust in your teammates that they will score more than the other team.

Minnesota Hockey: Are there pre-game routines that young players could use to try to be as prepared as possible for the big games?

Kristi King: I always ate a peanut butter and banana sandwich before the games. It’s something that will help the body recover between periods. Drink tons of water to keep your body hydrated. Sports drinks, I’d only drink minimally during the game when you really need those electrolytes. You don’t want to overdo it on the sugar. And definitely avoid soda or carbonated beverages.

Eating right and sleep are the most important things you can do.

Minnesota Hockey: How about going into a big game as the underdog or the favorite?

Kristi King: Really, as an underdog, you need to understand there is zero pressure on you. You aren’t expected to win, so there’s no point in putting extra pressure on yourself. The beauty of big games is that anyone can win on any given night. Upsets happen all the

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March 5, 2020

9

Setting goals for your training in the off-season

by JOSH LEVINE

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

As everyone’s hockey seasons come to a close, the bitterness of ending a season eventually switches to a renewed focus on the possibilities for the next one. Players often ask and receive feedback from their coaches with recommendations for off-season training – get stronger, work on your puck handling skills, or improve your speed. But for most, the off-season will come and go without a clear direction or plan. Instead, it will pass like a blur. A player’s intent to improve his or her shot will be just that, an intention.

To make the most of your off-season, it is imperative to set goals. When I meet with athletes to discuss their off-season training and to go over their goal setting, they often set themselves up for failure. Their goals sound similar: “shoot pucks” or “stickhandle every day”. The problem with these goals is that they are too vague, often immeasurable, and very frequently unrealistic. Are you really going to stickhandle

every single day this off-season? Even while you go up to the cabin over the 4th of July? I doubt it. If you say you’re going to shoot pucks, how many are you going to shoot and over what time period?

Below is a step by step process we at Fortis use with our athletes to set goals for the off-season.

First, identify what athletic attributes and/or sport specific skills you would like to improve. Athletic attributes could be speed, strength, balance, mobility, etc. Skills could be puck handling, shooting, or tactical awareness.

For each area you want to improve, determine what type of training you need to do. To improve stickhandling, you’ll want to get a good stickhandling routine. To improve speed, you’ll need to consider space and training options. Do you have a good hill right by your house? Add in hill sprints. If you have a good training outfit you work with, ask them to put together a program for you. Figure out what opportunities you have before setting your action-plan.

Have most of your goals be six to

Officially Speaking: Time-outs requests Look, there’s a correct time and coachable place for the invocation of a team’s single time-out.

Being on the losing end of a 4-0 game with thirty seconds remaining in the third is not that time.

Now the fact that I’m even writing about time-outs after another big tournament left town pretty much establishes that my weekend games were lacking in controversy and intensity.

Officially Please, someone, anyone, at least swear at me or give me a reason to dime you.

SPEAKING Okay, back to my opening scenario. So this team elects to

by MARK utilize its time-out with absolutely no chance of winning and LICHTENFELD even though there were no tournament rules posted in the refs room, I was inclined to grant the petition since we were running ahead of schedule and I wasn’t in the mood for controversy. But just as I’m about to tweet the whistle, my partner overrules the request and proceeds to complete the face-off. Nice.

Naturally, as soon as the final buzzer sounds, the losing captain busts blades to me, demanding to know why the request was denied. And with 30 years and nearly 7000 games of hockey officiating experience, I did what any veteran zebra would do.

I directed the player to my partner.

The point here is that, in fact, USA Hockey has a very specific procedure for time-out requests. Rule 636(f) states that … time outs must be requested during a stoppage of play, prior to the conclusion of the line change procedure.

I love this rule. What it means is that there is no quarter given to the center who is slow getting into the face-off circle, does a pirouette or two, then skates to the dot, looks up at the ref and states, “time-out, please.”

Don’t believe me? Let’s check out the Casebook, Rule 636, Situation 11. Once the line change procedure has been completed (both teams had an opportunity to change players) the referee may not allow any request for a time-out.

Now this time, I promise not to mention that what should have been a simple casebook definition suddenly invites endless controversy because the professors at USA Hockey failed to use the word “shall” in place of “may,” which therefore invites a law school exegesis into the apparent authority granted to a referee to deny the request. But since law school deans are more likely burning the midnight oil as peer review advisors rather than mens league lumberjacks, it’s pretty safe to say that the intent of the rule is, in fact, to keep the game moving by denying time-outs that are not requested promptly. Case closed.

So back to last weekend’s tournament beef; let me tell you how my partner utilized his veteran Level 3 experience to diffuse a ridiculous time-out situation.

What he didn’t do was throw Rule 636 at the requesting captain. Rather, he simply advised the hoser that there were no rules posted in the refs room and in all his years officiating hockey tournaments, there have never been time-outs allowed in round-robin play.

Smooth. Polished. That’s an OS guy for sure.

Questions and comments can be sent to editor@letsplayhockey.com, via Twitter @OSpeaking or through the Let’s Play Hockey Facebook page.

Join us for the Let’s Play Hockey Expo!

MARCH 6-7, 2020 St. Paul RiverCentre

eight weeks in duration. The off-season is long. For high school athletes it is roughly eight months. It’s hard and probably not the most efficient training methodology to shoot pucks every day for that long of a period. By setting up multiple shooting goals that span your off-season, you will be more likely to complete a big goal. Your training will be more effective as well because you’ll have periods of intense focus and engagement followed by necessary rest intervals. As an example, perhaps you shoot three thousand pucks in three six-week periods. One in the spring (March-mid April), another in the summer (June-mid July), and in the fall before tryouts (October-mid November). Each six-week goal can be refined further too. Over one period you might focus on just getting your shot harder.

You simply worry about shot speed. The next period could be accuracy and quick release. The third might be honing in on your slap shot or snap shot almost exclusively.

Finally, make sure each goal is SMART. That is, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.

Too often, athletes will tell us they want to get faster and they’ll do that by working hard at practice. That’s not a measurable goal. It’s also impossible to quantitatively determine whether you’ve succeeded or not. Focus on specific and measurable goals that have realistic time lines.

Setting goals is not easy. The off-season is full of distractions. Sitting down for an hour today will make your off-season so much more efficient and effective.

Josh Levine is the Assistant Coach of the Bloomington Jefferson Girls Varsity Hockey team and owner of The Fortis Academy. Fortis works with youth associations to implement skill development programs with all teams, from Mites to Bantams. The program includes parent education seminars, coaching clinics and Fortis skill-based practices. If you’re interested in learning more, shoot Josh an email at joshletsplayhockey@gmail.com.

Follow Fortis on Facebook and Instagram: facebook.com/thefortisacademy and instagram.com/thefortisacademy.

Hockey Doc: Hip pointers

Question: I was checked into the boards a few days ago and now have a big bruise on the outside of my hip. It’s very painful and I have difficulty getting into my full stride. How long will this last and when will I be back to skating normally?

by ROBERT F. LAPRADE

Let’s Play Hockey Contributor

Answer: The injury you have described is likely a “hip pointer.” Hip pointers are very painful and can make both skating and walking extremely difficult. Hip pointers are caused by damage to the muscles which allow you to lift your leg away from your body (hip abductors). Injuries to these muscles can make it difficult to cross over your leg when skating, to perform on-ice transitions, and for your affected leg to have a long stride.

These injuries commonly occur in the mechanism you described, when your hip collides with a hard object, like the boards, your hip muscles can be crushed between the object and your pelvic bones. This can cause the small blood vessels within the crushed tissue to rupture leading to painful bleeding into the muscles.

The treatment for a hip pointer is based upon the severity of symptoms. The main focus of the initial treatment is to try to minimize swelling and bleeding into the tissues. The best way to try to control the swelling is to put ice directly on the outside of the hip over the area that was injured as soon as possible. This can be done up to a maximum of 20 minutes every hour and is best applied over a towel or your undergarments. The ice will make the blood vessels decrease in size (constrict) and will decrease the swelling and bleeding into the injured muscles; decreasing the swelling early and will allow you to return to competition sooner.

Rest is one of the most important parts of the treatment plan. In more severe hip pointers, we place our athletes on crutches until they can walk without a limp.

While almost all of our players will argue with us that they can tough it out and limp around with this type of injury, athletes get better quicker if they do not aggravate a severely injured muscle. We encourage them to stop using crutches only when they can walk without a limp.

Pain medications can also be helpful after these injuries. Our main medication recommendation for this is acetaminophen or acetaminophen with codeine. Generally, we try to avoid aspirin or any of the anti-inflammatory medications because they can thin the blood and because they actually increase the amount of bleeding and swelling in the first few days after this injury, which is counterproductive.

A compression wrap applied around the hip and upper thigh can also be very useful to help minimize the amount of early swelling that may occur. This can also be done with a foam pad directly over the area of the injury to help apply some pressure to minimize further bleeding of the injured muscles.

Once the bleeding and swelling have been controlled in the first few days, a rehabilitation program can be initiated. Your athletic trainer or physical therapist may choose to use ultrasound and warm packs to encourage new blood vessel formation into the damaged tissue and also to decrease the swelling. In addition, they will work with you on hip abduction exercises to regain the strength in your pelvic muscles.

Because the muscles that control hip abduction are essential to the extension phase of the skating motion for an ice hockey player, it’s important that you should gain your full strength prior to attempting to get back to competition. Returning before your injury has healed will hinder your agility and reduce your top speed, among other limitations.

While a hip pointer can be a very painful injury, with proper treatment and rehabilitation, it will rarely result in any long-term problems, as most of these injuries resolve with ice and rest. In addition, athletes who do sustain a hip pointer should check their breezers to make sure that they have appropriate padding over this area to prevent a reinjury.

Robert F. LaPrade, M.D., Ph.D. is a complex knee and sports medicine surgeon at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Edina and Eagan, Minnesota. He is very active in research for the prevention and treatment of ice hockey injuries, from mini-Mites to the NHL.

10 March 5, 2020

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Camps are held in Burnsville, Maple Grove, Woodbury, and Vadnais Heights.

•Campers will receive 2 hours of on-ice as well as off-ice hockey training each day. In between ice times campers play dodge ball, lacrosse, soccer, kickball and much more.

•Minny Beauts Hockey Camp will also keep your campers sharp with classroom sessions dedicated to the game of hockey as well as reading and math exercises. We want to create well rounded athletes and can’t think of a better way to spend a summer!

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Stick It to Cancer, celebration of life and hockey

Wes Walz’s top 10 reasons why 3-on-3 hockey is great In 2015, when the NHL went from 4-on-4 overtime to 3-on-3, it’s safe to say that nobody knew what to expect. The rule was meant to speed up the game in hopes that non-hockey plays, like a shootout, wouldn’t be a deciding factor for teams taking home points. Now, the NHL has found a sweet spot, and the game of hockey is better for it. For coaches, the anxiety of a potential shootout evaporated. For players, doubling the amount of overall puck touches and seizing the right opportunities only helps with development.

The National Sports Center created The Rush, a 3-on-3 cross-ice hockey tournament, that takes place at the Super Rink on President’s Day when kids are out of school.

The Rush emphasizes a fast pace-ofplay environment for kids ages 6-10 years old. Players will thrive on pure skill, creativity and play making.

Why 3-on-3? Small area drills and games are utilized by coaches at all levels of hockey. Splitting a rink into thirds allows for more shots, critical decision making and more opportunities for everyone involved.

Wes Walz’s Minnesota Wild Hockey School will offer a week-long camp in five locations with 13+ hours of on-ice training, including multiple 3-on-3 games to teach hockey concepts, led by a professional staff.

Wes Walz, Minnesota Wild‘s all-time leader in short-handed goals, gives 10 rea-

sons why 3-on-3 hockey is beneficial for youth hockey development: • IT’S FUN • Players learn how to maneuver in tight spaces while having good puck control • Shots per player increases by six times • Goalies see over double the amount of shots • Players learn team hockey concepts in a competitive environment • Pass attempts per player increases • There is a constant change in direction • Quicker game play • Players learn to play without the puck • It forces quick decision making The concept of playing 3-on-3 hockey and small area games began long before the NHL decided to change their overtime rules. Players around Minnesota have their first playing experience outside, on the pond, with their family and friends. Nowadays, coaches are using 3-on-3 and small area games as a regular teaching tool in their practices.

USA Hockey encourages all hockey players to play more small area games like 3-on-3. Players across the state can participate in The Rush and the Wes Walz Minnesota Wild Hockey School to have an opportunity to get more shots on goal, learn how to pass effectively, get open and benefit from playing in tight areas.

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The Stick It to Cancer hockey tournament was started back in 1999 as a fundraiser for Jody Anderson, a woman, wife and mother in the Centennial hockey community who battled breast cancer.

Unfortunately, Jody never made it to see year two of the tournament. But, for those playing in or sponsoring this year’s event, her son, former Gopher Hockey player R.J. Anderson, wants you to know that his mom, while now an angel, was no saint on the ice.

“My mom, she played on a women’s team and my dad was a coach, along with another husband,” says R.J. “And I remember, we used to go and watch her play at Edison rink, and my dad goes, ‘RJ, I’ve learned more, new, four-letter words that I can’t share with you in the first halfhour coaching that team than I ever want you to know.’ So, if there’s some friendly chirping out there, that would put a smile on her face.”

That’s good because the other thing R.J. wants you to know about his mom is not that she had breast cancer, but that Jody Anderson was all about putting smiles on people’s faces.

“I think, when you talk to people who knew my mom, she was a fighter,” R.J. said. “But she was also one of the most loving people that you could ask for.

She was always helping other people. She was always finding a way to positively impact the people around her and trying to put a smile on their face.

This brings us back to ‘Stick It to Cancer.’ The event takes place April 1719 at the National Sports Center’s Super Rink and is rare in that while it’s still very much a competitive hockey tournament, it is every bit as much a celebration. It’s a celebration of hockey and a of life itself.

“What’s amazing is, sometimes you see something pick up steam for a period of time, then it just kind of peters out.

This is not that,” R.J. said. “To see the support and the continued fundraising that has continued over the past 21 years is something to be very proud of. Cancer hurts too many people and happens all too often, but to see a great event, tied to the great sport of hockey, and the money and awareness that it raises, is awesome…to

see how it’s grown over the last twenty one years.”

Initially held as a fundraiser for the Anderson family, Stick It to Cancer has grown and benefited multiple organizations throughout the years. Most recently, the primary benefactor is the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer.

“The way the tournament has grown, I know she’s smiling, and she would be very happy to see the impact that this has made,” R.J. said. “The impact is making somebody aware of what is going on in their body a day earlier, and that gives them a day more to put a game plan together to hopefully eliminate cancer, then that’s all she would want. I know she is very happy and extremely proud of everyone who has kept this tournament going over the past 21 years, and would want to see it continue forever, until cancer is not a problem anymore.”

What keeps Stick It to Cancer going are the sponsors and businesses who donate auction items, the referees, announcers and scorekeepers who all donate their time throughout the weekend, and the players, most of whom play because they share an unwanted connection to breast cancer.

The goal of this year’s Stick it to Cancer tournament is to surpass one million dollars in funds raised. Seeing how the hockey community has embraced the cause and how it now seeks to benefit so many would certainly put a smile on the face of the woman it was intended to help in the first place.

“I think the foundation was certainly built 21 years ago, and it’s exciting to see where it’s gone, and she would want it to be about everyone else because we need to find a way to remove this thing from everybody’s life,” says R.J. “Removing it for one person is great, but if we can do it for everyone, or the greater good, then that would be the perfect vision.”

To register a team and/or find more ways to be involved in this year’s Stick it to Cancer, visit the tournament website, https://www.nscsports.org/stickit.

To make a quick and easy donation, text STICKIT to 71777.

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Minnesota Wild, Leipold family, each donate $25,000 to relief efforts in Nashville Area Fans can help support the Nashville community

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced the organization and Craig and Helen Leipold are donating a total of $50,000 to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to help support the relief efforts following the devastating storms that hit the Nashville community March 3. The team is donating $25,000, and Craig and Helen

Leipold are donating $25,000. The National Hockey League is matching this donation with an additional $50,000 contribution.

“My family spent over 10 years in Nashville during the time we owned the Predators,” said Wild owner Craig Leipold. “We have wonderful memories of our time there and our hearts go out to the community.”

In the wake of destructive tornados, power outages, road closures and rescues throughout Davidson and surrounding counties, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has activated the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to support the affected communities and nonprofits helping victims address their ongoing needs.

Grants from the Fund will be made to

nonprofits providing vital services both immediate and long term.

Fans can help support those affected by the storms in the Nashville area by donating to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee at www.cfmt.org or by volunteering for Hands On Nashville at www.hon.org.

HOCKEY. THE WAY NATURE INTENDED.

LAKE NOKOMIS • MPLS • JANUARY 28-31, 2021 uspondhockey.com

14 March 5, 2020

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Hendrickson Foundation hosts 1,000 athletes at Hockey Festival

Hockey is for everyone, despite any disabilities someone may be dealing with. You saw that if you were at one of the eight hockey rinks at the National Sports Center Feb. 21-23. This is the third year the Super Rink held the Hendrickson Foundation’s Hockey Festival. This year, the Hendrickson Foundation hosted 1,000 athletes from 54 adaptive and Warrior Hockey teams from 12 different states and two countries, to compete in a weekend hockey tournament.

In partnership with USA Hockey and MN Hockey, the Hendrickson Foundation has a mission of growing the game of hockey by making it accessible to all people, despite any challenges they may be living with. By doing this, the foundation creates a stronger and more inclusive State of Hockey.

The Hendrickson Hockey Festival is the highlight of the hockey season for many of the individuals participating in the Festival. It’ll return to the Super Rink again next year and will be bigger and better, featuring sled, adapted and blind hockey. Hockey challenges and develops players as individuals and athletes; it promotes physical and mental health, as well as sportsmanship, camaraderie, self-confidence and a sense of belonging. For many of these athletes participating in this event, this is the end of retreating inward and the beginning of reaching out socially to participate in events, create relationships and have fun.

In a 2018 interview with The Athletic, Hendrickson Foundation founder,

Larry Hendrickson said “After I met the people, how their lives are affected, it’s one of the greatest joys of my life.”

Larry unfortunately passed away in 2018 at the age of 75, but his vision for the Foundation is still flowing through his children and will always reflect their father’s legacy.

A Military Moment Daniel Acree is a MSgt. for the United States Air Force, who hadn’t seen his children and family in over two years. That was until the puck drop before the Sotastick vs. Fan HQ celebrity game on Saturday. Acree walked onto the ice to surprise his son, an athlete participating in the youth sled tournament at the event.

It was a special moment for everyone in attendance to be able to capture and witness this incredible reunion between a dad and his boys. Minnesota Wild defensemen Matt Dumba, the boys from On The Bench and other media personalities were packed into the Super Rink to witness this homecoming and support the foundation’s mission statement that hockey does indeed change lives. While the efforts made by the Hendrickson Foundation is to subsequently grow the game, the game itself is the vehicle that drives the true mission; enrichment, inclusivity and breaking down barriers for the athletes and their families.

Everyone who was there to witness the Festival had a wonderful time and were happy to share the love of the game. Once again, the State of Hockey

opened rinks and hearts for a cause that makes a difference in the world. The National Sports Center is grateful to have

been included in such an amazing experience that turns hockey into recreational therapy.

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15

Family remembers icon Bob Utecht on his 100th birthday

Submitted by the children of Bob and Donna Utecht Gretchen Utecht Eckes, Greg Utecht, Kristina Utecht Perry, Jen Utecht Rivera, Jeff Utecht

Bob Utecht, founder of Let’s Play Hockey, would have been 100 years old this year on Jan. 12, 2020. He passed away in June, 2007. He wrote, edited, and published the newspaper until his retirement in 1986 when he sold LPH to Doug Johnson.

Bob was involved in hockey from his earliest days, organizing and playing for the Stillwater town team in his teens and young adulthood. He was a defenseman, playing in front of his brother, Ken, who tended goal. During that time, he handled maintenance duties at the outdoor rink built on Lily Lake in the heart of Stillwater. One year he collected Christmas trees around the town after the holiday and there were enough to encircle the rink in the snowbanks against the boards to provide a great wind-break for the players.

He began writing sports columns for the Stillwater Gazette before graduating from high school. Fast forward to the mid-1950s when he and wife Donna settled in Bloomington with their five children. Bob helped co-found the BAA (Bloomington Athletic Association), a large youth sports organization, and began a peewee-level hockey team that played against teams from surrounding communities. That group was the nucle-

us of the first Bloomington High School teams.

He became sports editor and columnist for the Bloomington weekly newspaper in the fall of 1959. His interest in all sports was strong, but he always had a special love for hockey. By the mid1960s he was broadcasting local high school games on KRSI radio. He started a small, 4-page weekly newsletter titled The Skater’s Gazette and distributed it free at the few indoor rinks in the Twin Cities. Later that decade he attempted a larger publication titled Face Off. It was short-lived as the interest in hockey had not yet hit its growth.

With the North Stars joining the NHL in 1967, Bob auditioned for the radio job that went to Al Shaver. It was suggested to him that the Public Address job might be a good fit and he took it on. During that first year, it occurred to him that it might be fun to have the crowd ‘fire up’ at the opening faceoff.

He talked with Bill Friday, famed NHL referee, who agreed to hold the puck a moment at the opening faceoff so Bob could say, “It’s time now, so let’s play hockey!” The crowd cheered, the puck dropped , and a tradition was born. Interest in hockey grew and manifested itself in increased participation, increased attendance at games, and community initiatives to construct indoor ice arenas. Bob realized the need for the sport to have its own voice and began Let’s Play Hockey as a seasonal publication in 1972. It featured stories, statistics, columnists, rankings, advertising, and more. Its reach was statewide and featured stories submitted by hockey people from local associations. This focus on showing the sport from its beginning levels to the professional ranks was and is unprecedented. The paper was available by subscription or could be picked up at no charge at locations of its advertisers and Twin Cities area ice arenas.

Bob traveled to Lake Placid in 1980, Sarajevo in 1984, and Calgary in 1988 to follow and write about the US Olympic hockey team. Working with the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in 1979-80, he helped arrange lodging, transportation, and meals for the team as it prepared for the Olympic games using Bloomington rinks as its home bases. Bob wrote a short essay after the gold medal victory titled “From Squirts to the Top of the Mountain” in which he gave his belief that through all that went

into reaching the pinnacle of the sport, the pleasure is in the journey. That short statement is engraved on his tombstone at Fort Snelling. It was a credo for his life and attitude toward each day’s part in whatever one strives to achieve. In 1984, Sarajevo was snowed-in for several days. The several hundred Let’s Play Hockey newspapers that Bob brought with him were continually passed around the town and it became well-enough known that many overseas subscriptions began to be purchased. It certainly, at that Games, appeared to be a voice for American hockey.

Bob published LPH for 14 years, adding staff as time went on. There really were not technological solutions to many things in its first decade – databases for mailing labels, word processors, etc., were not mature enough for a small business to make use of them. Bob and Donna did all the work with their staff from a home office using typewriters.

Bob used LPH as a forum to boost the sport. He would assist any community

and association working to raise funds to build an arena. He would speak at association banquets and provide every attendee with a copy of that week’s paper. He organized Team Media, a group of local TV/Radio/News people, to play games against local coaches, etc., for fundraising. The team competed in both ice hockey and softball. Bob played until age 69 when he had a hip replacement and promised Donna he would leave the rinks and fields of play. After selling the newspaper, Bob continued to write a weekly column in it for many years.

When he left the PA job with the North Stars as the time demands of the paper conflicted with that role, he asked them to retire the Let’s Play Hockey call as it was his own. With the MN Wild being granted an NHL franchise, its primary owner, Bob Naegele, contacted Bob to discuss ideas on making the team successful from the start. Among many items suggested, Bob offered the use of the LPH call. Mr. Naegele graciously accepted, turned it over to the game management group, and the crowd call became a MN Wild tradition. Bob was brought back several times for season or pre-season openers to lead the crowd in the chant. He was always so grateful to the team and the fans of Minnesota for their reception of him, their enthusiasm for the game, and their heartfelt voices when they yelled, in unison, “Let’s Play Hockey!”

Bob ALWAYS wrote about hockey being the greatest game of all. Looking back as a family we understand many reasons why he felt the way he did. The game requires athletes to keep moving.

Everyone plays a share of the game. Everyone contributes by scoring or keeping the opponent from scoring. There are moments of individual brilliance, of teamwork brilliance, of sheer grit and hard work, and of unexpected puck bounces. They all make it the greatest game of all. Bob Utecht was glad to be a part of helping the game grow in Minnesota and elsewhere. There are no better words to hear than Let’s Play Hockey!

16 March 5, 2020

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Tradition.

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Midwest Hockey Program

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18 March 5, 2020

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– GIRLS CLASS A STATE TOURNEY –

Breck extended its Class A championship streak to three consecutive seasons following a 5-0 victory over Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in the title game on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Junior forward Sadie Lindsay scored two goals and assists on two, while sister, Ava Lindsay, a freshman forward, added a goal and three assists in powering the Mustangs (25-6-0) to their fourth championship since 2012. Breck rolled through the tournament by outscoring the opposition 23-2. Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (27-4-0) was making its first championship game since finishing runner-up to South St. Paul in Class AA in 2005. (MSHSL.org)

Breck makes it three in a row SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Breck made it three in a row in Class A with a 6-0 win over Cloquet-EsClass A ko-Carlton Saturday Feb. 22 at the Xcel Energy Center.

Breck bounced their way to another title by outscoring their opponents 23-2. They defeated Luverne 8-1 in the quarterfinals and then trounced Rochester Lourdes 9-1 in the semifinals.

Hutchinson Meanwhile, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton snuck through the other side with a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Rochester Lourdes and then a 5-3 upset of No. 2 ranked Warroad in the semifinals.

SATURDAY Hutchinson But they were no match for Breck in the finals.

10 A.M. CONSOLATION TRIA RINK Ava Lindsey opened the scoring and then assisted WINNER on two goals by Sadie Lindsay for a 3-0 first period cushion. Josie Lang added a second period goal and then Ms. Hockey winner Olivia Mobley scored her eighth goal of the tournament for a 5-0 lead in the #4 South St. Paul third period. Shae Messner topped off the scoring for the 6-0 win.

Mobley, Ava Lindsey and Emily Zumwinkle were named to the all-tournament team. Taylor Nelson, Tenley Stewart and Araya Kaminski were named for cloquet.

Mobley finished with 12 points and Zumwinjle led the tourney with eight assists. Lindsey scored three goals and added four assists, three of them coming in the title game.

Also earning all-tournament honors were Lilie Ramirez (South St. Paul), Alex Hantge (Hutchinson), Hannah Ladwig (Hutchinson), Sydney Phaneuf (Warroad), Geno Hendrickson (Warroad) and Karlie Meeker (Warroad).

CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT Willmar (18-8-1) Willmar

THURSDAY 11 A.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#2 Warroad

#2 Warroad (21-4-2) THURSDAY 10 A.M. TRIA RINK

Hutchinson (21-7-0)

FRIDAY 11 A.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#3 Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

THURSDAY 1 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

Hutchinson

Luverne

THURSDAY NOON TRIA RINK

#3 Cloquet-Esko-Carlton #3 Cloquet-Esko(25-3-0) Carlton Luverne (22-4-1) THURSDAY 6 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#1 Breck #5 Rochester Lourdes (17-10-0)

SATURDAY 4 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#1 Breck School

FRIDAY 1:30 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#1 Breck School

#5 Rochester Lourdes

#2 Warroad

#4 South St. Paul

#4 South St. Paul (19-7-1)

SATURDAY 9 A.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#5 Rochester Lourdes

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM Position School Defender South St. Paul Forward Hutchinson Goalie Hutchinson Forward Warroad Forward Warroad Defender Warroad Forward Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Forward Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Goalie Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Forward Breck Forward Breck Defender Breck

CLASS A CHAMPION

THURSDAY 8 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

CLASS A

Player Lilie Ramirez Alex Hantge Hannah Ladwig Sydney Phaneuf Geno Hendrickson Karlie Meeker Tenley Stewart Taylor Nelson Araya Kiminski Olivia Mobley Ava Lindsay Emily Zumwinkle

#1 Breck School

PHOTO BY MIKE THILL

Josie Lang runs over a Cloquet player in the Class A championship game. Lang had a goal in the title game, helping the Mustangs to their third straight title.

#2 Warroad

THIRD PLACE WINNER

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March 5, 2020

Let’s Play Hockey

19

– GIRLS CLASS AA STATE TOURNEY –

Andover spoiled Edina’s chance of making history following a 5-3 victory in the Class AA girls hockey championship game on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. Junior forward Gabby Krause scored two goals and assisted on another and senior defender Kennedy Little had two assists to give the No. 2-seeded Huskies (28-2-0) its first state championship in five state championship game appearances. Edina (28-2-0), the top seed entering the Class AA tournament, was attempting to win a fourth consecutive state title. That would have been an historic first for the tournament that began in 1995. Krause put an exclamation point on a riveting championship game by snapping a 3-all tie with 3:59 remaining in regulation time. Freshman forward Isa Goettl followed three minutes later with an empty-netter to seal the school’s first team state championship. Edina, who got two goals from senior forward Katie Davis, took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play midway through the first period and scored a goal, followed by another 25 seconds later for a quick 2-0 lead. But Andover answered with goals 23 seconds apart late in the period to forge a 2-all deadlock. The teams traded goals in the second period before the stage was set for a dramatic finish. (MSHSL.org)

Andover ends Edina’s reign in AA Andover wins CLASS AA STATE TOURNAMENT first state title with 5-3 win over defending champion Hornets Class AA

Farmington (18-10-0)

Farmington

Roseau

Andover ended Edina’s stronghold on the Class AA state championship by defeating the Hornets 5-3 in the championship game Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Roseau Xcel Energy Center.

SATURDAY NOON CONSOLATION After defeating Farmington 6-0 in the quarterfiTRIA RINK WINNER nals, the Huskies went into overtime with Minnetonka, but prevailed on a goal by Gabby Krause for a thrilling 4-3 win.

They faced the top-ranked Hornets in the finals, #5 Hill-Murray a team that hadn’t allowed a goal in the state tourney.

Edina defeated Burnsville 4-0 and Maple Grove 3-0 to pit them against the Huskies.

Edina went up 2-0 early on goals by Emma Conner and Katie Davis. But the Huskies came back with two goals just 23 seconds apart. Krause scored to make it 2-1 and Peyton Hemp scored the equalizer just 23 seconds later for a 2-2- tie after one period of play.

Davis put Edina back on top just 47 seconds into the second period with assists going to Hannah Chorske and Vivian Jungels.

Andover’s Tyra Turner tied it at the 3-minute mark and it stayed deadlocked well into the third period.

Krause then put the Huskies on top for good at the 12:58 mark with her second goal of the game. Isa Goettl added an empty netter to seal the victory and the first state championship for the Andover program in girls hockey.

Andover had four players named to the all-tournament team in Krause, Hemp, Kennedy Little and Jamie Nelson. Edina’s Chorske joined teammates Vivian and Tella Jungels as all-tourney members. Minnetonka also had three recipients with Maggie Nicholson, Hannah Baskin and Brynn PHOTO BY MIKE THILL Dulac being named. Roseau’s MemAndover’s Tyra Turner celebrates her phis Mertens and Maple Grove’s goalgoal in the Huskies’ 5-3 win over three- ie Brooke Cassibo were also named to time defensing state champion Edina. the all-tourney squad.

FRIDAY 10 A.M. TRIA RINK

THURSDAY 11 A.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#2 Andover (25-2-0) Roseau (21-5-2)

#2 Andover

FRIDAY 6 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#2 Andover

THURSDAY 1 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

Roseau

#3 Minnetonka (21-6-1)

#3 Minnetonka

SATURDAY 7 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

Burnsville (19-7-2) Burnsville

THURSDAY 6 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#1 Edina

#2 Andover

CLASS AA CHAMPION

#1 Edina (26-1-0) FRIDAY NOON TRIA RINK

#5 Hill-Murray (18-9-1)

FRIDAY 8:30 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER.

#1 Edina

THURSDAY 8 P.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#5 Hill-Murray

#4 Maple Grove (20-6-1)

#4 Maple Grove #3 Minnetonka SATURDAY 11 A.M. XCEL ENERGY CENTER

#3 Minnetonka

THIRD PLACE WINNER

#4 Maple Grove

CLASS AA

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM Player Position School Memphis Mertens Forward Roseau Brooke Cassibo Goalie Maple Grove Hanna Baskin Defender Minnetonka Maggie Nicholson Defender Minnetonka Brynn Dulac Goalie Minnetonka Tella Jungels Forward Edina Hannah Chorske Forward Edina Vivian Jungles Defender Edina Peyton Hemp Forward Andover Jamie Nelson Forward Andover Kennedy Little Defender Andover Gabby Krause Forward Andover

20

March 5, 2020

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Let’s Play Hockey

Breck’s Mobley wins Ms. Hockey Award

North Wright County’s Anna LaRose isClass A Senior Goalie of the Year A

A SAINT PAUL - The 25th annual Ms. Hockey Award was given to Breck’s Olivia Mobley at the annual Ms. Hockey Banquet Feb. 23, presented by Let’s Play Hockey, the A Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association, and the Minnesota Wild.

A Mobley helped lead Breck to their third consecutive state championship Feb. 22 A when they defeated Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 6-0. Mobley finished with eight goals in the A tournament and scored 57 on the season. She also finished with 37 assists and 94 points.

Mobley will play college hockey at Quinnipiac.

A Mobley emerged from a strong list of Ms. Hockey finalists that included Maggie A Nicholson of Minnetonka, Lily Delianedis of Blake, Sydney Langseth of Eden Prairie and A Hannah Corneliusen of Warroad.

A In addition to the Ms. Hockey Award, the Senior Goalie of the year Award was also A handed out to North Wright County’s Anna LaRose. LaRose won 17 games and stopped 657 shots this season, posting a 1.94 goals against average, a .927 save percentage and six A shutouts. LaRose is headed to play at the University of Maine next year. Other finalists A were Chloe Stockinger of Sartell/Sauk Rapids, Amanda Pelkey of Andover, Keni Allen of A Apple Valley, and Allyn Goehner of Forest Lake.

A Courtney Olin of Cloquet-Esko-Carlton was named the Class A Coach of the Year and Amber Hegland of Maple Grove was named Class AA Coach of the Year. Both coachA es led their teams to the state tournament. Maple Grove finished fourth and Cloquet-EsA ko-Carlton finished runner up in Class A. A Dodge County’s Jeremy Gunderson won the Brano Stankovsky Award, given annuA ally to a person who has provided leadership and support to the growth and betterment of high school girls hockey.

A Below is a list of all state honorable mention and all state awards for both Class A and A AA. The awards are chosen by the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association.

A A

HM

POS D

HM

D

Class A and A All State Honorable Mention List

Erika Broten Mahtomedi Sydney DeCubellis Orono Maren Friday HM D Marshall School Duluth Karlie Meeker HM D Warroad Brooke Pioske HM D Mound Westonka Kiana Bender HM F Cloquet-Esko Carlton Sarah Dravis HM F Rochester Lourdes Alex Hantge HM F Hutchinson Ava Lindsay HM F Breck School Michaela Phinney HM F Proctor/Hermantown Iyla Ryskamp HM F Orono Alyssa Watkins HM F Proctor/Hermantown Olivia Williamson HM F Faribault Mikayla Bohner HM G Faribault Lauren Hamme HM G Mahtomedi Ella Anick AS D Proctor/Hermantown Makenna Deering AS D South St. Paul Emma Dornseif PHOTO BY BRYAN ZOLLMAN AS D Mahtomedi Breck’s OliviaMaggie Mobley (left) was named Ms. Hockey and North Wright County’s Anna Hanzel AS D Rochester Lourdes LaRose was awarded the Senior Goalie of the Year Award at the Ms. Khloe Lund AS D Thief River Falls Hockey Banquet Feb. 23.

Lilie Ramirez AS D South St. Paul Emily Zumwinkle AS D Breck School Danielle Burgen AS F Chisago Lakes Hannah Corneliusen AS F Warroad Genevieve Hendrickson AS F Warroad Jenna Lawry AS F Chisago Lakes Sadie Lindsay AS F Breck School Olivia Mobley AS F Breck School Taylor Nelson AS F Cloquet-Esko Carlton Ally Qualley AS F Breck School Emma Schmitz AS F Rochester Lourdes Grace Glasrud AS G Delano Delaney Norman AS G South St. Paul Madison Clough HM D Andover Brenna Fuhrman HM D Farmington Addy Hackley HM D Wayzata Kennedy Little HM D Andover Jenna Timm HM D Maple Grove Mayson Toft HM D Alexandria F North Wright County Mackenzie Bourgerie HM Gretchen Branton HM F Wayzata Hannah Chorske HM F Edina Emma Conner HM F Edina Jada Habisch HM F Buffalo Gabby Krause HM F Andover Sloane Matthews HM F Wayzata Nina Steigauf HM F Hill-Murray Tristana Tatur HM F Maple Grove Brynn DuLac HM G Minnetonka Maggie Malecha HM G Northfield Chloe Stockinger HM G Sartell/Sauk Rapids Rachel Golnitz AS D Forest Lake Rory Guilday AS D Minnetonka Sophia Helgeson AS D Roseau Vivian Jungels AS D Edina Maggie Nicholson AS D Minnetonka Sophie Robinson AS D Brainerd-Little Falls Adelaide Burton AS F Blake School Lily Delianedis AS F Blake School Peyton Hemp AS F Andover Grace Kuipers AS F Eden Prairie Sydney Langseth AS F Eden Prairie Jamie Nelson AS F Andover Brieja Parent AS F Forest Lake Kayla Santl AS F Roseau Gabbie Smith AS F Brainerd-Little Falls Audrey Wethington AS F Blake School Uma Corniea AS G Edina Hailey Hansen AS G Blaine G North Wright County Anna LaRose AS

Class A and AA All State Honorable Mention List A A A A A

Class A

HM

POS D

A

HM

D

A

HM

D

A

HM

D

A

HM

D

A

HM

F

A

HM

F

A

HM

F

A

HM

F

A

HM

F

A

HM

F

A

HM

F

A

HM

F

A

HM

G

A

HM

G

A

AS

D

A

AS

D

A

AS

D

A

AS

D

A

AS

D

A

AS

D

A

AS

D

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

F

A

AS

G

A

AS

G

AA

HM

D

AA

HM

D

AA

HM

D

AA

HM

D

AA

HM

D

AA

HM

AA

HM

D F

A

Class A

A

Class A and A All State Honorable Mention List

Erika Sydney Maren Karlie Brooke Kiana Sarah Alex Ava Michaela Iyla Alyssa Olivia Mikayla Lauren Ella Makenna Emma Maggie Khloe Lilie Emily Danielle Hannah Genevieve Jenna Sadie Olivia Taylor Ally Emma Grace Delaney Madison Brenna Addy Kennedy Jenna Mayson Mackenzie

Broten DeCubellis Friday Meeker Pioske Bender Dravis Hantge Lindsay Phinney Ryskamp Watkins Williamson Bohner Hamme Anick Deering Dornseif Hanzel Lund Ramirez Zumwinkle Burgen Corneliusen Hendrickson Lawry Lindsay Mobley Nelson Qualley Schmitz Glasrud Norman Clough Fuhrman Hackley Little Timm Toft Bourgerie

Mahtomedi Orono

Marshall School Duluth Warroad Mound Westonka Cloquet-Esko Carlton Rochester Lourdes Hutchinson Breck School Proctor/Hermantown Orono Proctor/Hermantown Faribault Faribault Mahtomedi Proctor/Hermantown South St. Paul Mahtomedi Rochester Lourdes Thief River Falls South St. Paul Breck School Chisago Lakes Warroad

A A AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA

AA AA AA AA AA AA AA

Warroad

AA

Chisago Lakes

AA

Breck School

AA

Breck School

AA

Cloquet-Esko Carlton

AA

Breck School

AA

Rochester Lourdes

AA

Delano

AA

South St. Paul Andover Farmington Wayzata Andover Maple Grove Alexandria North Wright County

AA AA AA AA AA

Class AA

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March 5, 2020

21

Olympic gold medalist Cameranisi to players: Find your “WHY”

Editor’s Note: Dani Cameranesi is one of the most decorated female hockey players to come out of the State of Hockey. The former Ms. Hockey winner and Olympic Gold Medalist was the keynote speaker at the 2020 Ms. Hockey Banquet on Feb. 23. While achieving great accolades on the ice, Cameranesi had to overcome some hardships along the way.

She spoke on behalf of her journey to the more than 500 in attendance at the Ms. Hockey Banquet. Here is what she had to say: I would like to start today by congratulating everyone on a successful season. I would especially like to congratulate all the teams that had the opportunity to compete in the state tournament. To those that won, be sure to take it all in because it is quite an accomplishment to be named the best in the State of Hockey.

For those of you who may not be ending the season with a medal around your neck, be proud of yourselves as you left your heart out on the ice and did it together as a team. At the end of the day, you won’t always remember what color ribbon was around your neck, but the feeling of accomplishment, hard work, determination, and the funny moments with your teammates in the locker rooms are what you will cherish forever.

I am going to start by asking a few questions. By a show of hands, how many of you thought when you were 5 years old that you were going to grow up to be a hockey player? How many of you thought you would participate in and potentially even a win a state championship?

For those of you sitting up here on stage with me, how many of you imagined you would be up for such a highly regarded award like Ms. Hockey? How many of you imagined you’d be the first ever female to play in the NHL? While I definitely had this dream, unfortunately, I don’t think I’m going to be playing in the NHL anytime soon, and sorry to break it to you all, but the odds don’t appear to be in anyone else’s favor on that front. However, on the flip side, we all are fortunate enough to live in a state that eat, sleeps, and breathes hockey.

Women long before all of you sitting in this room, myself included, have paved the way so that we could have the opportunity to compete in the state championship game, to be up for Ms. Hockey, and have the opportunity to play in college hockey and even beyond that, the Olympics. It may be hard for many of you to imagine growing up without female youth programs, or getting dressed in a locker room all by yourself because you were the only girl in an entire program full of boys. Now try to imagine coming back to your first game after a serious concussion, only to be cheap shot by a player, and having a parent yell over the glass, “You deserved that because this is a man’s sport, girls shouldn’t be playing hockey anyway.” Just so happens that this player was me, and I know many other girls my age and older have similar stories, but despite all the hardships we may have gone through, we fought and continue to fight for a better future for women’s hockey.

The other day I was confronted with a question that I think is crucial not only for hockey but in all aspects of life. The question is as follows: “What is your why?

Why do you play hockey?” It wasn’t until I started writing this speech that I really have begun to piece together my why.

Growing up, my siblings and I were full of energy, so my parents did everything they could to get us out of the house. What worked best for us Cameranesi kids was playing sports.

My hockey journey began when I was just 2 years old. I might be biased, but I have the best big brother and role model out there. He might say I am that annoying little sister, but I followed him everywhere, mimicking his every move.

So, the second he put skates on when he was 4 years old, you better believe I was just one step behind him. As we grew up, my parents put us in organized sports programs, so I participated in everything from dance and gymnastics, to hockey and soccer. If my mom would have had it her way, I would be wearing tutus and covered in rhinestones, but when three sports became too much to juggle, I had to drop one, and you bet dance was the first to go. My mom loves to tell stories of how when was on stage dancing I used to have the biggest frown on my face, but the second I was in my helmet and on the ice, I always had the biggest smile. Seems backwards right? My love for the game, and the happiness it brings me, started long before I can even remember. But like many of you I’m sure, it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows.

There came a point in my youth playing career that a coach told me if I decided to take things seriously, I could have the potential to make it to the Olympics. I was ecstatic realizing that someone finally saw that potential in me; and from that day on, I decided that hockey was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be an Olympic hockey player, and I was going to do whatever it took to make those crazy dreams of mine become reality.

That meant making a lot of sacrifices – sacrifices I’m sure all of you are well-accustomed to. I missed out on endless high school dances because I had games, practices, or tournaments. I chose not to go to parties because I didn’t want to put my dreams of playing collegiate hockey in jeopardy, and that ultimately meant I stopped getting invited to social gatherings completely. I continued to say no to many of the “normal” things most high school students were doing, but none of that mattered because I did so by choice so that I could be the best hockey player I could be.

All of the hard work and sacrifices I made throughout high school didn’t go unnoticed, and I was fortunate enough to be recruited to play in our home state at the University of Minnesota. I might be a little biased, but for four years I was blessed to play in front of the best fans in collegiate hockey, my parents were able to attend nearly every home game they could, and most importantly with the help of some pretty amazing coaches and teammates, I was able to grow and develop as a hockey player but more importantly as a person. Playing at the University of Minnesota was everything I could’ve dreamed of, and more – but again, it didn’t come without hardships.

Out of my four years at the U of M my freshman year was the best and most memorable. We were lead by an incredible senior class – it was the most skilled, hardest working, most close-knit team I had been on. We made it to the National Championship that year and lost to Clarkson in an absolutely heartbreaking game. The following year, a team that many would say was not as skilled, fought with hard work and ded-

ication to win a National Championship on home soil at Ridder Arena. I had previously won two State Championships in high school, but nothing quite compared to winning that game. At that point in my life, it was one of the most rewarding and indescribable feelings with my teammates. Fast forward to 4 a.m. the next morning, Lee Stecklein, Hannah Brandt, and myself were headed to the airport to compete in the World Championships in Sweden, where we ultimately ended up winning a gold medal. 2015 was simply a year I will never forget; all the hard work and sacrifices finally felt like they were paying off.

But in true Cameranesi fashion, the feeling didn’t last long. I worked harder than ever that following summer, and began to have a breakout year my junior year. Two months into the season, at our very own practice, I got tripped chasing a puck full-speed behind the net and crashed into the boards. I was in a good amount of pain, but assumed it was just the usual bumps and bruises, so I jumped back up and finished practice. The next morning at class I was in so much pain I could barely take notes. Originally, I was diagnosed with a shoulder separation, something I knew I could handle.

I didn’t miss any practices or games, I continued to play and work my butt off, knowing whole heartedly my shoulder was not progressing. Fast forward a few months, I finally got imaging done and found out I actually had torn ligaments and would need to undergo surgery once the season was over. Despite the injury that year, I ended up being the WCHA scoring champion, Top 10 Patty Kazmier Award Finalist and followed it up with winning back-to-back National Championships, defeating the undefeated 30 and 0 Boston College Eagles.

Three days after the National Championship I underwent a four hour surgery to reconstruct my shoulder. It was the most grueling and painful thing I have ever been through. The recovery time was estimated to be nine months long, but I set a goal to be prepared for my senior year – and after seven long months of intense physical therapy and workouts, I made it back well before our first official game.

Having been injured the previous year, I was not able to participate or compete in any of the USA Hockey tryouts and tournaments. I felt as if my dream was slowly slipping away from me.

However, a few weeks into my senior season I received a phone call and was asked to come back and attend World’s Tryouts that December. I could not have been happier! I was on record that year to crush my previous years scoring total, and had my sights set on another National Championship and ultimately Olympic tryouts in May. In our second to last series of the first half of the season that year, we were playing Wisconsin at Wisconsin, I went in the corner to retrieve a puck, and got hit. As I was hit, my foot got stuck backwards in the ice. The second it happened, I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t finish the game (despite wanting to) and I ended up missing the following three games due to a grade 3 MCL sprain and high ankle sprain. Not to mention, I had to call the National Team’s GM and coaches and tell them I wouldn’t be able to participate in tryouts, which meant I again was not eligible for the World’s Roster. That was one of the hardest phone calls I have ever had to make.

Luckily, this injury occurred right before Christmas break, so I had six weeks off to recover. I tried to come back for our first series of the second half, knowing something still wasn’t right. After further evaluation from the best foot and ankle surgeon in the state, it was determined that I had completely detached

the ligaments between my ankle bones.

The following day, four months prior to scheduled Olympic tryouts, I underwent my second surgery that year.

At this point, it would have been easy for me to give up. To say that everything I had hoped and worked for since I was a young girl was no longer within reach. I could have given up that day … but I didn’t. I chose to get out of bed every day before the sun came up to go to the gym to condition before attending class. After class I went to PT, then proceeded to go back to the gym to get a second workout in, followed by another PT session while the rest of the team skated. I made it back in record timing and was able to put the Minnesota jersey on for my last couple games as a Gopher, and ultimately made it back just in time for Olympic Tryouts. And let me tell you, I not only had to fight for a spot on the roster that May – but collectively we had to fight tooth and nail all year long to win the United State’s first gold medal in 20 years. Not to mention, an emotional roller coaster of a game.

The feeling of standing arm in arm with your best friends, looking up at our flag, singing the National Anthem on the Olympic stage, is something I simply cannot put into words. Second best was the moment I walked up to my family after the game with a gold medal around my neck. The tears in their eyes is something I will never forget, because that gold medal is as much theirs as it is everyone who had helped along the way.

The amount of sacrifices our parents and family members make to ensure that we have a chance to live out our dreams of playing the game we love is truly insurmountable.

My advice to you young athletes is to make sure you tell your loved ones thank you every chance you get. Never take them for granted. Make sure you take the time to tell your coaches thank you and to listen to their advice. Appreciate them for pushing you harder than you ever thought possible, for holding you accountable on days when you need it, and for helping you to get one step closer to your dreams. Most importantly, tell your teammates you love them, because there will come a time for all of us, whether that be in a couple days, months, or years from now, that you will miss showing up to the rink every day seeing all your best friends. The bond you hold between teammates is one that will likely never be found anywhere else in life – so DO NOT take it for granted.

Now, when someone asks me why I chose to play hockey, I can confidently say, I am a hockey player because I love the sport and the game, and because it is quite frankly the longest standing love of my life. I can be having the worst day, but the second I step on the ice everything else in the world fades away, and it’s just me and my teammates. I am a hockey player because I love a challenge, and boy has it tested me. I am a hockey player because it’s the only place I feel I can fully be myself. I am a hockey player because of the lifelong friends that I have met along the way. My “family” now extends so much further than just my bloodline.

So now I ask of all of you, “What is your why?” Whether that be in hockey or any other aspect of life, make sure you find your why. Your why, might be entirely different than the person next to you or the person across from you, just as everyone’s paths are different. Some are more direct than others, some might not even end or begin with hockey, but as long as you’re happy and you can confidently tell someone why you’ve chosen the path you’re on, there’s no stopping you!! To every girl, in this room, FIND YOUR WHY AND DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF IT!

22 March 5, 2020

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U.S. Roster announced for 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship Team to compete for sixth-straight gold medal March 31-April 10

– NOTEBOOK – Three finalists named for 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award

23rd annual award to be presented March 21 in Cambridge, Mass.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

– Junior forward Elizabeth Giguere (Quebec City, Que./Clarkson University), sophomore forward Alina Mueller (Lengnau, Switzerland/Northeastern University) and senior forward Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich./University of Wisconsin) have been named the top-three finalists for the 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, it was announced by The USA Hockey Foundation.

The 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be presented at a brunch ceremony at Royal Sonesta Boston in Cambridge, Mass., on Saturday, March 21, as part of the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four weekend hosted by Boston University.

For more information about each finalist, go to www.pattykaz.com/ news_article/show/1090188-three-finalists-for-2020-patty-kazmaier-memorial-announced.

2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Finalists (listed in alphabetical order) Elizabeth Giguere, Junior, Forward, Clarkson University Alina Mueller, Sophomore, Forward, Northeastern University Abby Roque, Senior, Forward, University of Wisconsin Selection Process The selection process commenced in February when NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey coaches were asked to nominate players for the award. Players who were nominated by multiple coaches were then placed on an official ballot, which was sent back to the coaches to vote for the top-10 finalists. The independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, tabulated the ballots.

The three finalists, including the recipient of the 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, were then chosen by a 13-person selection committee made up of NCAA Division I women’s ice hock-

ey coaches, representatives of print and broadcast media, an at-large member and representative of USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States.

Notes: Since the inception of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 1998, Wisconsin has had seven topthree finalists, while Northeastern has had five and Clarkson four ... Alina Mueller is the fourth player from Switzerland to be named a top-three finalist, joining goaltenders Riitta Schaublin (2006) and Florence Schelling (2012), and defender Lara Stalder (2017) ...

Tickets to the 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Ceremony and Brunch can be purchased at www.pattykaz. com/page/show/717782-event-information. Individual seats to the event are $65, while tables1 of 10 are available for $600. A select number of sponsorships and program advertisements are also available.

About the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey.

Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.

About Patty Kazmaier The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University from 1981-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced the roster for the U.S. Women’s National Team that will compete in the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, March 31-April 10 in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia.

The roster features 18 members of the U.S. Women’s National Team that helped the U.S. capture its fifth-straight gold medal at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship, including Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.), Kacey Bellamy (Westfield, Mass.), Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.), Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.), Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.), Alex Cavallini (Delafield, Wis.), Jesse Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.), Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.) Megan Keller (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.), Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho), Emily Matheson (Buffalo, N.Y.), Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.), Maddie Rooney (Andover, Minn.), Hayley Scamurra (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.).

The roster also includes forwards Britta Curl (Bismarck, N.D.), Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) and Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.); defender Savannah Harmon (Downers Grove, Ill.), and goaltender Aerin Frankel (New York, N.Y.).

The players represent nine states.

Minnesota leads the way with six athletes, while Illinois has four. New York and Wisconsin each have three repre-

sentatives. Massachusetts (2), Michigan (2), California (1), Idaho (1), and North Dakota (1) are also represented.

A complete roster and staff list can found at https://teamusa.usahockey. com NOTES: Curl, Frankel and Roque all made their senior women’s national team debut during the recently completed 2019-20 Rivalry Series ... Bob Corkum (Salisbury, Mass.) is serving as head coach of the 2019-20 U.S. Women’s National Team, alongside assistant coaches Joel Johnson (White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Brian Pothier (New Bedford, Mass.), and goaltending coach Bri McLaughlin-Bittle (Sheffield Village, Ohio) ... The U.S. schedule for the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship is available https://teamusa. usahockey.com. All games will be broadcast live in the U.S. on NHL Network ... The U.S. will conduct a training camp at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine, from March 24-27 in preparation for the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Media accreditation application information will be available the first week of March ... Media accreditation application information for the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship can be found at www. iihf.com ... The U.S. has won the last five IIHF Women’s World Championships and captured the top prize a total of nine times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), including eight of the last nine tournaments...

Team USA is 77-5-6-8-1 (W-OTWOTL-L-T) in 97 career games and has outscored opponents 634-139.

Cornell No. 1 in USA Today/ USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine 2019-20 Women’s College Hockey Poll - Week #22 (First-place votes in parentheses)

Rank School 1.

Cornell University, 189 (18) 2.

University of Wisconsin, 172 (1) 3.

University of Minnesota, 148 4.

Northeastern University, 137 5.

Ohio State University, 114 6.

Princeton University, 90 7.

Clarkson University, 77 8.

University of Minnesota Duluth, 56 9.

Boston University, 33 10. Harvard University, 18

Last Week’s Weeks in Rank Record Top 10 1 27-1-3 22 2 27-4-3 22 3 27-5-3 22 4 30-4-2 22 5 22-8-6 22 6 24-6-1 22 7 25-5-6 22 9 18-11-6 20 8 24-8-4 19 NR 18-13-1 8

Others Receiving Votes: Quinnipiac University, 8; Mercyhurst University, 3.

Notes: Cornell holds the top spot in the rankings with 188 points and 18 firstplace votes ... The ECAC and WCHA each have four teams in the rankings, while the Hockey East Association has two teams... Team records are listed as W-L-T .

TOP-10 MATCHUPS: SATURDAY, MARCH 7

MARCH 6-7, 2020 St. Paul RiverCentre

No. 10 Harvard at No. 1 Cornell No. 8 Minnesota Duluth vs No. 2 Wisconsin No. 5 Ohio State at No. 3 Minnesota No. 7 Clarkson at No. 6 Princeton

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March 5, 2020

Let’s Play Hockey

23

Inside the NAHL The North American Hockey League • www.nahl.com

2019-2020 College Commitments Aberdeen Wings

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Zach Aughe University of Maine (Hockey East, D1) Pierson Brandon Colgate University (ECACHL, D1) Jakub Breault University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) Mack Byers Northern Michigan University (WCHA, D1) Clayton Cosentino Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Antonio DiPaolo University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) Cooper Haar Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Riley Murphy University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) Cade Neilson University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) * Jack Powell Bemidji State University (WCHA, D1) Henry Welsch University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Amarillo Bulls

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Matt Allen University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East, D1) Oliver Bezick Michigan Tech University (WCHA, D1) Josh DeLuca Bowling Green State University (WCHA, D1) # Ryan Lautenbach University of Massachusetts (Hockey East, D1) # Casey Roepke University of Wisconsin (Big 10, D1) ‡ Lauri Sertti Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECACHL, D1) Nicholas Stapleton Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Harrison Stewart University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (WIAC, D3) # Devan Tongue Bentley University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Nick Trela St. Lawrence University (ECACHL, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Austin Bruins

First Last School (Conference, Division) Ben Almquist University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC, D1) Barrett Brooks Western Michigan University (NCHC, D1) Corey Clifton Quinnipiac University (ECACHL, D1) Noah Kim Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Xander Lamppa Penn State (Big 10, D1) Hugh Larkin Western Michigan University (NCHC, D1) Brett Miller Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECACHL, D1) Connor Mylymok University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) Josef Mysak Niagara University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Carson Riddle Western Michigan University (NCHC, D1) Dante Sheriff Mercyhurst College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Tiernan Shoudy Michigan State University (Big 10, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes

# #

Bismarck Bobcats

Chippewa Steel

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Sam Ayd University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (WIAC, D3) # Zane Demsey Michigan State University (Big 10, D1) Jacob Dirks Ferris State University (WCHA, D1) Jaden Grant Bowling Green State University (WCHA, D1) Connor Szmul University of Alabama-Huntsville (WCHA, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

First Last School (Conference, Division) Erik Bargholtz Michigan State University (Big 10, D1) Jake Begley Colorado College (NCHC, D1) Jeff Bertrand Penn State (Big 10, D1) Brandon Cimino Bentley University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Ryan Coughlin Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Tyler Love Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Tyler Orban Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes # ‡

Fairbanks Ice Dogs

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Dylan Abbott Minnesota State University - Mankato (WCHA, D1) Parker Brown Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Luke Ciolli Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Tanner Edwards Minnesota State University - Mankato (WCHA, D1) # Lucas Erickson St. Lawrence University (ECACHL, D1) Jasper Lester Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Mason Plante University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) Trenton Woods University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Jamestown Rebels

Johnstown Tomahawks

First Last School (Conference, Division) Malik Alishlalov University of Connecticut (Hockey East, D1) Spencer DenBeste Lake Superior State University (WCHA, D1) Carson Gallagher Sacred Heart University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Christian Gorscak Niagara University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Max Kouznetsov Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Jesse Lycan Bowdoin College (NESCAC, D3) Tristan Poissant University of Maine (Hockey East, D1) Quinn Warmuth Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes # #

#

Notes

Kenai River Brown Bears

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Justin Daly University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (WIAC, D3) # Skylar Gutierrez University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1) ‡ CJ Hapward Colby College (NESCAC, D3) # Bryan Huggins Lake Superior State University (WCHA, D1) ‡ Zach Krajnik University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1) Porter Schachle University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1) Theo Thrun Western Michigan University (NCHC, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Aaron Bohlinger University of Massachusetts (Hockey East, D1) # Diarmad Dimurro Rochester Institute of Technology (Atlantic Hockey, D1) # Jake Felker Arizona State University (Independent, D1) # Valentino Passarelli Miami University (NCHC, D1) ‡ Antonio Venuto Ferris State University (WCHA, D1) # Noah West Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Joey Baez Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Sam Brennan Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Thomas Daskas Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Mitchell Digby Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Matt Guerra Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Eric Huss Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Josh Martin University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1) Stefan Miklakos Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Ludvig Persson Miami University (NCHC, D1) Matt Rickard American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Michal Stinil American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Maine Nordiques

First Last School (Conference, Division) Connor Androlewicz University of Maine (Hockey East, D1) Ignat Belov University of Connecticut (Hockey East, D1) Andrius Kulbis-Marino Sacred Heart University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes

Maryland Black Bears

Minnesota Magicians

Minnesota Wilderness

First Last School (Conference, Division) Eric Fawkes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECACHL, D1) Nate Horn Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Kimball Johnson Mercyhurst College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Zach Michaelis University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC, D1) Aaron Myers Bemidji State University (WCHA, D1) Nick Portz University of North Dakota (NCHC, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Matthew Cameron Niagara University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Chris Garbe Middlebury College (NESCAC, D3) Gavin Gulash Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Kyler Head Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Kyle Jeffers American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Alex Konovalov Princeton University (ECACHL, D1) # Jake LaRusso Colorado College (NCHC, D1) Mitch Machlitt Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Brody Medeiros Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Joe Nagle University of New Hampshire (Hockey East, D1) Zack Nazzarett University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1) # Cade Penney University of New Hampshire (Hockey East, D1) Patrick Pugliese Niagara University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Brad Zona Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

New Mexico Ice Wolves

First Last School (Conference, Division) Josh Graziano Union College (ECACHL, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes

Northeast Generals

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Clark Kerner University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East, D1) ‡ Jared Lambright St. Lawrence University (ECACHL, D1) Joe Mancuso SUNY-Plattsburgh (SUNYAC, D3) # Gerard Marretta Trinity College (NESCAC, D3) Matt Pasquale University of Connecticut (Hockey East, D1) Charlie Reid Wentworth (CCC, D3) Jack Ring University of New Hampshire (Hockey East, D1) Trevor Smith University of Vermont (Hockey East, D1) Alexander Tertyshny American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Jonathan Young Merrimack College (Hockey East, D1) ‡ Jacob Zacharewicz Brown University (ECACHL, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Odessa Jackalopes

First Last School (Conference, Division) Spencer Kimball Amherst College (NESCAC, D3) Adam Kolcon Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Vilho Saariluoma Bentley University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Michael Sacco Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes ‡

Shreveport Mudbugs

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Aden Bruich Clarkson University (ECACHL, D1) Reid Leibold Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECACHL, D1) Aaron Randazzo St. Cloud State University (NCHC, D1) ‡ Hampus Rydqvist Miami University (NCHC, D1) Bryden Sinclair University of Maine (Hockey East, D1) Wilmer Skoog Boston University (Hockey East, D1) Brayden Stannard University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC, D1) Jackson Sterrett University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East, D1) Garrett Szydlowski Western Michigan University (NCHC, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

First Last School (Conference, Division) Alexander Aslandis Western Michigan University (NCHC, D1) Josh Bohlin University of Wisconsin (Big 10, D1) Rob Christy Colorado College (NCHC, D1) Jimmy Doyle St. Lawrence University (ECACHL, D1) Jake Hale University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC, D1) Chris Konin Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Trevor Kukkonen Michigan Tech University (WCHA, D1) Ricky Lyle Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Nik Norman University of Minnesota (Big 10, D1) Brett Oberle University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC, D1) Cole Oravitz University of Massachusetts (Hockey East, D1) Marko Reifenberger Mercyhurst College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Ben Schultheis Ferris State University (WCHA, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Minot Minotauros

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Andranik Armstrong-Kingkade University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East, D1) Ben Garrity University of Wisconsin (Big 10, D1) Cole Hanson Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Ville Immonen Union College (ECACHL, D1) Dan Russell Michigan State University (Big 10, D1) Sam Skinner Ferris State University (WCHA, D1) Cade Stibbe Arizona State University (Independent, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

New Jersey Titans

Lone Star Brahmas

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Carl Fish University of Minnesota (Big 10, D1) Ethan Gauer University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA, D1) George Grannis Clarkson University (ECACHL, D1) Will Hillman Minnesota State University - Mankato (WCHA, D1) Grant Johnson Northern Michigan University (WCHA, D1) Austin Jouppi Bemidji State University (WCHA, D1) Jacob Marti Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Andrew Miller Minnesota State University - Mankato (WCHA, D1) Austin Schwartz Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Adam Stacho American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Ryan Ullan Northern Michigan University (WCHA, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Corpus Christi IceRays

Janesville Jets

First Last School (Conference, Division) Grant Anderson Sacred Heart University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Matt Barbolini Miami University (NCHC, D1) Jake Dunlap University of Massachusetts (Hockey East, D1) Grant Hindman Lake Superior State University (WCHA, D1) Max Itagaki Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECACHL, D1) Parker Lindauer Northern Michigan University (WCHA, D1) Nick Nardella Michigan Tech University (WCHA, D1) Robby Newton University of Wisconsin (Big 10, D1) Isaac Novak University of Wisconsin (Big 10, D1) Grant Riley Boston College (Hockey East, D1) Jackson Sabo Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Charlie Schoen Arizona State University (Independent, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes

First Last School (Conference, Division) Notes Maiszon Balboa Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Ryan Dickinson Ohio State University (Big 10, D1) Tim Khokhlachev American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Sam Miller American International College (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Anton Rubtsov University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA, D1) Matt Weber Bentley University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Springfield Jr. Blues

First Last School (Conference, Division) Seamus Campbell Quinnipiac University (ECACHL, D1) Hunter Longhi Harvard University (ECACHL, D1) Jonathan Panisa University of Massachusetts (Hockey East, D1) Joe Sharib Union College (ECACHL, D1) Caden Villegas Union College (ECACHL, D1) Ryan Wilson Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

St. Cloud Blizzard

# ‡

First Last School (Conference, Division) Brady Bjork University of Notre Dame (Big 10, D1) Matt Dahlseide University of Wisconsin - Stout (WIAC, D3) Adam Flammang Bemidji State University (WCHA, D1) Alex Murray Miami University (NCHC, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Topeka Pilots

#

Notes

First Last School (Conference, Division) Trevor Adams Union College (ECACHL, D1) Guy Blessing Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Matt Clark Bentley University (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Jakub Dobes Ohio State University (Big 10, D1) Shane Hathaway Lake Forest College (NCHA, D3) Joshua Langford University of Maine (Hockey East, D1) Austin McCarthy Ferris State University (WCHA, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

First Last School (Conference, Division) Lincoln Hatten Army (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Luke Robinson Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey, D1) Zach Stejskal University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC, D1) Gabe Temple Michigan Tech University (WCHA, D1) * 2021 - 2022 # Alumni ‡ Committed while playing for another team

Notes ‡

Notes #

Notes # ‡ ‡

Notes #

24

March 5, 2020

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Let’s Play Hockey

Boys State H.S. Hockey Champions (1945-2020) YEAR/CLASS

1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 TIER I 1992 TIER II 1993 TIER I 1993 TIER II 1994 CLASS AA 1994 CLASS A 1995 CLASS AA 1995 CLASS A 1996 CLASS AA 1996 CLASS A 1997 CLASS AA 1997 CLASS A 1998 CLASS AA 1998 CLASS A 1999 CLASS AA 1999 CLASS A 2000 CLASS AA 2000 CLASS A 2001 CLASS AA 2001 CLASS A 2002 CLASS AA 2002 CLASS A 2003 CLASS AA 2003 CLASS A 2004 CLASS AA 2004 CLASS A 2005 CLASS AA 2005 CLASS A 2006 CLASS AA 2006 CLASS A 2007 CLASS AA 2007 CLASS A 2008 CLASS AA 2008 CLASS A 2009 CLASS AA 2009 CLASS A 2010 CLASS AA 2010 CLASS A 2011 CLASS AA 2011 CLASS A 2012 CLASS AA 2012 CLASS A 2013 CLASS AA 2013 CLASS A 2014 CLASS AA 2014 CLASS A 2015 CLASS AA 2015 CLASS A 2016 CLASS AA 2016 CLASS A 2017 CLASS AA 2017 CLASS A 2018 CLASS AA 2018 CLASS A 2019 CLASS AA 2019 CLASS A

CHAMPION

EVELETH ROSEAU ST. PAUL JOHNSON EVELETH EVELETH EVELETH EVELETH HIBBING ST. PAUL JOHNSON THIEF RIVER FALLS ST. PAUL JOHNSON THIEF RIVER FALLS INTERNATIONAL FALLS ROSEAU ROSEAU DULUTH EAST ROSEAU INTERNATIONAL FALLS ST. PAUL JOHNSON INTERNATIONAL FALLS INTERNATIONAL FALLS INTERNATIONAL FALLS GREENWAY OF COLERAINE GREENWAY OF COLERAINE EDINA MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST EDINA INTERNATIONAL FALLS HIBBING EDINA EAST GRAND RAPIDS GRAND RAPIDS ROCHESTER JOHN MARSHALL EDINA EAST EDINA EAST GRAND RAPIDS BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON EDINA HILL-MURRAY EDINA BURNSVILLE BURNSVILLE BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY EDINA BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON ROSEAU HILL-MURRAY BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON GREENWAY OF COLERAINE BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON EVELETH - GILBERT BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON WARROAD DULUTH EAST INTERNATIONAL FALLS APPLE VALLEY WARROAD EDINA RED WING DULUTH EAST EVELETH-GILBERT ROSEAU BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S BLAINE BRECK SCHOOL ELK RIVER-ZIMMERMAN BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS TOTINO GRACE ANOKA WARROAD CENTENNIAL BRECK SCHOOL ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS WARROAD CRETIN-DERHAM HALL SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY ROSEAU HERMANTOWN HILL-MURRAY SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY EDEN PRAIRIE BRECK SCHOOL EDINA BRECK SCHOOL EDEN PRAIRIE SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY EDINA SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY EDINA EAST GRAND FORKS LAKEVILLE NORTH EAST GRAND FORKS WAYZATA HERMANTOWN GRAND RAPIDS HERMANTOWN MINNETONKA ORONO EDINA ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL

RUNNER-UP

THIEF RIVER FALLS ROCHESTER ROSEAU WARROAD WILLIAMS WILLIAMS ST. PAUL JOHNSON EVELETH WARROAD EVELETH MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST INTERNATIONAL FALLS ROSEAU ST. PAUL HARDING MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN ST. PAUL WASHINGTON SOUTH ST. PAUL ROSEAU INTERNATIONAL FALLS ST. PAUL JOHNSON BLOOMINGTON ROSEAU ST. PAUL JOHNSON SOUTH ST. PAUL WARROAD EDINA ROSEAU GRAND RAPIDS ROSEVILLE ALEXANDER RAMSEY BEMIDJI MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST RICHFIELD EDINA EAST GRAND RAPIDS ROCHESTER JOHN MARSHALL HILL-MURRAY IRONDALE WHITE BEAR MARINER BURNSVILLE BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY HILL-MURRAY HILL-MURRAY BURNSVILLE HILL-MURRAY ROCHESTER JOHN MARSHALL GRAND RAPIDS DULUTH EAST MOORHEAD ROSEMOUNT HILL-MURRAY LAKE OF THE WOODS MOORHEAD HIBBING MOORHEAD TOTINO GRACE EDINA RED WING DULUTH EAST WARROAD ANOKA HERMANTOWN HASTINGS EAST GRAND FORKS DULUTH EAST WARROAD MOORHEAD ROCHESTER LOURDES HILL-MURRAY RED WING ROSEVILLE AREA SIMLEY MOORHEAD ORONO MOORHEAD TOTINO GRACE GRAND RAPIDS DULUTH MARSHALL GRAND RAPIDS DULUTH MARSHALL EDINA DULUTH MARSHALL MOORHEAD WARROAD MINNETONKA HERMANTOWN DULUTH EAST HERMANTOWN HILL-MURRAY HERMANTOWN HILL-MURRAY HERMANTOWN LAKEVILLE NORTH HEMANTOWN DULUTH EAST HERMANTOWN EDEN PRAIRIE BRECK SCHOOL MOORHEAD MONTICELLO/ANNANDALE/MAPLE LAKE DULUTH EAST ALEXANDRIA EDEN PRAIRIE GREENWAY/NASHWAUK-KEEWATIN

SCORE

4-3 6-0 2-1 8-2 4-1 4-3 4-1 4-3 4-1 4-1 3-1 3-2 3-2 1-0 4-2 3-1 1-0 4-0 4-3 (OT) 7-3 7-0 5-0 4-2 6-1 5-4 (OT) 1-0 (OT) 1-0 3-2 6-3 6-0 6-1 4-3 4-2 5-4 (2OT) 4-3 (OT) 2-1 3-2 6-0 4-3 4-2 4-3 4-1 4-1 5-3 5-4 (OT) 3-1 5-3 6-3 6-1 4-0 3-2 (2OT) 3-1 5-3 5-3 3-2 3-2 10-3 1-0 4-3 3-1 2-1 4-0 4-2 6-0 3-2 8-1 2-1 4-2 3-2 3-1 3-1 1-0 7-2 6-4 4-3 (2OT) 7-0 4-3 5-1 4-1 3-0 5-1 3-0 7-3 4-2 2-1 3-2 (3OT) 5-4 (OT) 5-1 5-4 (OT) 4-2 5-4 8-2 7-3 4-1 5-4 (OT) 5-3 5-0 6-3 4-3 (2OT) 5-2 2-1 3-2 (OT) 5-2

THIRD PLACE

ST. PAUL WASHINGTON EVELETH MINNEAPOLIS WEST ST. CLOUD WARROAD INTERNATIONAL FALLS THIEF RIVER FALLS MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST EVELETH ST. PAUL JOHNSON SOUTH ST. PAUL EVELETH MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH SOUTH ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL FALLS MINNEAPOLIS PATRICK HENRY DULUTH EAST SOUTH ST. PAUL ROSEAU MINNEAPOLIS PATRICK HENRY ST. PAUL JOHNSON SOUTH ST. PAUL HIBBING ST. PAUL JOHNSON SOUTH ST. PAUL HIBBING INTERNATIONAL FALLS MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST INTERNATIONAL FALLS GRAND RAPIDS HILL-MURRAY HILL-MURRAY GRAND RAPIDS ROSEAU ROSEAU BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON SOUTH ST. PAUL HIBBING HENRY SIBLEY HIBBING ANOKA DULUTH DENFELD GREENWAY OF COLERAINE BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON DULUTH DENFELD MINNETONKA BURNSVILLE BLAINE ORONO MOORHEAD HENRY SIBLEY DULUTH EAST MAHTOMEDI EDINA WARROAD DULUTH EAST BRECK MOORHEAD PROCTOR BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON RED WING ELK RIVER-ZIMMERMAN FERGUS FALLS HASTINGS INTERNATIONAL FALLS GREENWAY OF COLERAINE HERMANTOWN ROSEVILLE AREA ROCHESTER LOURDES ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS ORONO DULUTH EAST HIBBING DULUTH EAST DULUTH MARSHALL BLAINE HERMANTOWN ROCHESTER CENTURY SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S WARROAD BLAINE LITTLE FALLS HILL-MURRAY WARROAD EAGAN THIEF RIVER FALLS LAKEVILLE SOUTH BRECK SCHOOL DULUTH EAST BRECK SCHOOL EAGAN NEW PRAGUE EDINA MAHTOMEDI GRAND RAPIDS THIEF RIVER FALLS EDEN PRAIRIE ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL EDINA HERMANTOWN BLAINE MAHTOMEDI

CONSOLATION

WHITE BEAR LAKE ST. CLOUD SOUTH ST. PAUL ST. PAUL HARDING MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN ST. PAUL MURRAY ST. PAUL MURRAY THIEF RIVER FALLS ST. PAUL HUMBOLDT ST. PAUL HARDING THIEF RIVER FALLS ST. PAUL JOHNSON EDINA MINNEAPOLIS ROOSEVELT THIEF RIVER FALLS MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN ST. PAUL JOHNSON EDINA ROSEVILLE ALEXANDER RAMSEY ROSEAU ROSEVILLE ALEXANDER RAMSEY GREENWAY OF COLERAINE ROSEAU ROSEAU GREENWAY OF COLERAINE NORTH ST. PAUL HASTINGS EDINA MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST HIBBING DULUTH EAST BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY HILL-MURRAY HILL-MURRAY GRAND RAPIDS IRONDALE GRAND RAPIDS CLOQUET EDINA ROSEAU HIBBING BEMIDJI SOUTH ST. PAUL DULUTH DENFELD EDINA WHITE BEAR LAKE RICHFIELD APPLE VALLEY MINNEAPOLIS ROOSEVELT CLOQUET/ESKO/CARLTON ORONO WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA MINNEAPOLIS EDISON BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON HUTCHINSON ALEXANDRIA SIMLEY ANOKA BRECK HASTINGS EAST GRAND FORKS BLAINE ST. THOMAS ACADEMY ROSEAU FARMINGTON EASTVIEW EAST GRAND FORKS ELK RIVER-ZIMMERMAN EAST GRAND FORKS WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA HIBBING ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS WARROAD WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA ALBERT LEA MINNETONKA BLAKE SCHOOL EDINA ORONO WOODBURY LITTLE FALLS EDINA ROCHESTER LOURDES DULUTH EAST ROCHESTER LOURDES LAKEVILLE NORTH ROCHESTER LOURDES DULUTH EAST LITTLE FALLS MOORHEAD DULUTH MARSHALL ROSEAU TOTINO GRACE SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY NEW PRAGUE BEMIDJI ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY DELANO SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY THIEF RIVER FALLS DULUTH EAST DELANO

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Let’s Play Hockey

March 5, 2020

25

Top Ten Candidates for 36th annual Minnesota Minute Men Mr. Hockey Award announced Hendrickson Foundation recipient of Mr. Hockey Ambassador Award

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Minute Men announced the Top Ten Candidates for the 36th Annual Mr. Hockey Award. Candidates are Blake Biondi (Hermantown), Jake Boltmann (Edina), Matthew Gleason (Cretin-Derham Hall), Luke Gramer (Moorhead), Wyatt Kaiser (Andover), Blake Perbix (St. Cloud Cathedral), Carsen Richels (Blaine), Nate Schweitzer (Benilde-St. Margaret’s), Grant Slukynsky (Warroad) and Ben Steeves (Eden Prairie).

The Minnesota Minute Men also announced that Carter Clafton (Grand Rapids), Hudson Hodges (Moorhead) and Remington Keopple (Hill-Murray) are the finalists for The Frank Brimsek Award, in recognition of the state’s top senior goaltender. The Hendrickson Foundation is the recipient of the third annual Mr. Hockey Ambassador Award, given to an influential leader dedicated to the growth and development of hockey in Minnesota.

The 36th annual Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet will be held at noon on Sunday, March 8, in the Saint Paul RiverCentre Grand Ballroom (175 Kellogg Boulevard) and hosted by Brian Bonin. The Minnesota State High School League Boys’ Hockey Tournament will be held at Xcel Energy Center and Mariucci Arena, March 4-7. The Minnesota Wild sponsors the Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet. The Mr. Hockey Award is hosted, coordinated, and presented by the Minnesota Minute Men. Hockey fans and the general public are encouraged to purchase tickets and attend the Mr. Hockey Award Banquet.

For more information and to purchase tickets to the banquet go to https://

minutemen.sportngin.com/register/ form/121370483. Individual tickets are $40.

The Mr. Hockey Award is given to the outstanding senior high school boys’ hockey player in the state of Minnesota and is selected by a panel of National Hockey League Scouts, Junior Scouts/Coaches and selected media members from around the state. Four other awards will be presented at the banquet: The Frank Brimsek Award, The John Mariucci Award, given to the Class A and Class AA high school coaches of the year, The Cliff Thompson Award,presented to the “Old Timer Coach” of the year and the Mr. Hockey Ambassador Award.

Previous Mr. Hockey Award winners are: Bryce Brodzinski (2019), Sam Walker (2018), Casey Mittelstadt (2017), Riley Tufte (2016), Jake Jaremko (2015), Avery Peterson (2014), Grant Besse (2013), Justin Kloos (2012), Kyle Rau (2011), Nick Bjugstad (2010), Nick Leddy (2009), Aaron Ness (2008), Ryan McDonagh (2007), David Fischer (2006), Brian Lee (2005), Tom Gorowsky (2004), Nate Dey (2003), Gino Guyer (2002), Marty Sertich (2001), Paul Martin (2000), Jeff Taffe (1999), John Pohl (1998), Aaron Miskovich (1997), Dave Spehar (1996), Erik Rasmussen (1995), Mike Crowley (1994), Nick Checco (1993), Brian Bonin (1992), Darby Hendrickson (1991), Joe Dziedzic (1990), Trent Klatt (1989), Larry Olimb (1988), Kris Miller (1987), George Pelawa (1986) and Tom Chorske (1985).

Previous Frank Brimsek Award winners are: Charlie Glockner (2019),

Minnesota Wild announces five-year extension of partnership with iHeartMedia Minneapolis to broadcast games on KFAN 100.3 FM SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced a five-year extension of its partnership with iHeartMedia Minneapolis’ KFAN, The Twin Cities Sports Leader, to broadcast all preseason, regular season and Stanley Cup Playoff games on 100.3 FM through the 2024-2025 season. KFAN is currently in its ninth season as the official radio flagship home of the Minnesota Wild.

“We are excited to announce that Wild games will continue to be heard on KFAN,” said Minnesota Wild President Matt Majka. “KFAN and iHeartMedia have been fantastic partners with our organization and we are thrilled that the tremendous programming and access they provide fans in the State of Hockey will continue for the next five seasons.”

The extension includes continued coverage of every Wild game including a pre-game and postgame show. KFAN will also continue to host “Wild Weekly” as well as “Wild Fanline” after select games. Full promotional support will also be provided on KFAN’s sister stations including: 101.3 KDWB, Kool 108, Cities 97.1, K102, Twin Cities News Talk, ALT 93.3, KQQL-HD3 and KTCZ-HD3.

“We are excited to continue as the home of Minnesota Wild Hockey on KFAN,” said Jeff Tyler, Region President for iHeartMedia. “We are proud to be on the Road to the Stanley Cup with everyone involved in the Minnesota Wild organization. It’s the bond for fans in the State of Hockey and a core partnership for KFAN and all of our iHeartMedia brands in the Twin Cities.” iHeartMedia is the leading media outlet in the Minneapolis market with multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; live events; data; and its digital businesses and platforms, including mobile, social and its own iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s free all-in-one digital music, podcasting and live streaming radio service – with more than 2 billion app downloads and more than 135 million registered users.

Minnesota Wild single-game tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office wild.com/tix and ticketmaster. com. For information about Season Tickets, including 5-game, 11-game, half season and full season plans, please visit tickets.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative by calling or texting 651-222-WILD. Visit www.wild.com/pressbox for the latest news and information from the team including press releases, game notes, postgame multimedia and game day statistics.

PHOTO BY WALT BARRY

Loren Feldkamp, Executive Director of the Minnesota All Sports Alliance (left), Bryce Brodzinski ’19 Mr. Hockey winner, and Marty Mjelleli, Chairman of the Mr. Hockey Award (right) pose for a picture at Mariucci Arena. Bryce received his Mr. Hockey ring after completing a stellar senior year at Blaine High School. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick is currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota.

Atticus Kelly (2018), Jake Begley (2017), Nick Althaus (2016), Dyllan Lubbesmeyer (2015), Hunter Shepard (2014), David Zevnik (2013), Michael Bitzer (2012), Alex Lyon (2011), Zane Gothberg (2010), Casey O’Connor (2009), Joe Phillippi (2008), Reid Ellingson (2007), Austin Lee (2006), Alec

Richards (2005), Matt Lundin (2004), Jon Anderson (2003), Josh Johnson (2002), Eric Aarnio (2001), Jake Brant (2000), Adam Laaksonen (1999), Adam Coole (1998), Kyle Kolquist (1997), Karl Goehring (1996) and Todd Kelzenberg (1995).

and receive a FREE NHL puck when you order!

26 March 5, 2020

Let’s Play Hockey

The defending champions from St. Cloud Cathedral are making their second consecutive appearance and are ranked 10th overall.

www.stateofhockey.com

PHOTO BY SHAFIN KAHN

Boys’ Hockey State Tournament schedule and highlights

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. –The Boys’ Hockey State Tournament is scheduled for March 4-7 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. Here is a look at the tournament: Fast Facts The schedule:

Class A

Wednesday, March 4 at Xcel Energy Center Mankato East/Loyola (14-13-1) vs. No. 2 seed St. Cloud Cathedral (23-3-1), 11 a.m.

Monticello (20-7-1) vs. No. 3 Hermantown (21-3-4), 1 p.m.

Hutchinson (19-8-1) vs. No. 1 Warroad (26-2-0), 6 p.m.

No. 5 Delano (22-6-0) vs. No. 4 Mahtomedi (20-8-0), 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 5 at 3M Arena at Mariucci, University of Minnesota Consolation semifinals: 10 a.m., noon Friday, March 6 at Xcel Energy Center Championship semifinals: 11 a.m., 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 7 at 3M Arena at Mariucci, University of Minnesota Consolation final: 10 a.m. at Xcel Energy Center Third place: 9 a.m.

Championship: Noon

Class AA

Thursday, March 5 at Xcel Energy Center Quarterfinals Maple Grove (20-8-0) vs. No. 2 The Blake School, Minneapolis (22-6-0), 11 a.m.

Lakeville South (21-7-0) vs. No. 3 Eden Prairie (22-5-1), 1 p.m.

St. Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights (18-8-2) vs. No. 1 Andover (24-3-1), 6 p.m.

No. 5 Hill-Murray, Maplewood (19-6-3) vs. No. 4 Moorhead (21-5-1), 8 p.m.

Friday, March 6 at 3M Arena at Mariucci, University of Minnesota Consolation semifinals: 10 a.m., noon at Xcel Energy Center Championship semifinals: 6 p.m., 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 7 at 3M Arena at Mariucci, University of Minnesota Consolation final: Noon at Xcel Energy Center Third place: 4 p.m.

Championship: 7 p.m.

Television: 45TV will broadcast all quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games. The stream can be found at prep45.com. School Space Media will stream the consolation rounds and third-place games. View the stream for free at www.prepspotlight.tv .

Tickets: Single-session tickets for all sessions at Xcel Energy Center are $19 for adults and $12 for students. Single session tickets at 3M Arena are $14 for adults and $9 for students.

Gates open: One hour prior to each session.

Game results: Posted on the League’s website at legacy.mshsl.org.

Social media: Follow the tournament on the League’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @MSHSL and @MSHSLJohn.

Class A quarterfinal highlights Mankato East/Loyola vs. No. 2 St. Cloud Cathedral – These teams met in late December with St. Cloud Cathedral winning 9-3. Mankato East/Loyola returns to the tournament after a one-year hiatus. The Cougars are making their third appearance overall. Layten Liffrig had two assists for Mankato East/Loyola in their 3-1 victory over Mankato West in the section final. The defending champions from St. Cloud Cathedral are making their second consecutive appearance and 10th overall. Jack Smith netted three of the Crusaders’ first four goals as they defeated Alexandria Area 8-1 in the section championship game. Smith finished the game with four goals.

Monticello vs. No. 3 Hermantown – Monticello, which includes students from Maple Lake, is making its second appearance in this format. They made their last in 2018. The Moose made one additional trip with Annandale in their co-op in 2017.

Hermantown returns after a one-year absence. The Hawks are making their 16th appearance and won previous titles in 2007, 2016, and 2017. Blake Biondi tallied two goals and two assists as Hermantown defeated Duluth Denfeld 6-0 in the section final. Zach Kilen added two goals and three assists for the Hawks.

Hutchinson vs. No. 1 Warroad –Hutchinson is making its fourth appearance as a solo program. The Tigers made one additional appearance as a co-op with New Century Charter School in 2009. Austin Jozwick leads this year’s Hutchinson squad, scoring 33 goals and adding 26 assists during the regular season. Hayden Jensen was also key for the Tigers with 20 goals and 36 points this season. Warroad returns for its 22nd appearance, but first since 2010. The Warriors are looking for their fifth title, having won previously in 1994, 1996, 2003, and 2005. Grant Slukynsky scored a goal and added two assists as Warroad defeated East Grand Forks 4-1 in the section title game.

No. 5 Delano vs. No. 4 Mahtomedi – Delano, which includes students from Rockford, returns for its second consecutive appearance and third overall. The Tigers took consolation honors in 2019. The Delano offense has nine players that posted at least 14 points this season. Adam Brown leads the Tigers with 39 points, and Jesse Peterson and Gunnar Paulson added 33 apiece. Mahtomedi was third in the 2019 state tournament. The Zephyrs are making their fourth consecutive appearance and 12th overall. Ethan Peterson scored twice for Mahtomedi in the Zephyrs’ 5-1 victory over South St. Paul in the section final.

Class AA quarterfinal highlights Maple Grove vs. No. 2 The Blake School – These teams met in the regular-season finale with Maple Grove winning, 5-4. Maple Grove returns to the tournament after a one-year hiatus. This is the third overall appearance for the Crimson. Jack Wieneke made 45 saves for Maple Grove as it defeated Blaine, 3-0, in the section final. The Blake School is making its sixth tournament appearance, but first since 2008.

Gavin Best scored on a penalty shot in overtime to secure this year’s appearance. The Bears defeated Benilde-St. Margaret’s 4-3 in the section title game.

Lakeville South vs. No. 3 Eden Prairie – Lakeville South was sixth in 2019. The Cougars are making their second consecutive appearance and fifth overall. Lakeville South scored three unanswered goals in its 3-2 section final victory over Hastings.

Cade Ahrenholz scored the game-winner for the Cougars. Eden Prairie, which took runner-up honors in 2019, returns for its second consecutive and 12th overall appearance. The Eagles won previous championships in 2009 and 2011.

St. Thomas Academy vs. No. 1 Andover – St. Thomas Academy is making its fourth consecutive appearance and 13th overall. The Cadets placed fourth last season.

St. Thomas Academy captured titles in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Tommy Aitken made 29 saves, including 12 in the first period, as St. Thomas Academy defeated Burnsville 2-0 in the section title game. Andover is making its first tournament appearance. Gunnar Thoreson had a goal and an assist in the first period as Andover defeated Elk River/Zimmerman 8-1 in the section final.

No. 5 Hill-Murray vs. No. 4 Moorhead – Hill-Murray defeated Moorhead 4-3 in the regular-season finale. Hill-Murray returns after a one-year absence to make its 30th appearance. The Pioneers are searching for their fourth title, winning previously in 1983, 1991, and 2008. Nick Pierre scored a short-handed goal in the third period as Hill-Murray came from behind to defeat White Bear Lake Area 3-2 in the section final. Moorhead is making its second consecutive and 17th overall appearance. The Spuds lost in the consolation semifinals in 2019.

2019 State Tournament Recap Class A – St. Cloud Cathedral, the No. 2 seed, won its first championship after defeating No. 4 Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 5-2 in the championship game.

Mahtomedi took third-place honors after defeating East Grand Forks 7-3. Delano, which included students from Rockford, won the consolation final with a 2-1 victory over North Branch.

Class AA – Top-seeded Edina earned its 10th title after defeating No. 3 Eden Prairie 3-2 in overtime. Blaine defeated St. Thomas Academy 5-1 in the third-place game, and Duluth East won the consolation final with a 5-0 victory over Lakeville South.

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March 5, 2020

27

The Penalty Shot heard around the world Blake’s Gavin Best found himself in a situation every kid dreams of

PHOTO BY GREG NAYMEN

Gavin Best slid the puck past Benilde-St. Margaret’s goalie Carson Limesand in an epic showdown pitting one of Blake’s top players against one of the top goalies in the state. Best was awarded a penalty shot in overtime and his goal sent Blake into the state tourney.

by BRYAN ZOLLMAN

Let’s Play Hockey Publisher

It’s a scenario most hockey players dream about, yet it rarely, if ever happens.

But there was Blake’s Gavin Best, standing at center ice in overtime of a 3-3 game, alone. Just him, the puck and Benilde-St. Margaret’s goalie Carson Limesand.

Best was just awarded a penalty shot after being dragged to the ice on a breakaway by a Benilde-St. Margaret’s defender. Teammate Joe Miller had hit Best with a pass and he was able to split the defense and separate himself as he came in all alone.

“I knew the D was right on me,” Best said. “That’s when he wrapped up

both my arms from behind and dragged me down. Right there I knew there was going to be a penalty and I was thinking to myself, that should be a penalty shot!”

But with the game being in overtime and the referees letting the two teams play without many calls during regulation, Best wasn’t sure if they were going to call it.

“But then I saw my teammates rushing over to me in excitement,” he said.

“That’s when I knew it was a penalty shot.”

Best suddenly realized he had an opportunity to put his team into the state tournament. Blake coach Rob McClanahan told Best that he should have some idea on what move he was going to make.

“I told him you have to have an idea

PHOTO BY GREG NAYMEN

PHOTO BY CHRISTINE WISCH

of what you want to do,” said McClanahan, the former 1980 Gold Medal winner who is in his first year as head coach.

“I know if you go into a penalty shot you have to have an idea of where you are going to go before you take the puck.”

Best had an idea in mind, but a lot of it would also depend on what Limesand did. It wasn’t just physical skill against physical skill, there was a mental component to it.

Best took the puck and glided across the blue line as the entire season came to a head in this moment.

“Coming in, he was playing a good gap and there wasn’t anything blatantly open,” Best said. “I then decided to go through with the move I had thought about prior, moving the puck from my forehand, to backhand, back to forehand to try and get the goalie moving sideto-side so I could then I slip the puck through his legs.”

That is exactly what he did and the puck found its way into the back of the net. Best found the student section and rushed to the glass to greet the hundreds of Blake students who had erupted in glory. His Blake teammates joined him and the celebration was on. The game was over and Blake had just won arguably the toughest section in high school hockey to advance to their first Class AA tournament.

“I was overcome with excitement, as anyone in my position would be, celebrating with my school and team,” said Best. “A little after this celebration began, about the time we lined up to receive our medals, it hit me: my team is going to the state tourney, a lifelong dream all of us share. I was so unbelievably proud to do this wearing the Blake sweater as this school and team have given me so much. This is such a mon-

umental win not just for our season, but for the Blake Boys Hockey program. I take immense pride in that.”

But the work is not done for the Blake squad. They are ranked No. 2 heading into the tourney, and because there isn’t a clear favorite in this year’s field, Blake’s chances are as good as any teams.

“We will be challenged every minute of every game,’ said McLanahan.

“But I would like to see us playing in the championship game Saturday night.”

McClanahan knew he had a skilled team. He served as an assistant coach last season so he knew the players well.

His plan was to just let them play hockey.

“We try to get the right combinations together and then let them play and let them grow as a team,” McClanahan said. “We don’t handcuff them a lot. I just want them to play hockey. We have systems, but it’s more about having the right mindset.”

McClanahan knew his team could be special, but said the turning point came after a tough loss to Benilde followed by a win against top-ranked Eden Prairie in Eden Prairie.

“At that point you could feel it in the players and they thought, hey we actually can play,” he said.

Best said his team is ready to take to the ice.

“Obviously making it to the tournament is great in itself, but we feel as if we have the capability to win it all. It’s great being No. 2 seed, but with such a competitive tournament this year, our team knows that all the games will be tough. Our game plan doesn’t change.

We are going to play hard, fast, and as a selfless team like we have all year.”

28 March 5, 2020

Let’s Play Hockey

www.stateofhockey.com

PHOTOS BY MATT KANE

If you are a Halonen, you can skate. All 13 of the Jim and Carol Halonen family laced up the skates for this family photo earlier this winter. They are, from left: Jim, Carol, Chet, Greta, Brian, Judy, Katie, Bruce, Wes, Dan, Lance, Emily and Adam.

The Halonen line This winter was unique for the Halonen family of Delano, as it had one skater at every level from Mites to Division 1

by MATT KANE

Let’s Play Hockey Contributor

DELANO, Minn. – Six hockey games and/or practices. That’s quite a week of puck watching for most hockey lovers. For one Minnesota hockey family, however, that’s a light week.

Delano’s Carol Halonen is not a typical hockey mom. In her world, six games is a light week. Try six games and/or practices in a single day. It happens in Carol’s world, especially this winter, when she has chauffeured and followed her six hockey-playing boys around the state of Minnesota and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

“I just love it. Jim isn’t as into it as I am,” Carol said. Jim is her husband of 25 years. “For me, if there is not a game one night, I am wondering what I am going to do.”

This winter has been different than all others for Carol, Jim, and their 11 children (seven boys and four girls), as, for the first and last time, none of those six hockey-playing boys are overlapping on the same team.

The hockey stars have aligned this winter to create the unique scenario where the six Halonen boys span every

level of organized amateur hockey from the Mites level all the way up to Division 1.

“We have one at college, high school, Bantam, PeeWee, Squirt and Mites. Every level,” Carol said. “This will be the only year, because, next year, I will have two at high school and none at Bantams, and then PeeWees, Squirts and Mites.”

This year’s Halonen players are: Adam: Mites ­– Delano Stars Lance: Squirts – Delano A Daniel: PeeWees – Delano A Wes: Bantams – Delano B1 Bruce: Delano High School Brian: Division 1 – Michigan Tech The seventh son? That’s Chet. He is the oldest of the 11 children.

Chet led the hockey way, playing all the way through the Delano system until graduation in 2014. He is no longer a player. Instead, Chet traded a hockey sweater for the black-and-white stripes of a referee. He lives in the Detroit area and currently works games in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

The four girls? They are (oldest to youngest) Greta, Judy, Katie and Emily.

They, too, are or were involved in sports growing up, but only one, Judy, who graduated high school in 2019, dipped into hockey. She played through her 12U

The Halonen hockey line starts with Brian at Michigan Tech and ends with Adam, who is a Mite in the Delano association. The line includes boys at every step in between. Pictured are (from left): Brian, Michigan Tech; Bruce, Delano High School; Wes, Bantams; Dan, PeeWees; Lance, Squirts; and Adam, Mites. season.

That the group of girls did not break up the string of Halonen boys playing at all levels this season has to be some kind of hockey miracle.

“It doesn’t happen too often, because there aren’t too many who have a college player and also a Mite. And that many boys,” said Carol.

“Families are not this big anymore,” said Bruce, who is skating with the Delano High School team this weekend in the Class A State tournament.

BRIAN HALONEN PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHIGAN TECH ATHLETICS/ ADAM HALONEN PHOTO BY MATT KANE

The Halonen hockey line starts with Brian at Michigan Tech (left) and ends with Adam (above), who is a Mite in the Delano association. The line includes a boy at every step in between.

The closest situation to what the Halonen’s have this hockey season may have been Carol’s family, which grew up playing hockey in the Detroit area.

“My parents never had a college player. They had one at every level, but they never had a college level,” said Carol, who is one of 12 kids in her family (10 boys and two girls).

With 22 kids growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Jim’s family of 18 boys and four girls certainly had the numbers for a string of hockey players like his own, but it didn’t happen.

Hockey Home The aroma of freshly-baking bread (10 loaves per week) demanded the attention of the olfactory system as Carol spoke about her busy winter schedule while seated at the family’s dining room table, which mirrored the size of an NHL neutral zone.

“It’s just life. It’s not that amazing, really,” said Carol, who works as an insurance agent, and has an online calendar that requires a PhD to decipher. Jim works at Honeywell. “It’s a fun life. It’s busy, but what else would you do, right?”

As for costs, fees to play do add up, but the family is frugal when it comes to equipment and logistics.

“Hand-me-down equipment. I will find it at Goodwill or online or something,” said Carol. “We do a lot of carpooling. For travel, there is a bit of run-

– THE HALONEN LINE – continued on page 29

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THE HALONEN LINE continued from page 28

ning around but it isn’t too bad.”

It’s a family effort.

“The kids help out. Everybody pitches in. It’s not that big of a deal,” Carol said.

Not a big deal to the Halonen family, maybe, but others around the Delano hockey community certainly have taken notice of the well-oiled hockey factory that is the Halonen household.

“They truly are a hockey family. It’s remarkable to consider the time and organization it must take for Carol and Jim to ensure each of them is at the right rink at the right time, no gear forgotten, and so on,” said Delano varsity coach Gerrit van Bergen, who has coached Chet, Brian and currently Bruce at the high school level, and has had Wes and Dan at summer camps. “I know the boys are crazy about hockey, so I’m sure they are bugging their folks or the older siblings to get them there early.”

A freshman at Northern Michigan University this winter, Judy Halonen is watching the organized chaos involving her brothers and parents from afar for the first time.

“I am always impressed with how they handle the busy schedule. They also have carpools on each team, so that helps the boys get to games early,” Judy said of her parents. “There are some Saturdays that they are going from game to game all day. One day I called home and they had watched five games that day, all different ages.”

A sixth game in one day occurs when the family watches Brian’s college game at home on the computer or while in the car driving to another game. Judy attends Michigan Tech’s home games as Brian’s guest.

“It definitely takes up a majority of the winter, so it’s good that we all enjoy the sport,” said Judy, who played volleyball at Delano.

As for the Halonen shuffle in Delano on those busy days, the older kids drive the younger kids to and from practices when they can. Even the youngest organizes and packs up his own gear — usually a day early.

“Every Friday night, he comes up and he has his bag packed. He puts them right at the top of the steps – his bag and his sticks and everything. He’s ready to go for Saturday morning,” Carol said of Adam, age 5, who is the Mite. “He knows how many days he has until hockey. He just loves it.”

How could Adam not love hockey?

Naturally, that love trickled down.

“These little guys ­ – Bruce, Wes, Dan, Lance, Adam – they’ve all been really into it since they were really little.

Probably from watching the older boys,” Carol explained. “Adam, my baby, was 18 months when he started skating. He couldn’t talk, and I was downstairs tying somebody else’s skates, and he pointed to the rafters because he wanted some skates. I’m like ‘ah,’ but he insisted, so I put them on. He went out there and he skated. He was little.”

A little big man according to his older brothers.

“He thinks he’s one of us,” Bruce, the high school player, said of Adam.

“When you are young and all of your brothers are out there playing, you want to be playing with them. It’s fun.”

‘Out there’ meaning the family’s backyard rink. It is the best training ground a hockey player could ask for.

“On the outdoor rink, you have an older brother, like Brian, pushing you to compete. That’s what makes you better – when you play against players who are that much better than you,” said Bruce.

“We have a lot of people to get a good game going. Family games are fun. We are never short a player.”

Adam is one of the best rink attendants the family has.

Let’s Play Hockey “He’s always out there shoveling, and, before he has hockey with all of his friends, he will be out there scraping it,” said Bruce. “He will be out there 20 minutes early getting it all ready – getting the nets and pucks, and having it all set up.”

Those family and neighborhood games have developed quality players and teammates, a trait the Halonen boys carry with them to their organized Delano teams.

“With all of them, their love of the game is so deep and they have all had a few of the same characteristics – they love to be the first ones on the ice and the last ones off; they work very hard in the offseason to develop their strengths; and they all love to learn about the game to continue to improve,” said coach van Bergen. “As coaches, we have really enjoyed each of the boys so much, and they are a big part of our brotherhood.”

The conclusions of those organized games and practices rarely mark the end of the day’s ice team for the Halonen boys.

“They come home from practice, and they head downstairs and get their skates back on, and they are right back out on the rink,” said Carol. “For me, it’s really nice. They are completely happy all winter long.

“It’s my babysitter,” she said of the rink, which is framed perfectly by the large picture window in the living room.

The entire family – boys and girls – use the outdoor rink.

“They love it. Then they come in and they are tired,” said Carol, whose escape from her hockey-crazy house often includes, what else, hockey – for herself with a group of women in Plymouth.

When the boys are tired after skating in a neighborhood pickup game, they walk back to the house with their skates still on to the basement, which doubles as a warming house, locker room, dry land training facility, and equipment room, where dozens of pairs of skates still hang in the rafters.

Tech Time On weekend nights, those outdoor pickup games are sometimes shortened to allow time for the family to gather around a monitor to watch Brian and his Michigan Tech team.

“It’s fun to play with them all on the backyard rink, and it’s fun to watch Brian every Friday and Saturday night,” said Wes, the Bantam in the family.

“The boys are all really excited. Everybody likes to check up on him and see how his games are going,” Carol said of the family’s pride for Brian, who is a sophomore with the Huskies. “It’s quite an accomplishment to play D-1 hockey.

There are not that many in the country.”

Brian is one of four former Delano players from the Class of 2017 currently playing Division 1 hockey. The others are Ben Meyers (Minnesota), John Keranen (Army) and Andrew Kruse (Air Force), all of whom sharpened their skills at the Halonen rink.

Brian is hoping to continue his hockey career after Michigan Tech. He participated in the Dallas Stars summer camp a year ago and will do the same with the St. Louis Blues this summer.

“It’s a start. Don’t hang your hat on it, but, if he keeps working at it, we will see what happens,” said Carol, a proud mom, of Brian’s future.

Professional hockey is in the bloodline.

Carol’s nephew Blake Pietila is currently in the Anaheim Ducks system playing for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. A Michigan Tech product, Pietila appeared in 38 games for the New Jersey Devils, the team that selected him in the 2011 Entry Draft.

Right now, Brian isn’t thinking about professional hockey, as he is concentrating on his time skating with the Huskies.

Michigan Tech is 19-15-3 heading into this weekend’s WCHA first-round series at Northern Michigan.

It’s probably safe to say Brian’s parents and 10 siblings will be watching from afar – after all of the brothers’ other games, of course.

March 5, 2020

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There is a Little Miracle in all of us

by DAN BAUER

It was far from a normal shift at the Hoffman House bar in La Crosse on Feb. 22, 1980. No cell phones to check, no televisions in bars to watch, just a restless and lengthy pause that seemed to stretch on into infinity. My wife-to-be, in a few short months, was back in her apartment watching the tape-delayed broadcast of the USA-USSR Olympic hockey game. She was to call the restaurant with the score as soon as the game went final.

Just a few weeks earlier, the prospect of the U.S. hockey team playing any kind of meaningful game in these Olympics seemed bleak. A 10-3 thrashing by the Soviets at Madison Square Garden in a preliminary game had extinguished any optimism. The “Red Machine” had systematically eaten up and spit out another inferior opponent. Having won four consecutive gold medals and compiling a 24-1-1 Olympic record during that run, a fifth gold medal appeared to be a mere formality.

As if I was behind the U.S. bench myself, I paced up and down the bar, asking customers if they had heard any scores from the game. No instant media, no score updates. To my surprise, some actually knew what game I was referencing.

In 1980, La Crosse was a basketball town and I am not sure many even realized hockey was an Olympic sport.

The country was a mess with long gas lines and the real fear that we were one bad decision away from an all-out war with Russia. Our peanut farmer turned president painted our future with strokes of dull gray and a monotone message that offered little hope. And in Iran, fifty-two Americans hostages were now well into their second year of captivity. The Russian hockey team and their “Goliathan” persona had become public enemy number one. The symbolism of the game had grown into a national obsession. Even those that didn’t know a forecheck from a traveler’s check had become hockey fans in a mere week.

As each waitress approached my mixing station, I gave them the same wideeyed look only to be told, no we have not heard anything yet. That final ten minutes of the actual game, after Eruzione’s goal, must have felt like the same eternity I seemed to be facing.

Finally, the wait ended and I was handed a small note that simply said “USA 4 USSR 3. “ A beaten down country, in desperate need of a miracle, collectively exhaled a cheer that was literally heard around the world. A tidal wave of negative emotions, uncertainty and fear crested, and then collapsed as Al Michael’s uttered those famous words, “Do you believe in Miracles, YES!” In every corner of the country, American flags came out, cars drove around honking their horns and strangers celebrated together another American Dream come true.

It wasn’t the first or the last of improbable American Dreams, but it was one of the most visible and most needed. As Americans we are raised to believe in the American Dream, but life for many has a way of extracting our energy and hope as we fall into the regiment of everyday living. The roads to our dreams are always filled with obstacles, setbacks and naysayers who are quick to tell us why we can’t achieve it. For 40 years Herb Brook’s boys have offered the motivation and the blueprint to make our own dreams come true.

Sounds easy, but it isn’t, and that is why so many dreams remain unfulfilled.

It begins with a vision and a single believer, who absolutely cannot be distracted or dissuaded from that vision or belief, that it can be achieved. Herb Brooks was that visionary and the primary architect that prepared this blueprint.

His preparation was exhaustive and his plan virtually flawless.

His hand-picked army, chosen after months of research, possessed the work ethic, character, skill and perseverance that Brooks knew would be essential to their success. He was more concerned with their attitudes, grit and character than their statistics. He told them, “You can’t be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon.”

After months, perhaps years of preparing for this opportunity, his team had yet to take the ice. The back story, the true preparation, is often the most time intensive and vital part of a success story. Brooks had cut no corners, but the real work lay ahead.

Believing in your own dream and convincing 20 late adolescent young men to buy into that same dream were two completely different things. These were indeed elite hockey players for their age, and many would go on to play in the NHL, but right now they were signing on for what many experts believed was a suicide mission.

Brooks certainly believed that “the harder you work, the harder it is to surrender” and pushed his team to the brink of mental and physical exhaustion. The “Legs Feed the Wolf” is a “Brookism” that will live on forever. And while he was indeed physically conditioning his team, he may have more importantly been building a mental toughness they would rely on when they got to Lake Placid. In a simpler time, with fewer distractions, Brooks melded this team together so tightly, and convinced them that his dream, now their dream too, was possible!

Together they achieved that dream and 40 years later we still can’t stop talking about it.

The 1980 Olympic Hockey Gold Medal propelled hockey in the United States to new heights in terms of growth and future accomplishments. It gave our country a crowning moment in a time when we desperately needed it, but perhaps most importantly it reminded us that dreams do come true, that miracles do happen.

For all of us we have our own “Russia” whether that is a dream we chase or a demon we want to extinguish. And when that road we are on becomes too steep or the obstacles seem too great, we all need a push, a reminder that achievement requires hard work, enthusiasm and a belief that not even the Russian Army can change.

Should you believe in miracles? Yes, but it all starts with believing in yourself.

Dan Bauer is a free-lance writer, retired teacher and hockey coach in Wausau, Wis. You can contact him at drbauer13@gmail.com.

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BOYS’ HOCKEY S

by SHAFIN KHAN

Let’s Play Hockey Contributor

CLASS AA PREVIEW HILL-MURRAY PIONEERS

Section: 4AA Section Final Opponent and Score: White Bear Lake, 3-2 School Enrollment: 600 Coach: Bill Lechner State Tournament Appearances: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991. Tier I: 1992, 1993. Class 2A: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020 State tournament Titles: 1983, 1991, 2008 Top Scorer Stats: Nick Pierre, 19-27-46 Goaltender Stats: Remington Keopple 166-3/1.66/.934/5 SO Notes: The Pioneers continued their stronghold in Section 4AA by beating crosstown rival White Bear Lake 3-2 in the section finals. The Pioneers trailed 2-0 but scored three unanswered goals, the game winner coming short-handed off the stick of sophomore Nick Pierre. The Pioneers have equal skill and grit. Pierre leads the team with 46 points and Charlie Strobel, who scored the Pioneers’ first goal against White Bear Lake, has 40 points. Owen Quast scored the equalizer, just his fourth of the year, but it’s role players like Quast that makes the Pioneers a deep and difficult team to beat. They also have an outstanding goaltender in Remington Keopple, a Frank Brimsek Award finalist. Joe Palodichuk, a junior defenseman has 33 assists and is a Wisconsin commit. The Pioneers are the No. 5 seed and will battle northern power Moorhead, a team they beat on Feb 15. The Pioneers have three state titles to their credit, 1983, 1991 and 2008. The field doesn’t have a clear favorite so the Pioneers have as good of a chance as any team to get No. 4.

ANDOVER

Section: 7AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Elk River/Zimmerman, 8-1 School Enrollment: 1,634

CLASS A PREVIEW MANKATO EAST

Section: 1A Section Final Opponent and Score: Mankato West, 3-1 School Enrollment: 1,148 Coach: Adam Fries State Tournament Appearances: 2006, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Layten Liffrig 29-34-63 Goaltender Stats: Caelin Brueske 11-11-1 Notes: Mankato East secured a state tournament bid by advancing past Minnesota River, Dodge County and Mankato West during the section playoffs. They have been proving doubters wrong by upsetting number one seeded Dodge County and number two seeded rival Mankato West in the section final. They will try to stay hot as they prepare for their Class A first round state playoff match against defending state champions St. Cloud Cathedral. The team is led by Layten Liffrig who has had a star-studded season with 29 goals, 34 assists and 63 total points. Matthew Salzle is a team cog for the team’s success and has put up well rounded numbers this season with 26 goals, 26 assists and 52 points. The team finished the year 11-13 but has shown that getting hot at the right time is what matters most. Mankato East is the number

Coach: Mark Manney/Bill Thoreson State Tournament Appearances: 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Hunter Jones, 11-34-45 Goaltender Stats: Will Larson 112/1.15/.925/6 SO – Wes Swenson 10-11/1.40/.898/2 SO Notes: The Andover Huskies cruised their way through the section playoffs by defeating Duluth Marshall, Forest Lake and finally Elk River-Zimmerman in the final by a score of 8-1. The have earned themselves the number one overall seed in the Class AA tournament and will go up against number eight seeded St. Thomas Academy on March 5 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center. The Huskies finished the regular season 21-3-1 with losses coming against Blake, Minnetonka and St. Cloud Cathedral. Junior Garrett Schifsky leads the team in goals with 19 and Harrison VanderMey follows up behind him with 15. Senior stud Hunter Jones leads the team with 45 points, 34 assists and has also contributed 11 goals this season.

BLAKE

Section: 6AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 4-3 School Enrollment: 1,400 Coach: Rob McClanahan State Tournament Appearances: 1971, 1973, 1995, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2000 State Tournament Titles: 1971, 1973 Top Scorer Stats: Joe Miller, 25-34-59 Goaltender Stats: Aksel Reid 146/1.20/.933/3 SO – Jonah Spaeth 5-0/2.40/3 SO Notes: The Blake Bears are led by former U.S. Olympic team member, head coach Rob McClanahan and finished the regular season with a 19-6 record under him. The team won their first two section matchups handily and defeated Benilde-St. Margaret’s 4-3 in the section final after a back-and-forth overtime game. Joe Miller has helped lead the team offensively this season and has 25 goals along with 34 assists going into the state tournament. He also leads the team with 59 points and is followed up Jack Sabre who has recorded 44 points, 27 assists and 17 goals this season. The Bears now enter the state playoffs as the number two overall seed and will look to advance past number seven seeded Maple Grove in the quarterfinals. The game seven overall seeded team and will attempt to continue its upset bid as they take on number two seeded St. Cloud Cathedral on March 4 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

DELANO

Section: 2A Section Final Opponent and Score: Robbinsdale/Armstrong Cooper, 3-2 School Enrollment: 954 Coach: Gerrit Van Bergen State Tournament Appearances: 2017, 2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Adam Brown, 20-25-35 Goaltender Stats: Cade Lommel 145/2.14/.913/4 SO – Colin Rowbotham 4-1/1.21.927/3 SO Notes: Delano has shown much success in recent years by reaching the state tournament three out of the past four years.

They have not achieved the ultimate goal though yet and will look to do that behind team leaders Adam Brown and Gunnar Paulson. Brown has found the back of the net 20 times this season and has also had 15 assists with a total of 35 points. Paulson has nine goals on the year but leads the team in assists with 20 and has a total of 29 points. They have earned a number five seed and will face off against number four seeded Mahtomedi on March 4 at 8 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

is set to take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday March 5 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

EDEN PRAIRIE

Section: 2AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Chaska, 3-2 School Enrollment: 2,956 Coach: Lee Smith State Tournament Appearances: 1992, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: 2009, 2011 Top Scorer Stats: Ben Steeves, 30-32-50 Goaltender Stats: Axel Rosenlund, 11-41/2.34/.911/2 SO Notes: The Eden Prairie Eagles have made it to the state championship game twice out of the last four year, and as a strong number three seed in this year’s playoff, they are looking to make another deep run. The team took care of business against Shakopee, Minnetonka and then Chaska during their section final game. Senior forward Ben Steeves has helped lead his squad to a 19-5-1 record this season and he has totaled 50 points, 30 goals and 32 assists on the season. Senior John Mittelstadt is second on the team in goals with 17 and junior Carter Batchelder rounds out the top three with 16 of his own. The Eagles have to face number six seeded Lakeville South in the quarterfinals and will look to advance on March 5 at 1 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

LAKEVILLE SOUTH

Section: 1AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Hastings, 3-2 School Enrollment: 1,819 Coach: Janne Kivihalme State Tournament Appearances: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2017 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Cade Ahrenholz, 16-2437 Goaltender Stats: Cody Ticen, 143/1.88/.926/5 SO – Ethan Dahlmeir 4-4/2.25/.920/2 SO Notes: Lakeville South is on their way to the state tournament for the second time in the last three years and they earned their bid by defeating Rochester Mayo, Rochester Century and Hastings during the section playoffs. The team finished their season

HUTCHINSON

Section: 3A Section Final Opponent and Score: Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato School Enrollment: 906 Coach: Matt Telecky State Tournament Appearances: 1995, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Austin Jozwick, 25-2449 Goaltender Stats: Austen Hagen 135-1/2.35/.911/0 SO – Griffin Telecky 2-3/3.82/.849/1 SO Notes: Hutchinson drilled its way smoothly through the 3A section playoff by handily defeating Fairmont, Luverne and Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato by massive margins. They landed the number eight seed in the state tournament and will have a much tougher go around as they will have to face number one seeded Warroad in the first round. Hutchinson finished the season with a 16-8-1 record and had consistent production from scoring leader Austin Jozwick.

He accumulated 25 goals, 24 assists and 49 points thus far this season. Hayden Jensen has proved to be a crucial part to the team’s success as well as putting together 16 goals, 14 assists and 30 points this season. The team’s first round match up will take play on March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

with a 18-7 record and are led by junior fo ward Cade Ahrenholz and senior forwar Zach Oelrich. Ahrenholz leads the tea with goals with 16 on the year and has p up 11 assists and 27 points total. Oelric helps compliment Ahrenholz on the o fensive end of the ice while putting up 1 goals, 24 assists and 37 points this seaso The Cougars were the number one seed their section but have received a number s seed in the state tournament. They will no look to knock off number three seeded Ede Prairie in the quarterfinals at the Xcel Ene gy Center on March 5 at 1 p.m.

MOORHEAD

Section: 8AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Ro seau, 3-2 School Enrollment: 1,744 Coach: Jon Ammerman State Tournament Appearances: 199 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 200 2004, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Caden Triggs, 30-18-4 Goaltender Stats: Hudson Hodges, 16-5 1/1.91/.927/4 SO Notes: Moorhead has earned the num ber four seed in the state tournament th year and they have reached this point bu getting past Bemidji, St. Cloud and Rosea in the section playoffs. Leading goal scor Caden Triggs is a senior forward that Moo head will heavily depend on for offensiv production as they look to make a deep ru in the playoffs. Triggs has put up 30 goa this year and is followed up by Cullen Ge who has 14 along with 34 assists and 4 points. This team will go where these tw seniors lead them and this year they hav drawn number five seeded Hill-Murray the quarterfinals. Both teams are set to fac off on March 5 at 8 p.m. at the Xcel Energ Center.

MAPLE GROVE

Section: 5AA Section Final Opponent and Scor Blaine, 3-0 School Enrollment: 2,275 Coach: Todd Bergland State Tournament Appearances: 201 2017, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Sam Jacobs, 13-13-26 Goaltender Stats: Parker Slotsv 9-2/1.77/.904/3 SO – Jack Wienek

MAHTOMEDI

Section: 4A Section Final Opponent and Score: Sou St. Paul, 5-1 School Enrollment: 1,180 Coach: Jeff Poeschl State Tournament Appearances: 199 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2009, 2010, 201 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Nikolai Dulak, 23-18-4 Goaltender Stats: Ben Dardis, 170/2.24/.928/6 SO Notes: Mahtomedi has been a regul in the state tournament recently and dom nated their way through section play aga this season by polishing off Henry Sible Tartan and South St. Paul on the way. The will enter an evenly faced matchup wi Delano in the first round in what should b a close nitty gritty game. The team’s lea ing goal scorer this season has been Nik lai Dulak with 23 and Adam Johnson h been his right hand man with 29 assists an 42 total points. Johnson is also third on th team in goals with 13. They concluded th regular season with a 17-8 record and w try to scoop up another win on March 4 at p.m. as they square up against number fo seeded Delano at the Xcel Energy Center.

MONTICELLO

Section: 5A Section Final Opponent and Score: Pin City Area, 6-4

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31

BOYS’ HOCKEY STATE TOURNAMENT

by SHAFIN KHAN

Let’s Play Hockey Contributor

CLASS AA PREVIEW HILL-MURRAY PIONEERS

Section: 4AA Section Final Opponent and Score: White Bear Lake, 3-2 School Enrollment: 600 Coach: Bill Lechner State Tournament Appearances: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991. Tier I: 1992, 1993. Class 2A: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020 State tournament Titles: 1983, 1991, 2008 Top Scorer Stats: Nick Pierre, 19-27-46 Goaltender Stats: Remington Keopple 166-3/1.66/.934/5 SO Notes: The Pioneers continued their stronghold in Section 4AA by beating crosstown rival White Bear Lake 3-2 in the section finals. The Pioneers trailed 2-0 but scored three unanswered goals, the game winner coming short-handed off the stick of sophomore Nick Pierre. The Pioneers have equal skill and grit. Pierre leads the team with 46 points and Charlie Strobel, who scored the Pioneers’ first goal against White Bear Lake, has 40 points. Owen Quast scored the equalizer, just his fourth of the year, but it’s role players like Quast that makes the Pioneers a deep and difficult team to beat. They also have an outstanding goaltender in Remington Keopple, a Frank Brimsek Award finalist. Joe Palodichuk, a junior defenseman has 33 assists and is a Wisconsin commit. The Pioneers are the No. 5 seed and will battle northern power Moorhead, a team they beat on Feb 15. The Pioneers have three state titles to their credit, 1983, 1991 and 2008. The field doesn’t have a clear favorite so the Pioneers have as good of a chance as any team to get No. 4.

ANDOVER

Section: 7AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Elk River/Zimmerman, 8-1 School Enrollment: 1,634

CLASS A PREVIEW MANKATO EAST

Section: 1A Section Final Opponent and Score: Mankato West, 3-1 School Enrollment: 1,148 Coach: Adam Fries State Tournament Appearances: 2006, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Layten Liffrig 29-34-63 Goaltender Stats: Caelin Brueske 11-11-1 Notes: Mankato East secured a state tournament bid by advancing past Minnesota River, Dodge County and Mankato West during the section playoffs. They have been proving doubters wrong by upsetting number one seeded Dodge County and number two seeded rival Mankato West in the section final. They will try to stay hot as they prepare for their Class A first round state playoff match against defending state champions St. Cloud Cathedral. The team is led by Layten Liffrig who has had a star-studded season with 29 goals, 34 assists and 63 total points. Matthew Salzle is a team cog for the team’s success and has put up well rounded numbers this season with 26 goals, 26 assists and 52 points. The team finished the year 11-13 but has shown that getting hot at the right time is what matters most. Mankato East is the number

Coach: Mark Manney/Bill Thoreson State Tournament Appearances: 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Hunter Jones, 11-34-45 Goaltender Stats: Will Larson 112/1.15/.925/6 SO – Wes Swenson 10-11/1.40/.898/2 SO Notes: The Andover Huskies cruised their way through the section playoffs by defeating Duluth Marshall, Forest Lake and finally Elk River-Zimmerman in the final by a score of 8-1. The have earned themselves the number one overall seed in the Class AA tournament and will go up against number eight seeded St. Thomas Academy on March 5 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center. The Huskies finished the regular season 21-3-1 with losses coming against Blake, Minnetonka and St. Cloud Cathedral. Junior Garrett Schifsky leads the team in goals with 19 and Harrison VanderMey follows up behind him with 15. Senior stud Hunter Jones leads the team with 45 points, 34 assists and has also contributed 11 goals this season.

BLAKE

Section: 6AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 4-3 School Enrollment: 1,400 Coach: Rob McClanahan State Tournament Appearances: 1971, 1973, 1995, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2000 State Tournament Titles: 1971, 1973 Top Scorer Stats: Joe Miller, 25-34-59 Goaltender Stats: Aksel Reid 146/1.20/.933/3 SO – Jonah Spaeth 5-0/2.40/3 SO Notes: The Blake Bears are led by former U.S. Olympic team member, head coach Rob McClanahan and finished the regular season with a 19-6 record under him. The team won their first two section matchups handily and defeated Benilde-St. Margaret’s 4-3 in the section final after a back-and-forth overtime game. Joe Miller has helped lead the team offensively this season and has 25 goals along with 34 assists going into the state tournament. He also leads the team with 59 points and is followed up Jack Sabre who has recorded 44 points, 27 assists and 17 goals this season. The Bears now enter the state playoffs as the number two overall seed and will look to advance past number seven seeded Maple Grove in the quarterfinals. The game seven overall seeded team and will attempt to continue its upset bid as they take on number two seeded St. Cloud Cathedral on March 4 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

DELANO

Section: 2A Section Final Opponent and Score: Robbinsdale/Armstrong Cooper, 3-2 School Enrollment: 954 Coach: Gerrit Van Bergen State Tournament Appearances: 2017, 2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Adam Brown, 20-25-35 Goaltender Stats: Cade Lommel 145/2.14/.913/4 SO – Colin Rowbotham 4-1/1.21.927/3 SO Notes: Delano has shown much success in recent years by reaching the state tournament three out of the past four years.

They have not achieved the ultimate goal though yet and will look to do that behind team leaders Adam Brown and Gunnar Paulson. Brown has found the back of the net 20 times this season and has also had 15 assists with a total of 35 points. Paulson has nine goals on the year but leads the team in assists with 20 and has a total of 29 points. They have earned a number five seed and will face off against number four seeded Mahtomedi on March 4 at 8 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

is set to take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday March 5 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

EDEN PRAIRIE

Section: 2AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Chaska, 3-2 School Enrollment: 2,956 Coach: Lee Smith State Tournament Appearances: 1992, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: 2009, 2011 Top Scorer Stats: Ben Steeves, 30-32-50 Goaltender Stats: Axel Rosenlund, 11-41/2.34/.911/2 SO Notes: The Eden Prairie Eagles have made it to the state championship game twice out of the last four year, and as a strong number three seed in this year’s playoff, they are looking to make another deep run. The team took care of business against Shakopee, Minnetonka and then Chaska during their section final game. Senior forward Ben Steeves has helped lead his squad to a 19-5-1 record this season and he has totaled 50 points, 30 goals and 32 assists on the season. Senior John Mittelstadt is second on the team in goals with 17 and junior Carter Batchelder rounds out the top three with 16 of his own. The Eagles have to face number six seeded Lakeville South in the quarterfinals and will look to advance on March 5 at 1 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

LAKEVILLE SOUTH

Section: 1AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Hastings, 3-2 School Enrollment: 1,819 Coach: Janne Kivihalme State Tournament Appearances: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2017 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Cade Ahrenholz, 16-2437 Goaltender Stats: Cody Ticen, 143/1.88/.926/5 SO – Ethan Dahlmeir 4-4/2.25/.920/2 SO Notes: Lakeville South is on their way to the state tournament for the second time in the last three years and they earned their bid by defeating Rochester Mayo, Rochester Century and Hastings during the section playoffs. The team finished their season

HUTCHINSON

Section: 3A Section Final Opponent and Score: Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato School Enrollment: 906 Coach: Matt Telecky State Tournament Appearances: 1995, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Austin Jozwick, 25-2449 Goaltender Stats: Austen Hagen 135-1/2.35/.911/0 SO – Griffin Telecky 2-3/3.82/.849/1 SO Notes: Hutchinson drilled its way smoothly through the 3A section playoff by handily defeating Fairmont, Luverne and Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato by massive margins. They landed the number eight seed in the state tournament and will have a much tougher go around as they will have to face number one seeded Warroad in the first round. Hutchinson finished the season with a 16-8-1 record and had consistent production from scoring leader Austin Jozwick.

He accumulated 25 goals, 24 assists and 49 points thus far this season. Hayden Jensen has proved to be a crucial part to the team’s success as well as putting together 16 goals, 14 assists and 30 points this season. The team’s first round match up will take play on March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

with a 18-7 record and are led by junior forward Cade Ahrenholz and senior forward Zach Oelrich. Ahrenholz leads the team with goals with 16 on the year and has put up 11 assists and 27 points total. Oelrich helps compliment Ahrenholz on the offensive end of the ice while putting up 13 goals, 24 assists and 37 points this season.

The Cougars were the number one seed in their section but have received a number six seed in the state tournament. They will now look to knock off number three seeded Eden Prairie in the quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center on March 5 at 1 p.m.

MOORHEAD

Section: 8AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Roseau, 3-2 School Enrollment: 1,744 Coach: Jon Ammerman State Tournament Appearances: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Caden Triggs, 30-18-48 Goaltender Stats: Hudson Hodges, 16-51/1.91/.927/4 SO Notes: Moorhead has earned the number four seed in the state tournament this year and they have reached this point buy getting past Bemidji, St. Cloud and Roseau in the section playoffs. Leading goal scorer Caden Triggs is a senior forward that Moorhead will heavily depend on for offensive production as they look to make a deep run in the playoffs. Triggs has put up 30 goals this year and is followed up by Cullen Gess who has 14 along with 34 assists and 48 points. This team will go where these two seniors lead them and this year they have drawn number five seeded Hill-Murray in the quarterfinals. Both teams are set to face off on March 5 at 8 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

MAPLE GROVE

Section: 5AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Blaine, 3-0 School Enrollment: 2,275 Coach: Todd Bergland State Tournament Appearances: 2012, 2017, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Sam Jacobs, 13-13-26 Goaltender Stats: Parker Slotsve 9-2/1.77/.904/3 SO – Jack Wieneke

MAHTOMEDI

Section: 4A Section Final Opponent and Score: South St. Paul, 5-1 School Enrollment: 1,180 Coach: Jeff Poeschl State Tournament Appearances: 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Nikolai Dulak, 23-18-41 Goaltender Stats: Ben Dardis, 17-80/2.24/.928/6 SO Notes: Mahtomedi has been a regular in the state tournament recently and dominated their way through section play again this season by polishing off Henry Sibley, Tartan and South St. Paul on the way. They will enter an evenly faced matchup with Delano in the first round in what should be a close nitty gritty game. The team’s leading goal scorer this season has been Nikolai Dulak with 23 and Adam Johnson has been his right hand man with 29 assists and 42 total points. Johnson is also third on the team in goals with 13. They concluded the regular season with a 17-8 record and will try to scoop up another win on March 4 at 8 p.m. as they square up against number four seeded Delano at the Xcel Energy Center.

MONTICELLO

Section: 5A Section Final Opponent and Score: Pine City Area, 6-4

8-6/2.50/.897/2 SO Notes: Maple Grove drew a tough opponent in this year’s state tournament and will have take on number two seeded Blake in the quarterfinals. Yet, they are no newcomers to creating upsets in the playoffs and defeated Blaine, who was the number one seed in their division, to get here. Maple Grove also defeated Spring Lake Park and Centennial on their road to the state tournament. The team’s leading goal scorer is Sam Jacobs who has 13 on the year. Henry Nelson is also a vital part of the team’s makeup and leads his squad in assists with 20 and 29 points. Maple Grove finished the year with a 17-8 record and it will take a full team effort to knock off the Blake Bears in the first round. The game is set to be played on March 5 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT Mankato East/Loyola

WEDNESDAY 11:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center THURSDAY, 10:00 a.m.

Mariucci

School Enrollment: 4,047 Coach: Eric Nelson State Tournament Appearances:2017, 2018, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Jeffrey Henrikson, 1722-39 Goaltender Stats: Nash Wilson, 17-71/2.25/.917/4 SO Notes: Monticello received the six seed in this year’s state tournament and will face a difficult opponent in Hermantown during the first round. Monticello built up a 17-7 record this year and won their section by chalking up wins over Sauk Rapids-Rice, Princeton and Pine City Area. Senior forward Jeffrey Henrikson has been the biggest bright spot for this year’s team with 17 goals, 22 assists and 39 points. It will take a full team effort for Monticello to advance to the next round in this year’s loaded field.

Although Hermantown is a not a top two seed, they are dangerous contenders and will put up a heavy battle against anyone they face. The two teams are set for a 1 p.m. quarterfinal showdown on March 4 at the Xcel Energy Center.

ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL

Section: 6A Section Final Opponent and Score: Alexandria, 8-1 School Enrollment: 661 Coach: Derrick Brown State Tournament Appearances: 1993, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014,2016, 2017,

Monticello

WEDNESDAY 1:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

CONSOLATION CHAMPION

SATURDAY 10:00 a.m.

Mariucci

FRIDAY 11:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center SATURDAY 12:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#3 Hermantown Hutchinson

WEDNESDAY 6:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center THURSDAY 12:00 p.m.

Mariucci

#1 Warroad #5 Delano

WEDNESDAY 8:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

ST. THOMAS ACADEMY

Section: 3AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Burnsville, 2-0 School Enrollment: 618 Coach: Trent Eigner State Tournament Appearances: 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 State Tournament Titles: 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014 Top Scorer Stats: Jackson Hallum, 18-1735 Goaltender Stats: Tommy Aitken 116-2/2.07/.929/0 SO – Carsten Lardy 4-2/1.85/.915/2 SO Notes: St. Thomas Academy is the lowest seed in this year’s state tournament at the number eight seed but they are used to being the underdog. The boys were seeded fifth in their section and pulled off an upset over number one seeded Rosemount in their section semifinals and then went on to defeat number two seeded Burnsville in the final. St. Thomas racked up a 15-8 record this season and their leading scorer is Jackson Hallum who has 18 goals and 35 points so far this year. Jarod Wright leads the team in assists with 18 and Hallum is hot on his heels with 17 of his own. St. Thomas will look to continue their Cinderella dance into the state playoffs, and they are matched with the daunting task of defeating number one seeded Andover in the first round. The game is set to be play on March 5 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

#2 St. Cloud Cathedral

CHAMPION

FRIDAY 1:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#4 Mahtomedi

SATURDAY 9:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center

3RD PLACE

CLASS AA STATE TOURNAMENT Maple Grove

THURSDAY 11:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center FRIDAY, 10:00 a.m.

Mariucci

#2 The Blake School Lakeville South

THURSDAY 1:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

CONSOLATION CHAMPION

SATURDAY 12:00 p.m.

Mariucci

FRIDAY 6:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

SATURDAY 7:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#3 Eden Prairie St. Thomas Academy

THURSDAY 6:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center FRIDAY 12 p.m.

Mariucci

#1 Andover #5 Hill-Murray

THURSDAY 8:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

FRIDAY 8:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#4 Moorhead

2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Blake Perbix, 27-4774 Goaltender Stats: Grant Martin, 19-31/2.65/.888/3 SO Notes: Although the defending state champions are the number two seed in this year’s bracket, there is a strong case for them to be the favorite in this year’s field. They made easy work of all the teams they faced during the section playoffs and defeated Prairie Centre, River Lakes and Alexandria to get to this point.

Senior Blake Perbix leads the team in goals, assists and points but is accompanied by Jack Smith and Nate Warner who combine to be an absolute nightmare of a triple threat to face on the ice. This team compiled a 20-3 record on the season but it’s their chemistry that is their biggest advantage in this year’s tournament. The margin for error is slim against this St. Cloud Cathedral team and they will look to defeat number seven seeded Mankato East in the first round. The quarterfinal matchup is set for March 4 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 State Tournament Titles: 2007, 2016, 2017 Top Scorer Stats: Blake Biondi, 37-3976 Goaltender Stats: Jacob Backstrom 163-4/2.06/.894/2 SO Notes: Hermantown is potentially the biggest roadblock for St. Cloud Cathedral in this year’s bracket but they will first have to secure a quarterfinal round victory over number six seeded Monticello to advance themselves. Hermantown annihilated their competition on the way to the state tournament by defeating North Shore, Eveleth-Gilbert and Duluth Denfeld. They were led by Blake Biondi, who is arguably the best player in the state and committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Biondi has torched defenders for 37 goals, 39 assists and has accumulated 76 points this season. The team finished 18-3-4 this season and will look to make a deep run in this years tournament behind their Mr. Hockey candidate.

HERMANTOWN

Section: 8A Section Final Opponent and Score: East Grand Forks, 4-0 School Enrollment: 468 Coach: Jay Hardwick State Tournament Appearances: 1948, 1949, 1953, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1987,

Section: 7A Section Final Opponent and Score: Duluth Denfeld, 6-0 School Enrollment: 850 Coach: Dale Jago State Tournament Appearances: 1994,

WARROAD

CHAMPION

SATURDAY 4:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

3RD PLACE

1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020 State Tournament Titles: 1994, 1996, 2003, 2005 Top Scorer Stats: Grant Slukynsky, 3045-75 Goaltender Stats: Zach Foster 182/1.64/.911/3 SO – Jack Orchard 5-0/0.39/.973/4 SO Notes: Warroad has established itself as the number one seed in this year’s bracket and has done it in dominating fashion by not allowing a single goal in any of their section playoff games. The team swept right through Lake of the Woods, Detroit Lakes and East Grand Forks on their way to clinching the top spot. They are led by Grant Slukynsky who has found the back of the net 30 times this season along with putting up 45 assists and recording 75 points. Anthony Foster is second on the team with 24 goals and Jayson Shaugabay rounds out the top three with 19. This squad is a serious contender to take it all this year and the biggest threats to knock them off is number two seeded St. Cloud Cathedral and number three seeded Hermantown. They finished the regular season with a 23-2 record and will look for another victory in their quarterfinal matchup against number eight seeded Hutchinson. The team’s first round matchup is set for March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

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March 5, 2020

Let’s Play Hockey

31

STATE TOURNAMENT

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8-6/2.50/.897/2 SO Notes: Maple Grove drew a tough opponent in this year’s state tournament and will have take on number two seeded Blake in the quarterfinals. Yet, they are no newcomers to creating upsets in the playoffs and defeated Blaine, who was the number one seed in their division, to get here. Maple Grove also defeated Spring Lake Park and Centennial on their road to the state tournament. The team’s leading goal scorer is Sam Jacobs who has 13 on the year. Henry Nelson is also a vital part of the team’s makeup and leads his squad in assists with 20 and 29 points. Maple Grove finished the year with a 17-8 record and it will take a full team effort to knock off the Blake Bears in the first round. The game is set to be played on March 5 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT Mankato East/Loyola

WEDNESDAY 11:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center THURSDAY, 10:00 a.m.

Mariucci

School Enrollment: 4,047 Coach: Eric Nelson State Tournament Appearances:2017, 2018, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Jeffrey Henrikson, 1722-39 Goaltender Stats: Nash Wilson, 17-71/2.25/.917/4 SO Notes: Monticello received the six seed in this year’s state tournament and will face a difficult opponent in Hermantown during the first round. Monticello built up a 17-7 record this year and won their section by chalking up wins over Sauk Rapids-Rice, Princeton and Pine City Area. Senior forward Jeffrey Henrikson has been the biggest bright spot for this year’s team with 17 goals, 22 assists and 39 points. It will take a full team effort for Monticello to advance to the next round in this year’s loaded field.

Although Hermantown is a not a top two seed, they are dangerous contenders and will put up a heavy battle against anyone they face. The two teams are set for a 1 p.m. quarterfinal showdown on March 4 at the Xcel Energy Center.

ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL

Section: 6A Section Final Opponent and Score: Alexandria, 8-1 School Enrollment: 661 Coach: Derrick Brown State Tournament Appearances: 1993, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014,2016, 2017,

Monticello

WEDNESDAY 1:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

CONSOLATION CHAMPION

SATURDAY 10:00 a.m.

Mariucci

FRIDAY 11:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center SATURDAY 12:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#3 Hermantown Hutchinson

WEDNESDAY 6:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center THURSDAY 12:00 p.m.

Mariucci

#1 Warroad #5 Delano

WEDNESDAY 8:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

ST. THOMAS ACADEMY

Section: 3AA Section Final Opponent and Score: Burnsville, 2-0 School Enrollment: 618 Coach: Trent Eigner State Tournament Appearances: 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 State Tournament Titles: 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014 Top Scorer Stats: Jackson Hallum, 18-1735 Goaltender Stats: Tommy Aitken 116-2/2.07/.929/0 SO – Carsten Lardy 4-2/1.85/.915/2 SO Notes: St. Thomas Academy is the lowest seed in this year’s state tournament at the number eight seed but they are used to being the underdog. The boys were seeded fifth in their section and pulled off an upset over number one seeded Rosemount in their section semifinals and then went on to defeat number two seeded Burnsville in the final. St. Thomas racked up a 15-8 record this season and their leading scorer is Jackson Hallum who has 18 goals and 35 points so far this year. Jarod Wright leads the team in assists with 18 and Hallum is hot on his heels with 17 of his own. St. Thomas will look to continue their Cinderella dance into the state playoffs, and they are matched with the daunting task of defeating number one seeded Andover in the first round. The game is set to be play on March 5 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

#2 St. Cloud Cathedral

CHAMPION

FRIDAY 1:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#4 Mahtomedi

SATURDAY 9:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center

3RD PLACE

CLASS AA STATE TOURNAMENT Maple Grove

THURSDAY 11:00 a.m.

Xcel Energy Center FRIDAY, 10:00 a.m.

Mariucci

#2 The Blake School Lakeville South

THURSDAY 1:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

CONSOLATION CHAMPION

SATURDAY 12:00 p.m.

Mariucci

FRIDAY 6:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

SATURDAY 7:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#3 Eden Prairie St. Thomas Academy

THURSDAY 6:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center FRIDAY 12 p.m.

Mariucci

#1 Andover #5 Hill-Murray

THURSDAY 8:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

FRIDAY 8:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

#4 Moorhead

2019, 2020 State Tournament Titles: None Top Scorer Stats: Blake Perbix, 27-4774 Goaltender Stats: Grant Martin, 19-31/2.65/.888/3 SO Notes: Although the defending state champions are the number two seed in this year’s bracket, there is a strong case for them to be the favorite in this year’s field. They made easy work of all the teams they faced during the section playoffs and defeated Prairie Centre, River Lakes and Alexandria to get to this point.

Senior Blake Perbix leads the team in goals, assists and points but is accompanied by Jack Smith and Nate Warner who combine to be an absolute nightmare of a triple threat to face on the ice. This team compiled a 20-3 record on the season but it’s their chemistry that is their biggest advantage in this year’s tournament. The margin for error is slim against this St. Cloud Cathedral team and they will look to defeat number seven seeded Mankato East in the first round. The quarterfinal matchup is set for March 4 at 11 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 State Tournament Titles: 2007, 2016, 2017 Top Scorer Stats: Blake Biondi, 37-3976 Goaltender Stats: Jacob Backstrom 163-4/2.06/.894/2 SO Notes: Hermantown is potentially the biggest roadblock for St. Cloud Cathedral in this year’s bracket but they will first have to secure a quarterfinal round victory over number six seeded Monticello to advance themselves. Hermantown annihilated their competition on the way to the state tournament by defeating North Shore, Eveleth-Gilbert and Duluth Denfeld. They were led by Blake Biondi, who is arguably the best player in the state and committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Biondi has torched defenders for 37 goals, 39 assists and has accumulated 76 points this season. The team finished 18-3-4 this season and will look to make a deep run in this years tournament behind their Mr. Hockey candidate.

HERMANTOWN

Section: 8A Section Final Opponent and Score: East Grand Forks, 4-0 School Enrollment: 468 Coach: Jay Hardwick State Tournament Appearances: 1948, 1949, 1953, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1987,

Section: 7A Section Final Opponent and Score: Duluth Denfeld, 6-0 School Enrollment: 850 Coach: Dale Jago State Tournament Appearances: 1994,

WARROAD

CHAMPION

SATURDAY 4:00 p.m.

Xcel Energy Center

3RD PLACE

1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020 State Tournament Titles: 1994, 1996, 2003, 2005 Top Scorer Stats: Grant Slukynsky, 3045-75 Goaltender Stats: Zach Foster 182/1.64/.911/3 SO – Jack Orchard 5-0/0.39/.973/4 SO Notes: Warroad has established itself as the number one seed in this year’s bracket and has done it in dominating fashion by not allowing a single goal in any of their section playoff games. The team swept right through Lake of the Woods, Detroit Lakes and East Grand Forks on their way to clinching the top spot. They are led by Grant Slukynsky who has found the back of the net 30 times this season along with putting up 45 assists and recording 75 points. Anthony Foster is second on the team with 24 goals and Jayson Shaugabay rounds out the top three with 19. This squad is a serious contender to take it all this year and the biggest threats to knock them off is number two seeded St. Cloud Cathedral and number three seeded Hermantown. They finished the regular season with a 23-2 record and will look for another victory in their quarterfinal matchup against number eight seeded Hutchinson. The team’s first round matchup is set for March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.

32 March 5, 2020

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Let’s Play Hockey

MARCH 6-7, 2020

31st Annual

Saint Paul RiverCentre, St. Paul, MN

Friday 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-5pm

TAKE THE CHALLENGE!

Calling all Hockey Moms and Hockey Dads

Try our Hockey Mom and Hockey Dad Challenge!

Test your skills at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo!

All day on both Friday and Saturday and is FREE to participants!

Shooting Accuracy • Shooting Velocity Stickhandling • Passing • Agility All ages and skills apply. Top scores from each age group will be published in Let’s Play Hockey.

Everyone who enters is eligible for grand prizes that includes: sticks, gear, training aids, cool hockey swag and more. presented by

Win great prizes including a $200 shopping spree from 24/7 Active and $100 dinner at Baja Haus in Wayzata (donated by 24/7 Active).

We are also giving away a day at the spa and other great prizes.

Dads: you can win a golf getaway package and a brewery tour at Inbound Brewery in Minneapolis plus other great prizes and giveaways.

Stop by the FlipGive Hockey Lounge to watch the game and have a beverage.

Lot’s of fun for Hockey Moms and Dads!

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAYS! Win a Home Skate Sharpener from Sparx or a backyard rink from NiceRink... plus many more great grand prizes to be given away!

Enter to win at the Let’s Play Hockey Booth!

We also have vendor prizes to give away every hour!

BACKYARD RINK

Come check everything out! More than 120 vendors of the latest and greatest in the greatest game on earth!

Admission to the Expo: $5 for adults • 18 and Under FREE

www.letsplayhockeyexpo.com

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Let’s Play Hockey

March 5, 2020

33

34 March 5, 2020

www.stateofhockey.com

Let’s Play Hockey

31st Annual

Fri

FLOOR 31st Annual

Row B

Black Biscuit

MN Warriors

JT’s Slapshot Hockey Shop

Little Locker Room

Original Sauce Kit Sauce Passing Challenge Challenge

Royalty Hat Trick Custom Designs

FCA Hockey/ Northstar Academy

Puck Knob

Jer53Y

Build Your Game

Propel Hockey Camps

NAHL

Buttendz

Bloomington CVB

Absolute Stickhan Challe

Absolute Filth

Row A

Registration for the Challenge

Original Sauce Kit

EXPO

LUMBR HOCKEY Hardest Shot Challenge

LUMBR HOCKEY

March 6-7 St. Paul, MN

KnockOut Net

www.letsplayhockeyexpo.com

Knockout Net Sniper Challenge

Goalie Guru

Accufli Zorro Youngspeeds Sticks

JLG Architects

Keene Jersey

TOVI Hockey

Puck Hero

Row C The Goalie Club

Laura Stamm Power Skating

EZ Sharp

SPARX

Uptown Absolute Wissota Skate WoodFilth Sharpeners works

Hockey Wraparound/ Blade Shades

GOODWOOD HOCKEY

Green Biscuit

Shattuck- Burggraff

Hockey Vizual Stick WOW A-Champs Ninja.

Stow Hockey com Edge

Pro Guard

Hockey Herb HOME Ministries Brooks ICE Int’l Founda-

Beauty Status

Lee Stauber’s Bladetech County Goalcrease Hockey Sports

Twin Cities Orthopedic

Live Polar

Redwolf Jersey Works

Pro Helmet Apparel Decals

NICC Hockey

Pro Sharp

Iron Gentry Range Academy

Row D Scott Bjugstad Shooting School

Skating

Second Season Hockey

Row E US Speed Skating/ Midwest SC

Haggard Hockey

Collectibles

GEMINI Athletic Wear

PuckStyle/ XEDGE Hockey

Pro Edge Power

Iron Sleek

Violet Victoria

K1 Sportswear Rink Rat Wrapz

Girl Power/ Breezy Point Hockey Camps

Rick O’Shay

Entrance/ Escalators

Dave’s Sport Shop

Top Shelf Targets

St. Mary’s

Collectibles Area

MIGHTY DUCKS

Body Trick

R

Gangroth Graphics C

Box Ho Tournam

Conc

24/7 Active

Balou

Tourney Time

Lettermen Sports

Kellogg Lobby

Sports Dream

Yellowbird Coffee

Travel Leaders

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Let’s Play Hockey

35

MARCH 6-7, 2020

Saint Paul RiverCentre, St. Paul, MN

iday 10am-6pm • Saturday 10am-5pm

R PLAN

FHIT/ MAP Hockey

Bench Clearers

Carroll Kobe / GS/ Peranis Brian’s

cessions

US POND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

String King

Rink- BioSteel Writer Nutrition

Q30 Innovations

MEGA Goaltending

Second Team String Bottles

ockey ment

Minnesota Wild Inflatable Rink

Synthetic Ice

Revolution Sports HockeyDot

LTD SPORTS

The Iron Ranger

Return the Robin The Rink Live

Elevate Hockey/ The Hockey Arsenal

KAV

4 Love of the Puck

MN Wild Gaming Station

Entrance

Sideline Swap PGD Goaltending

Nova Care

Hockey Mom Contest Prize Tables/ sponsor display area

ETS Sports Performance

Hockey Dad Contest

DeSigns Unlimited

Hockey Lounge Sauce Toss Pro3 Solutions Funk Away

Concessions

Howie’s Hockey Tape

Let’s Play Hockey

MN Score Radio

k o

Minnesota Hockey

Fortis Academy Agility Challenge

Minnesota Hockey

er ys

Fortis Academy

e Filth ndling enge

36 March 5, 2020

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Let’s Play Hockey

2020 EXHIBITORS ❑ 24/7Active Sportzgear ❑ 4 Love of the Puck ❑ A-Champs Interactive Training Solutions ❑ Absolute Filth ❑ Accufli Zorro Sticks ❑ Balou ❑ Beauty Status Hockey Co. ❑ Bench Clearers ❑ Biosteel Sports ❑ Black Biscuit ❑ Bladetech Hockey ❑ Bloomington, MN CVB ❑ Body Trick ❑ Box Hockey ❑ Build Your Game ❑ Burggrafskating.com ❑ Buttendz ❑ Carroll Goalie School/ Brian’s Custom Sports ❑ Dave’s Sport Shop ❑ deSigns Unlimited ❑ Edge Power Trainer ❑ Elevate Hockey/ The Hockey Arsenal ❑ ETS Sports Performance ❑ EZ Sharp ❑ FCA Hockey/Northstar Christian Academy ❑ FHIT & MAP Hockey ❑ Flip Give ❑ Funk Away ❑ Gemini Athletic Wear ❑ Gentry Academy ❑ Girl Power/ Breezy Point Hockey Camps ❑ Goalcrease/CCM Goalie ❑ Goalie Guru ❑ GoodWood Hockey ❑ Grangroth Graphics ❑ Green Biscuit ❑ Haggard Hockey ❑ Hat Trick Custom Designs ❑ Herb Brooks Foundation ❑ Hockey Dad Competition

❑ Hockey Ministries Int’l ❑ Hockey Mom Competition ❑ Hockey Wraparound/ Blade Shades ❑ Hockey-Dot ❑ Hockeyninja.com ❑ HOME ICE ❑ Howies Hockey Tape ❑ Iron Range Apparel ❑ Iron Sleek ❑ Jer53y ❑ JLG Architects ❑ JT’s Slapshot Hockey Shop ❑ K1 Sportwear ❑ KAV ❑ Keener Jerseys ❑ Knockout Net ❑ Kobe/Peranis ❑ Laura Stamm Power Skating ❑ Lee County Sports Development ❑ Let’s Play Hockey ❑ Lettermen Sports ❑ Little Locker Room ❑ Live Polar ❑ Living The Dream Sports ❑ Lumbr Hockey ❑ MEGA Goaltending ❑ Minnesota Hockey ❑ Minnesota Wild ❑ Minny Beauts Hockey ❑ MN Score Radio ❑ MN Warriors ❑ NICC Hockey ❑ Nice Rink - Backyard Ice ❑ North American Hockey League ❑ NovaCare Rehabilitation ❑ Original Sauce Kit ❑ Potent Hockey ❑ Premier Goaltending Development ❑ Pro Edge Power ❑ Pro Helmet Decals ❑ Pro3 Solutions

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For a complete list, including product descriptions and contact info, visit

www.letsplayhockeyexpo.com

38 March 5, 2020

Let’s Play Hockey

www.stateofhockey.com

– Q & A with UPTOWN WOODWORKS –

Hockey as art Two former players are now decorating man caves all over the State of Hockey with their unique talent Garrett Faust and Harrison Blankenship have taken their game to the next level. No, they aren’t playing in a World Class Juniors tournament, or for an NHL affiliate team. But they are teaming together to form Uptown Woodworks, using their unique artistic ability off the ice with their love of playing on the ice to create hockey art that is flying off the shelves. The duo was at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo in 2019 and is back again this year to showcase the many forms of art they have. We interviewed them to find out their back story and how they went from player to artist.

Tell me who you played HS hockey for and where you grew and how you became involved in hockey.

Garrett played three years of varsity high school hockey for the Academy of Holy Angels. He grew up in St. Paul.

He started skating at the age of three and played youth hockey for the Highland Central Capitals. His dad, Jeff Faust, played for Mariner back in the day (now White Bear) and went on to play D-I at the Air Force Academy. It was Garrett’s dad that got him skating at a young age and coached him all the way up until bantams.

Harrison played varsity at Blake for three years from 2007-2009, making it to the state tournament twice (2007 and 2008). He did not come from a legacy hockey family but rather got into hockey because of his friends at school. He started playing hockey at age six in the Mound Westonka association until bantams when he started playing for Blake’s program. After graduating from Blake, he played DIII hockey at Gustavus Adolphus College for two years.

How did you get into the art industry?

The foundation for Uptown Woodworks started to materialize when Garrett and Harrison were growing up, both demonstrating an artistic side as avid drawers. In fact, if you remember, Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine used to have a section where they featured kids drawings of hockey players/ hockey scenes. In his spare time, Garrett would try to draw hockey players based on the hockey cards he had and submit them to the magazine.

Fast forward to December 2015, Garrett was looking for creative outlets outside of his day job and found Nordeast Makers in Northeast Minneapolis.

With just a monthly fee, the maker’s space gave him access to heavy duty equipment, including laser cutter/engravers, CNC routers, 3D printers, and other tools. With a mechanical engineering background, Garrett quickly learned

how to use the equipment.

Around the same time, he and Harrison moved into a new apartment in Uptown. Neither of them had much for art or pictures to decorate their walls, let alone furniture. They both had done some woodwork and lots of DIY projects with their fathers growing up so they decided to make their own wall decor. One of the first things Garrett created at the maker space was a four-foot Minneapolis skyline. When he brought it home, Harrison was blown away by it.

Like Garrett, Harrison also had an itch to find a creative outlet because he used to have so many growing up. He has always been interested and had a knack for all types of design, but one of his favorites was interior design and architecture – particularly classic, simple designs that use natural elements to bring the outdoors inside. This was a light bulb moment. Harrison immediately wanted to get involved in what Garrett had found/started.

One of the best things about Garrett is his willingness to be a spark and just try things or make things happen. He and Harrison sat down shortly after he brought the skyline home and they began to brainstorm what else they could make. They also began looking at opportunities to showcase pieces they made to see what others thought. They saw the State Hockey Tournament was approaching, so they impulsively purchased a booth and created different variations of two hockey/tournament related designs. At the tourney, they got a ton of encouraging feedback as well as sold all of their art. After this, they designed many more pieces that were influenced by things that were important to them, would look good in their space and/or were part of their identity such as a Lake Minnetonka lake map. As they created these pieces and shared them on their social channels, people began to take interest and ask for custom pieces for themselves. This started to snowball and has since turned into a sustainable business.

What is it about hockey that you currently enjoy or enjoyed the most as a player?

The community and culture of Minnesota hockey by far. Josh Levine’s recent article about what makes Minnesota hockey different did a great job capturing the tradition and why Minnesota hockey is special. However, the community is what makes it fun. The State Tournament is where this is manifested most because it is basically a pilgrimage where we all come together as well as a celebration of what makes us proud. Being a part of the player’s com-

Garrett Faust and Harrison Blankenship have expanded their Uptown Woodworks into making pieces other than hockey-related art including lake maps, outdoor themed décor and celebrations of Minnesota.

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Garrett Faust and Harrison Blankenship have teamed together to form Uptown Woodworks, specializing in making custom and personalized wood art and signs. munity is special. We can’t really think of anything more fun than the camaraderie of playing with your buddies at a very competitive level.

What goes into creating your pieces? They are very detailed and clean.

How is it done?

We typically try to design pieces that have some sort of emotional connection with people because that is what we wanted for ourselves when creating artwork to hang in our own apartment.

We spend a fair amount of time thinking of ideas for new pieces or designing new pieces. We also made a conscience decision to use new distressed wood rather than reclaimed barn wood to achieve more of a clean look. This makes our pieces more dynamic so they can fit in a variety of interiors. Additionally, we use precision machines such as a CNC laser and CNC router to perfectly cut out or engrave our designs, which is how we achieve such fine detail. With these resources, we are simply limited to what we can design on a computer. Once we have cut out and stained all the necessary components, we assemble a backboard and the artwork together by hand.

The process that each piece of artwork goes through from start to finish enables us to create our artwork fairly quickly while maintaining high quality.

How did you guys become friends and then business partners?

We met through a mutual friend that was one of Harrison’s best buddies in high school and that Garrett met in the engineering program at St. Thomas.

Shortly after college, this mutual friend moved away. After having hung out a couple times, it’s actually the realization that we both played high school hockey that fostered a stronger bond as friends.

We were also always up for adventures of any kind so it was easy to become partners in crime. Soon after college, we became roommates in Uptown in 2014.

Another thing we realized is how interested we both were in entrepreneurship.

However, we have very different skills and expertise. Garrett is a mechanical engineer by trade and Harrison is a digital marketer. We quickly realized what a dynamic partnership we could be if we started a business together, especially one that requires manufacturing our own product.

How was your experience at the Expo?

We had a great time at the Expo.

Garrett Faust and Harrison Blankenship both played hockey and have a variety of hockey-related wood art and signs.

We actually hadn’t visited since the very first time we attended as vendors three years ago, so it was good to be back and see all that was different as well as everything that had stayed the same. It’s a familiar, but new experience every year.

It was a ton of fun being vendors last year, selling many brand new hockey themed designs. We sold some items off the walls and took a number of custom orders from people. It was great talking hockey with attendees and other vendors as well as trying out the activities at other booths.

What are you hoping to accomplish in the future?

One of our major goals for 2020 is to do more events so you may see us at one of the many Twin Cities art shows like the Edina and Uptown Art Fair. Other goals in 2020 are developing more original designs and bringing Harrison on full-time.

www.stateofhockey.com

Q&A

Let’s Play Hockey

March 5, 2020

39

with Nate DiCasmirro of XEDGE HOCKEY Tell me your hockey background growing up – when you first started playing and when you first developed a passion for the game.

The first time I was on skates from what I was told, I was 9 or 11 months and started playing when I was around 3 or 4 with my first season of mites when I was 5 in Eagan.

Fill me in on your high school career and what led you to play juniors and then overseas.

I decided not to play high school in Burnsville and went to play Midget AAA in Marquette, Mich., for a year when I was in 10th grade. I then went to the USHL for three seasons. I played my junior and senior years of high school and the year after in the USHL. I then went on to play four years at St. Cloud State University. I then signed a 2-year NHL deal with the Edmonton Oilers. I went on to sign another 2-year deal with Edmonton and then I signed a 2-year deal with Boston. Later, I was traded in the minors to San Antonio and then Syracuse. In total. I played in 400 AHL games and got the chance to play in a couple NHL exhibition games with Edmonton and

Boston.

What was it like playing overseas? How was the game different than the North American game?

Were you able to make a decent living?

After six years in the AHL, I got an opportunity to head to Europe to play. I was able to get my Italian passport due to the fact my grandparents are from Italy.

Playing in Europe was more than I could have imagined. First, I met my wife while playing in Austria – where I live currently. I also had the chance to play for Team Italy. I played in the World Championships in Minsk, Belarus in 2014. Playing against Sweden, Canada, Czech Republic – when Jagr played (see my Facebook profile photo of me and Jagr).

The money over here is pretty good. With being paid tax free in Euro and they give you a house and car as part of the contract. So you are able to make and save some pretty good money playing in Europe.

What is it love you most about the game of hockey?

I don’t think there is any one thing that I love – I just love the whole sport

Nate Dicasmirro battles hockey legend Jaromir Jagr in the corner an international game.

Nate Dicasmirro played overseas for several years. of hockey. The training and playing and now the coaching side of the game. I love being at the rink and getting better and/or learning every day.

I also have found another passion of the game and that is the skill or functional training with players. I worked with kids/players last summer in Minnesota and now I am also the skills coach for our pro guys on the team I coach here. I work with the guys two times a week in addition to our normal practice times. I really enjoy planning and getting there and running the players through these sessions. And from what they have said, they really like the “game-like” drills we do. Everything we do I try to mimic how this will/could/does happen in a game. So when the situation happens, they are well prepared and make the right play/ decision.

What are you up to nowadays and how have you stayed involved in the game?

I am now the assistant coach and also run the skills practices for Klagnenfurt II Hockey Club in the Alps Hockey League in Klangenfurt, Austria.

Tell me about your business ventures within the game?

Hockey is all I have ever known and wanted to do, so naturally my business ventures are in the hockey world as well. I own a hockey accessories company called PuckStyle. We make necklaces, bracelets and keychains from real hockey pucks and skate laces. We also offer a hockey

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puck bottle opener. All our items you can customize on our website or get in bulk for your team, hockey shop or hockey event.

I also started XEDGE Hockey training a year ago. I have been training kids/players for the past five to 10 years in the summer, both on and off the ice, but last summer I decided to make it official. From what I have been told my training is a bit different, as everything we do simulates a game situation as much as possible. We also work on 1v1 / 2v2 body position puck battle drills and small area games. The small area games really give the players a chance to put to use the training that we do. It’s fun to see the payers use the techniques/skills we work on in the small area games.

We will also be offering our own AAA Program for next summer called the MN Maniacs. We will use our XEDGE training methods in Maniacs’ practices which should carry over to the games/tournaments that we play in. And if your not a part of the MN Maniacs or any other AAA team due to any reason, you can take advantage of our Free Agency program. We will be working with other AAA programs to be able to offer them players should they be looking for a couple players if/when they are short. This is a great chance to get involved in the AAA MN hockey scene without making the full commitment.

You can view all our training and AAA options on our website at www. xedgehockey.com

Learn from & train with an Olympic Gold Medal Champion!

Hannah Brandt

GOLD MEDAL HOCKEY CAMP JUNE 21-27, 2020

U15-U19 Girls, Deerwood, Minnesota

www.heartlandhockey.com

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Let’s Play Hockey

March 5, 2020

41

Tourney Time authors discuss the process of covering 75 years of state tournaments When and where did you get the idea for the book?

David: Writing 20-year anniversary stories on the 1995 and 1996 state tournaments for the Star Tribune taught me how much more there is to be learned. Great teams, games and characters are the fabric of the tournament’s tradition. I became inspired to tell stories representing the event’s entire history. But I needed a good linemate, or in this case, a co-author.

Loren: This was David’s idea, I just signed on, without hesitation, when he asked if I wanted to be the co-author.

Give me some personal background on both of you and your work at the Star Tribune as well as your hockey background.

David: Vaseline on red cheeks.

Mothers providing hot cocoa and Rice Krispie bars. Dads rubbing and warming your feet between periods. I experienced all that as a young hockey player on St. Paul’s East Side. Later, around 2009, I became the Star Tribune’s high school hockey point person. I started covering the tournament with Loren in 2014.

Loren: I played hockey at Indus High School, a country school on the Rainy River between International Falls and Baudette. No town, no store, nothing – just a school. We were the smallest hockey playing school in the state when I was there. I went on to play college hockey at St. Mary’s in Winona. I’ve been a sports journalist pretty much ever since I graduated from St. Mary’s, working at newspapers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida and California before coming home to Minnesota 10 years ago to join a startup technology company that would eventually be known as SportsEngine.

We created the first few high school sports Hubs — most notably the MN Hockey Hub — and the Star Tribune was one of the company’s first big clients.

How did you go about your research? Who were some of the key players in gathering all of this information?

David: As hockey reporters, we both already had amassed a large number of contacts. Many times, those folks helped us reach others. We looked at thousands of newspaper articles online and on microfilm at the Minnesota History Center in an effort to gain insight about the games, the

players’ personalities and little nuggets we could mine as talking points.

Loren: We did a combined 400 interviews that provided much of the material for our narratives. We talked to former players, coaches, fans, referees, cheerleaders – you name it.

Many of the towns and teams have de facto historians, people who have taken over the curation and promotion of their programs’ glory years. It was important to identify those folks as soon as possible as they usually have a wealth of information.

How long did it take to gather this information? I am guessing lots of phone calls, emails and in-person interviews?

David: Work began in the spring of 2017. A project deadline of April 2019 meant most of our interviews were done by phone. We did visit Duluth, Eveleth and Warroad. And we met a couple dozen more people in person.

Loren: Lots and lots of phone calls. It was sometimes tricky tracking down certain players, and I made and accepted phone calls from around the world, including one from a former Blaine player in Kazakhstan.

Do you have any favorite or good anecdotes about your research? I imagine you came across some interesting individuals ... please share an interview or something that sticks out in your mind. Who was the most interesting person you interviewed?

David: During an in-person interview with the Broten brothers, Aaron, Neal and Paul, the fire alarm sounded at Aaron Broten’s place of employment in Edina. We could see none of the folks on the floor were running for the exit, so we kept talking to the Brotens for our foreword. And wonderful stories came from interviews with Chris Lind of Bloomington Kennedy, Johnny Pohl of Red Wing and Dan “Chocolate” Clafton of Grand Rapids, among others.

Loren: Talking to Brandon Bochenski, the Blaine player mentioned earlier, was a lot of fun. He really got excited when he started reminiscing about his playing days. T.J. Oshie, the former Warroad and current Washington Capitals star, was extremely gracious with his time. He shared a lot of funny memories, too. Bob Harris from the 1946 Roseau championship team blew me away with his incredible memory and all the details he shared

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Loren Nelson and David La Vaque have written a book covering all 75 years of state tournament history. They will be selling the book at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo. from the tournament’s early years.

What did you learn about Minnesota High School Hockey while producing this book?

David: Getting to know about Gene Aldrich, state tournament founder, was a real treat. Stories from his son, John, really brought Aldrich to life. Tracking down the “Rink Rat” t-shirt creators was fun. And I discovered the players’ passion, pride and a sense of community were universal qualities.

Loren: I learned how little I knew about the tournament. I had heard bits and pieces about the tourney’s history and some of the great games and funny moments, but you don’t really understand the magnitude of the event until you dive headfirst into it. I also learned that every championship team has a great story – or several – that helps explain its success.

What are your goals for the book (besides selling a million copies)?

David: To let older players and coaches know their work is appreciated. To teach younger players more about the tournament’s rich history. To share the funny moments and the emotional moments. To share this passion project, one that Minnesota hockey fans throughout the generations deserve.

Loren: For people to smile and laugh and be amazed at all the stories and photos and lists, just like we were when compiling them. For folks to be entertained and educated. We wrote the type of book that I would enjoy – and do enjoy – reading.

How can people order or pur-

chase the book?

David and Loren: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. The Minnesota Historical Society Press. But we recommend ordering from us at Legacy.Hockey/ tourneytime. We’ll ship out a personalized, autographed copy. We’ll also have a booth at the state tournament.

Looking back, was this a worthwhile project and why?

David: Absolutely. Early interviews with aging men drove the point home. “Hey, thank you so much for doing this,” they would say. I soon understood. They knew the state tournament mattered in their little worlds when they played. They are damn flattered to know it matters to all of us, for all time.

Loren: Without a doubt it was worthwhile. We met hundreds of wonderful, talented people who were so gracious sharing their time and memories. Those interactions alone were so positive and fun it made the project worthwhile. We also documented a lot of stories and information that slowly is being lost as coaches and players pass away.

Any additional comments?

David: Enjoy the more than 200 photos, which are essential to telling the story of the state tournament. Stick tap for Kyle Oen of vintagemnhockey. com, curator of most of the images.

Loren: Thank you to everyone who not only helped us compile the information in the book but have been so supportive in helping us promote it.

The hockey community is a wonderful place, as we are reminded on a daily basis.

Learn from & train with an Olympic Gold Medal Champion!

Dani Cameranesi’s

GOLD MEDAL HOCKEY CAMP JUNE 21-27, 2020

U10 & U12 Girls, Deerwood, Minnesota

www.heartlandhockey.com

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March 5, 2020

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WCHA announces 2019-20 All-League Teams, presented by Sterling Trophy All-WCHA and All-Academic teams honored BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Women’s League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is proud to recognize the 24 student-athletes represented on its 2019-20 All-WCHA Teams, presented by Sterling Trophy, along with the 112 WCHA All-Academic Team honorees.

“I want to congratulate all of our All-WCHA honorees for their success on the ice and in the classroom,” WCHA Vice-President and Women’s League Commissioner Jennifer Flowers said. “Today’s announcement highlights the all-around excellence of the WCHA.” Showcasing the league’s depth and youth, freshmen and sophomores account for six of 18 spots overall among the All-WCHA First, Second and Third teams.

The 2019-20 WCHA Offensive Player, Defensive Player, Goaltender, Rookie, Outstanding Student-Athlete and Coach of the Year will be announced March 4. The overall WCHA Player of the Year will be recognized on March 7.

All-WCHA First Team, presented by Sterling Trophy The All-WCHA first team forward trio features Wisconsin senior Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Wisconsin junior Daryl Watts (Toronto, Ont.) and, for the third-consecutive season, Ohio State junior Emma Maltais (Burlington, Ont.) Maltais finished the regular season with 55 points on 18 goals and 37 assists in 34 games, setting a new single-season point record at Ohio State, and tallied 41 points (12g-29a) in WCHA play to finish second in league points and assists. Watts posted more points than any other player in the NCAA, tallying 24 goals and 49 assists for 73 points. Her 49 helpers set a single season record at Wisconsin, putting her in the history books during her first season as a Badger. She also led the WCHA points race, finishing the regular season with 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 league points. Roque finished the campaign with 57 points on 25 goals and 32 assists and registered 38 points (17g-21a) in league play.

The All-WCHA blueliners are two-time First Team honoree redshirt senior Jincy Dunne (O’Fallon, Mo.) of Ohio State and Ashton Bell (Deloraine, Man.) of Minnesota Duluth. Bell held the scoring lead among defensemen with 31 points (11g-20a), 21 (7g,14a) of which she tallied in WCHA play. Dunne finished third in regular-season defenseman scoring with 25 points on seven goals and 18 assists and registered 19 of her points (6g-13a) to finish second among blueliners in league play.

Minnesota senior Sydney Scobee (Minnetrista, Minn.) earns the All-WCHA goaltender nod in 2020. The Gophers netminder led the league in save percentage (.934), goals against average (1.56), minutes played (1923:48) and shutouts with eight. Scobee played in 32 of 33 games for Minnesota including all 24 WCHA contests and lead the league in wins with 24 total and 17 in WCHA play. Her eight shutouts are the third-most in the nation.

All-WCHA Second Team, presented by Sterling Trophy The All-WCHA second team front line includes Minnesota junior Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.), Wisconsin sophomore Sophie Shirley (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Minnesota Duluth sophomore Gabbie Hughes (Lino Lakes, Minn.). Zumwinkle posted 41 points (21g-19a), 31 of which she scored in league play (16g-15a). She put the most pucks on net this season with 175 shots on goal and tied for the best plus/minus rating in the WCHA at +36. Shirley paced the league in goals with 28 and added 31 helpers to rank second in the WCHA and tie for third in the NCAA in points with 59. She tallied 38 of her points (19g-19a) in league games. Hughes (18g-30a/48pts) tied for the WCHA lead in game-winning goals with five and ranked fifth in league scoring with 37 points from 12 goals and 25 helpers.

The All-WCHA second team defensemen are Wisconsin senior Mekenzie Steffen (Centerville, Minn.) and Minnesota junior Emily Brown (Blaine, Minn.). Brown posted four goals and 13 helpers for 17 points, 16 of which came in league play. Steffen recorded 16 points on six goals and 10 assists for the Badgers in WCHA contests this season.

Minnesota Duluth senior Maddie Rooney garnered second-team accolades after she posted the second-best save percentage (.926) and minutes played (1953.38) among league netminders. She became Minnesota Duluth’s all-time career-leader this season, recording over 3000 stops during her time in a Bulldog sweater.The Andover, Minn., native stopped a total of 843 shots in 2019-20, which ranks No. 4 in the NCAA. All-WCHA Third Team, presented by Sterling Trophy Minnesota redshirt senior Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C.), Minnesota sophomore Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) and Minnesota Duluth senior Sydney Brodt (North Oaks, Minn.) comprise the forward group on the All-WCHA third team. Potomak moved up the Minnesota ranks to check in at 11th among the Gophers all-time career-scoring leaders. She added 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points this season to bring her career totals to 64 goals and 110 assists for 174 career points. Heise potted 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points in 2019-20, 29 of which came in WCHA play (14g-15a). Brodt finished 11th in the WCHA with 37 points on 17 goals and 20 assists. She registered 28 of her points (13g-15a) in league play.

Ohio State sophomore Sophie Jaques (Toronto, Ont.) and Minnesota State sophomore Anna Wilgren (Hudson, Wis.) are the All-WCHA third team defensemen. Jaques scored eight goals and added 14 assists to total 22 points in the regular-season and

rank fifth among league defensemen. She had the most shots on goals of any WCHA blueliner at 115. Wilgren led the WCHA and ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots, recording 90 in 35 games. She tallied 23 points on give goals and 18 assists.

Ohio State sophomore Andrea Braendli (Zurich, Switzerland) earns All-WCHA third team honors after recording the third-best save percentage in the league at. 921.

She started all 27 games in which she played for the Buckeyes and posted a 2.00 goals against average.

WCHA All-Rookie Team, presented by Sterling Trophy The WCHA All-Rookie Team includes Minnesota State’s Kelsey King (Elk River, Minn.) St. Cloud State’s Klára Hymlárová (Opava, Czech Republic) and Bemidji State’s Reece Hunt (Nelson, B.C.) at forward. Hymlárová leads WCHA freshman in points with 23 (7g-16a). King ranks second with 22 points on six goals and 16 assists.

Hunt totaled 15 points on four goals and 11 assists and was the only league rookie to record a hat trick this season.

Defensively, the All-Rookie Team includes Ohio State’s Teghan Inglis (Okotoks, Alta.) and Minnesota’s Madeline Wethington (Edina, Minn.). Inglis notched 10 points for Ohio State on three goals and seven helpers and blocked the most shots of any WCHA rookie at 38. Wethington tied for fourth among rookies in the point standings, recording six goals and eight assists for 14 points. Wethington touts the best plus/ minus of any freshman in the WCHA at +19.

Minnesota State goaltender Calla Frank (White Bear Lake, Minn.) rounds out the All-Rookie Team. The freshman netminder posted a .909 save percentage, saved 427 of the 470 shots she faced and recorded two shutouts.

About the 2019-20 All-WCHA Teams, presented by Sterling Trophy WCHA Women’s League member head coaches and assistant coaches vote for the All-WCHA Teams. The All-WCHA First, Second and Third Teams are determined by tabulating votes on a sliding 5-3-1 scale for First, Second and Third Team, respectively. The WCHA All-Rookie Team is determined by tabulating the number of votes each player receives.

2019-20 All-WCHA Teams, presented by Sterling Trophy First Team Name Pos. Class School Hometown Emma Maltais F Jr. Ohio StateBurlington, Ont. Daryl Watts F Jr. Wisconsin Toronto, Ont. Abby Roque F Sr. Wisconsin Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Jincy Dunne D Sr. Ohio State O’Fallon, Mo. Ashton Bell D Jr. Minnesota Duluth Deloraine, Man. Sydney Scobee G Sr. Minnesota Minnetrista, Minn.

Second Team Name Sophie Shirley Grace Zumwinkle Gabbie Hughes Mekenzie Steffen Emily Brown Maddie Rooney

Pos. Class School Hometown F So. Wisconsin Saskatoon, Saskatchewan F Jr. Minnesota Excelsior, Minn.

F So. Minnesota Duluth Lino Lakes, Minn.

D Sr. Wisconsin Centerville, Minn.

D Jr. Minnesota Blaine, Minn.

G Sr. Minnesota Duluth Andover, Minn.

Third Team Name Sydney Brodt Sarah Potomak Taylor Heise Sophie Jaque Anna Wilgren Andrea Braendli

Pos. Class School F Sr. Minnesota Duluth F Sr. Minnesota F So. Minnesota D So. Ohio State D So. Minnesota State G So. Ohio State

WCHA All-Rookie Team Name Pos. Class Kelsey King F Fr. Klára Hymlárová F Fr. Reece Hunt F Fr. Madeline Wethington D Fr. Teghan Inglis D Fr. Calla Frank G Fr.

School Minnesota State St. Cloud State Bemidji State Minnesota Ohio State Minnesota State

Hometown North Oaks, Minn.

Aldergrove, B.C. Lake City, Minn.

Toronto, Ont. Hudson, Wis. Zurich, Switzerland Hometown Elk River, Minn.

Opava, Czech Republic Nelson, B.C. Edina, Minn.

Okotoks, Alta.

White Bear Lake, Minn.

2019-20 WCHA All-Academic Team The League also released the 2019-20 WCHA All-Academic Team, comprised of 112 student-athletes representing all seven WCHA Women’s League member institutions.

To qualify for the WCHA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have completed one year of eligibility at their present institution, prior to the current academic year and have a GPA of at least 3.0 for the previous two semesters or three quarters.

WCHA ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS continued on page 48

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WCHA honors 92 student-athletes with 2019-20 Scholar-Athlete Awards

All 10 Men’s League member institutions represented on this year’s list BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Men’s League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, through WCHA President and Men’s League Commissioner Bill Robertson, announced the 92 recipients of the 2019-20 WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award.

“I want extend congratulations to our 2019-20 WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award winners on behalf of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association,” Robertson said.

“I’m excited to publicly recognize the academic excellence of our 92 student-athletes who have maintained an elite level of excellence in the classroom while competing at the top level of collegiate hockey. All of our recipients are tremendous representatives of the Association and our schools.”

The WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award was developed through member institution Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the conference membership for the 2005-06 season. To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, conference-member student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters. A candidate may also qualify if his overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his present institution.

Over the 15 years of the award, there have now been more than 1,200 WCHA Scholar-Athlete honorees representing every men’s and women’s member institution.

Forty-one of this season’s 92 men’s recipients are repeat honorees, with 13 of those now being three-time honorees. This year’s 92 honorees are also an increase from the 84 men’s student-athletes who were honored a season ago.

In addition, Alaska Anchorage’s Nolan Nicholas is now the ninth four-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award honoree in the 15-year history of the award and the third in the last two seasons.

2019-20 WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients (**** indicates four-time recipient; *** indicates three-time recipient; ** indicates two-time recipient): Alabama Huntsville (6) Name Class Pos. Austin Beaulieu** Sr. F Bailey Newton So. D Sean Rappleyea*** Sr. D Teddy Rotenberger*** Jr. D Tyr Thompson So. F Connor Wood Jr. F

Hometown Coral Springs, Fla. Oakville, Ont. Sayreville, N.J. Huntsville, Ala. Sherwood Park, Alta.

Buford, Ga.

Alaska-Anchorage (11) Name Carmine Buono Kris Carlson Trey DeGraaf** Tomi Hiekkavirta** Zac Masson** Aaron McPheters** Nolan Nicholas**** Drayson Pears Corey Renwick** Eric Sinclair* David Trinkberger***

Class Pos. Sr. D Jr. G Jr. F Sr. D Jr. F Jr. D Sr. D So. D Sr. F Jr. D Sr. D

Hometown Burnaby, B.C. Centerville, Va. Red Deer, Alta.

Helsinki, Finland Newmarket, Ont. Anchorage, Alaska Thunder Bay, Ont. Shawnigan Lake, B.C. Nanoose Bay, B.C. Kenora, Ont. Landshut, Germany

Alaska (9) Name Brennan Blaszczak Caleb Hite Kylar Hope James LaDouce** Kyle Marino** Anton Martinsson*** Jordan Muzzillo Max Newton** Antti Virtanen

Class Pos. F Jr. F So F Sr. D Sr. F Sr. G Sr. D So. F Jr. D So.

Hometown Troy, Mich.

Grand Blanc, Mich.

Lashburn, Sask.

Saginaw, Mich.

Niagara Falls, Ont. Klippan, Sweden Capron, Ill. Vancouver, B.C. Kittila, Finland

Bemidji State (10) Name Alex Adams Adam Brady*** Zach Driscoll Darby Gula Henry Johnson* Tyler Jubenvill Tyler Kirkup Tommy Muck***

Class Pos. So. F Sr. F Jr. G So. D Jr. G So. D So. F Sr. D

Hometown Grand Rapids, Minn.

Delhi, Ont. Apple Valley, Minn.

Steinbach, Man. Minneapolis, Minn.

Gilbert Plains, Man. Virden, Man. Eagan, Minn.

Hampus Sjödahl** Ethan Somoza**

Sr. Jr.

F F

Bowling Green (11) Name Class Pos. Alex Barber So. F Sam Craggs** Jr. F Jacob Dalton Sr. D Eric Dop** Jr. G Connor Ford** Jr. F Brandon Kruse** Jr. F Frederic Letourneau*** Sr. F Casey Linkenheld*** Sr. F Carson Musser** Jr. D Brett Rich** Jr. G Trevor St-Jean So. F

Stockholm, Sweden Simi Valley, Calif.

Hometown Dublin, Ohio Elmhurst, Ill. Saginaw, Mich.

Lewis Center, Ohio Pittsburgh, Pa. Saline, Mich.

Montreal, Que. Bartlett, Ill. Grand Rapids, Mich.

Bowling Green, Ohio Findlay, Ohio

Ferris State (8) Name Cameron Clarke** Nate Kallen Dominic Lutz*** Justin Michaelian Coale Norris Joe Rutkowski*** Roni Salmenkangas Zach Yoder***

Class Pos. Sr. D Sr. D Sr. F So. F Jr. F Sr. D So. G Sr. D

Hometown Tecumseh, Mich.

San Diego, Calif.

Livonia, Mich.

Wixom, Mich.

Oxford, Mich.

Crystal Lake, Ill. Tampere, Finland Woodstock, Ga.

Lake Superior State (10) Name Alex Ambrosio** Tyler Anderson Ashton Calder Ian Johnston Yuki Miura Miroslav Mucha Jacob Nordqvist Mitchell Oliver Collin Saccoman*** Pierre-Luc Veillette

Class Pos. Jr. F Jr. D So. F Sr. F Jr. F So. F So. D So. D Sr. D So. F

Hometown Burnaby, B.C. Niverville, Man. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Ottawa, Ont. Tokyo, Japan Bytca, Slovakia Gothenburg, Sweden Kelowna, B.C. Stillwater, Minn.

Drummondville, Que.

Michigan Tech (8) Name Robbie Beydoun** Tyrell Buckley Seamus Donohue** Mitch Meek** Zach Noble Tanner Polglaze Greyson Reitmeier** Marcus Russell

Class Pos. Jr. G So. D Jr. D Jr. D So. F So. F Jr. F Jr. F

Hometown Plymouth, Mich.

Penticton, B.C. North Oaks, Minn.

Victoria, B.C. Toms River, N.J. Beloit, Wis. Nakusp, B.C. Traverse City, Mich.

Minnesota State (12) Name Jacob Berger Andy Carroll Walker Duehr Josh French*** Dallas Gerads Edwin Hookenson*** Jake Jaremko Dryden McKay Jack McNeely** Nick Rivera*** Jared Spooner** Chris Van Os-Shaw

Class Pos. So. G So. D Jr. F Sr. F Jr. F Sr. D Jr. F So. G Jr. D Sr. F Jr. F So. F

Hometown Minnetonka, Minn.

Northfield, Minn.

Sioux Falls, S.D. Woodbury, Minn.

Blaine, Minn.

Lampman, Sask.

Nowthen, Minn.

Downers Grove, Ill. Lakeville, Minn.

Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Bismarck, N.D. Regina, Sask.

Northern Michigan (7) Name Griffin Loughran Grant Loven Joseph Nardi** Ben Newhouse Ty Readman Adam Roeder** Caleb Schroer**

Class Pos. So. F So. F Jr. F Jr. D So. F Jr. D Jr. F

Hometown West Seneca, N.Y. East Grand Forks, Minn.

Edmonton, Alta.

Edina, Minn.

Edmonton, Alta.

Ballwin, Mo. Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

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– WCHA: MEN’S UPDATE –

Field is set for 2020 WCHA postseason

Three-week, eight-team WCHA Championship to be held at campus sites, March 6-21 BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – It’s time for on-campus, playoff hockey! The participants and seeds have been set for the 2020 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Postseason Tournament, which begins March 6-8 with the top four teams each hosting a best-of-three quarterfinal round series. From there, the two highest remaining seeds will each host a best-of-three WCHA Playoffs semifinal series the weekend of March 13-15. The tournament concludes with the single-game, 2020 WCHA Championship, held at the home venue of the top remaining seed Saturday, March 21.

“We’ve reached the Championship portion of our season and it doesn’t get much better than on-campus playoff hockey,” WCHA President and Men’s League Commissioner Bill Robertson said. “Playing in front of the WCHA’s passionate fan bases is an exhilarating experience and provides an exciting and intense atmosphere for our student-athletes, coaches, fans, sponsors and competing institutions.”

The winner of the 2020 WCHA Postseason Tournament receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.

Pairings, locations and start times for the Friday-Sunday, March 6-8 best-ofthree, quarterfinal round of the 2020 WCHA Playoffs (* denotes if necessary): No. 8 Alaska Anchorage at No. 1 Minnesota State (Mayo Clinic Health Systems Event Center; Mankato, Minn.)

Game 1 (Friday, March 6): 7:07 p.m. CT Game 2 (Saturday, March 7): 6:07 p.m. CT *Game 3 (Sunday, March 8): 5:07 p.m. CT No. 7 Lake Superior State at No. 2 Bemidji State (Sanford Center; Bemidji, Minn.)

Game 1 (Friday, March 6): 7:07 p.m. CT Game 2 (Saturday, March 7): 6:07 p.m. CT *Game 3 (Sunday, March 8): 6:07 p.m. CT No. 6 Michigan Tech at No. 3 Northern Michigan (Berry Events Center; Marquette, Mich.)

Game 1 (Friday, March 6): 7:07 p.m. ET Game 2 (Saturday, March 7): 6:07 p.m. ET *Game 3 (Sunday, March 8): 6:07 p.m. ET No. 5 Bowling Green at No. 4 Alaska (Carlson Center; Fairbanks, Alaska) Game 1 (Friday, March 6): 7:07 p.m. AT Game 2 (Saturday, March 7): 7:07 p.m. AT *Game 3 (Sunday, March 8): 5:07 p.m. AT

WCHA ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS continued from page 46

Following, by team, are the 2019-20 WCHA All-Academic Team honorees.

Bemidji State (20): Alexis Baker (So., G, Lakeville, Minn.); Paige Beebe (Jr., F, Ham Lake, Minn.); Lauren Bench (RS-Jr., G, Eagan, Minn.); Clair DeGeorge (Jr., F, Anchorage, Alaska); Kerigan Dowhy (Jr., G, The Pas, Man.); Abigail Ecker (So., D, Grey Eagle, Minn.); Lindsey Featherstone (Jr., F, Woodbury, Minn.); Abby Halluska (Sr., F, Delano, Minn.); Briana Jorde (Sr., D, Thief River Falls, Minn.); Jacqueline Kaasa (Sr., F, North Hudson, Wis.); Christina Kampa (Jr., D, Maple Grove, Minn.); Makayla Langei (Jr., D, East Grand Forks, Minn.); Haley Mack (Sr., F, East Grand Forks, Minn.); Ellie Moser (So., F, Farmington, Minn.); Graysen Myers (So., F, Fargo, N.D.); Heather Olson (Sr., D, Bemidji, Minn.); Lydia Passolt (Jr., F, Chanhassen, Minn.); Kaitlin Radke (Sr., F, Hastings, Minn.); Claudia Verkerke (So., F, White Bear Lake, Minn.); Kara Werth (Jr., D, Moorhead, Minn.).

Minnesota (13): Emily Brown (Jr., D, Blaine, Minn.); Taylor Heise (So., F, Lake City, Minn.); Olivia Knowles (Jr., D, Campbell River, B.C.); Patti Marshall (Sr., D, Thief River Falls, Minn.); Emily Oden (So., F, Edina, Minn.); Gracie Ostertag (So., D, Shakopee, Minn.); Amy Potomak (RS-So., F, Aldergrove, B.C.); Sarah Potomak (RS-Sr., F, Aldergrove, B.C.); Katie Robinson (Sr., F, Kasson, Minn.); Catie Skaja (So., F, New Prague, Minn.); Taylor Wente (Jr., F, Plymouth, Minn.); Alex Woken (Sr., F, Fargo, N.D.); Grace Zumwinkle (Jr., F, Excelsior, Minn.).

Minnesota Duluth (18): Monique Aanenson (Jr., F, Moorhead, Minn.); Taylor Anderson (So., F, Eagan, Minn.); Ashton Bell (Jr. (F, Deloraine, Man.); Sydney Brodt (Sr., F, North Oaks, Minn.); Kylie Hanley (So., F, Minnetonka, Minn.); McKenzie Hewett (So., F, Edmonton, Alta.); Ryleigh Houston (Sr., F, Winnipeg, Man.); Gabbie Hughes (So., F, Lino Lakes, Minn.); Anna Klein (Jr., F, Edina, Minn.); Anneke Linser (So., F, Lino Lakes, Minn.); Hanna Markel (Jr., G, Dillon, Colo.); Elizabeth Norton (So., D, Orono, Minn.); McKenzie Revering (Jr., D, Alexandria, Minn.); Naomi Rogge (Jr., F, Eden Prairie, Minn.); Maddie Rooney (RS-Sr., G, Andover, Minn.); Brooklyn Schugel (Sr., F, New Ulm, Minn.); Kailee Skinner (So., D, Penticton, B.C.); Emma Soderberg (So., G, Jarved, Sweden).

Minnesota State (14): Emily Antony (Sr., F, Rogers, Minn.); Brooke Bryant (So., F, Linden, Calif.); Claire Butorac (So., F, Andover, Minn.); Chloe Crosby (Sr., G, Lakeville, Minn.); Brittyn Fleming (Jr., F, Oregon, Wis.); Mariah Gardner (Jr., F,

Nationally second-ranked Minnesota State (29-5-2 overall / 23-4-1-1 WCHA, 71 points), which won the MacNaughton Cup as 2019-20 WCHA regular season champions, will be the tournament’s top seed. MSU extended its school-record streak of 20-win seasons to eight this year. The Mavericks will host No. 8 seed Alaska Anchorage (4-23-7 / 4-18-6-3 WCHA, 21 pts.). Minnesota State finished 3-0-1 against the Seawolves this season, sweeping a pair of games in Mankato, 7-1 and 3-0, Nov. 22-23 and skating out of Anchorage with a 7-1 win and a hardfought 2-2 tie, Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

Bemidji State is the WCHA’s No. 2 seed after battling Minnesota State down to the season’s final day in search of a share of the league title. The Beavers (209-5 overall / 20-5-3-2 WCHA, 65 pts.) enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the country with a 12-2-2 record since Jan. 1. They will host No. 7 Lake Superior State (13-21-4 / 11-13-4-4 WCHA, 41 pts.), which is back in the WCHA playoffs for the second year in a row. BSU finished 3-0-1 against the Lakers this season, sweeping their meeting in Bemidji by scores of 7-1 and 5-1, Nov. 8-9 and picking up a 4-1 win and a 2-2 tie in Sault Ste. Marie three weeks later on Nov. 29-30.

One of the most-storied rivalries in college hockey will extend into the postseason this year as No. 3 seed Northern Michigan hosts Upper Peninsula foe and sixth-seeded Michigan Tech. This weekend’s series will be the second meeting in as many weeks as two teams split a home-and-home series to wrap up the regular season, Feb. 28-29. Michigan Tech took an 8-4 road decision from the Wildcats on Friday night with NMU rebounding for a 3-2 win the following night in Houghton. Tech did win the season series, 3-1, by virtue of a pair of home-andhome 3-2 victories, Nov. 22-23.

Alaska (16-13-5 / 14-9-5-2 WCHA, 49 pts.) is the No. 4 seed and will host fifth-seeded Bowling Green (19-13-4 / 14-10-4-3, 49 pts.). UAF and BGSU skated to 2-2 and 3-3 ties on Feb. 14-15, respectively, in Fairbanks with the Nanooks picking up the second standings point in game one and the Falcons returning the favor the following night.

The 2020 WCHA Postseason Tournament is brought to you in part by supporting sponsors Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup, SPIRE Credit Union, Jostens and UNRL. 2020 WCHA Postseason Tournament Once again in 2020, the WCHA will bring the singular intensity and passion of playoff college hockey directly to its member institution fans with an eightteam, three-round tournament hosted on-campus by the highest remaining seeds.

The winner will receive an automatic bid to the 2020 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship and the Jeff Sauer WCHA Championship Trophy, presented by Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup.

Eagle Lake, Ont.); Taylor Gulenchyn (Sr., F, Stillwater, Minn.); Jordan Jackson (Sr., D, Maplewood, Minn.); Jessica Kondas (Jr., D, Calgary, Alta.); Abigail Levy (So., G, Congers, N.Y.); Madison Oelkers (So., F, Warroad, Minn.); Sofia Poinar (Sr., F, Chanhassen, Minn.); McKenzie Sederberg (Sr., D, Andover, Minn.); Anna Wilgren (So., D, Hudson, Wis.).

Ohio State (16): Madison Bizal (So., D, Elk River, Minn.); Andrea Braendli (So., G, Zurich, Switzerland); Lisa Bruno (Jr., D, Whitby, Ont.); Jincy Dunne (RSSr., D, O’Fallon, Mo.); Rebecca Freiburger (Sr., F, Rochester, Minn.); Sophie Jaques (So., D, Toronto, Ont.); Paetyn Levis (So., F, Rogers, Minn.); Emma Maltais (Jr., F, Burlington, Ont.); Elise Riemenschneider (Sr., D, Rocky River, Ohio); Gabby Rosenthal (So., F, Blaine, Minn.); Sara Saekkinen (So., F, Pirkkala, Finland); Eve Savander (So., D, Joensuu, Finland); Liz Schepers (Jr., F, Mound, Minn.); Tatum Skaggs (Jr., F, Hartland, Wis.); Oliva Soares (Sr., F, Boston, Mass.); Lynsey Wallace (Jr., G, Seven Hills, Ohio).

St. Cloud State (15): Janine Alder (Sr., G, Zurich, Switzerland); Hannah Bates (Jr., D, Trenton, Mich.); Alexandra Cornelius (So., F, St. Cloud, Minn.); Katie Detert (Sr., F, Rhinelander, Wis.); Taytum Geier (So., D, Verona, Wis.); Janna Haeg (Sr., F, Lakeville, Minn.); Laura Kluge (Jr., F, Berlin, Germany); Brooke Kudirka (Sr., F, Omaha, Neb.); Jenniina Nylund (So., F, Pietarsaari, Finland); Emma Polusny (Jr., G, Mound, Minn.); Karlie Ries (So., G, Sleepy Eye, Minn.); Hallie Theodosopoulos (Sr., F/D, Brookings, S.D.); Abby Thiessen (Sr., D, Red Deer, Alta.); McKenna Wesloh (Jr., F, Zimmerman, Minn.); Kenzie Wylie (Jr., D, Ham Lake, Minn.).

Wisconsin (16): Breanna Blesi (RS-So., G, Maple Grove, Minn.); Grace Bowlby (Jr., D, Edina, Minn.); Natalie Buchbinder (Jr., D, Fairport, N.Y.); Kristen Campbell (RS-Sr., G, Brandon, Man.); Britta Curl (So., F, Bismarck, N.D.); Jesse DeVito (So., F, Rumson, N.J.); Cami Kronish (So., G, New York, N.Y.); Nicole Lamantia (So., D, Wayne, Ill.); Alexis Mauermann (Sr., F, Janesville, Wis.); Presley Norby (Sr., F, Minnetonka, Minn.); Brette Pettet (Jr., F, Kentville, N.S.); Maddie Posick (Jr., F, Stoughton, Wis.); Abby Roque (Sr., F, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.); Caitlin Schneider (Jr., F, Glenview, Ill.); Sophie Shirley (So., F, Saskatoon, Sask.); Mekenzie Steffen (Sr., D, Centerville, Minn.).

About Sterling Trophy Sterling Trophy has grown into a leader in the award and recognition industry in the Twin Cities since its founding in 1999. A family business that started in the basement of the home of founders David Steinbring and Patty Steinbring, Sterling Trophy’s has built a proud tradition of quality service and unique products. For more information, visit sterlingtrophy.net.

MARCH 6-7, 2020 ST. PAUL RIVERCENTRE The largest consumer hockey show in the WORLD!

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March 5, 2020

49

Hockey rink rat to collector

by LEE WERSCHEIM As a youth, I grew up on the north side of Willmar and lived there until 7th grade. In the winter, the outdoor hockey rink was the babysitter for the neighborhood kids. The hockey boards for the rink consisted of two two-by-tens stacked on top of each other. The nets were steel pipe frames until the rink closed. Sometimes we would stay after closing and skate home on snow-packed roads.

All the neighborhood kids loved the Minnesota North Stars. I still have my North Stars headband that I wore as a youth. Oats Gunderson, Nelson Hardware, and the Holiday gas station is where we sharpened our skates and got other hockey items that we needed. We identified our pucks by carving our initials in them. Because of the short bands, our pucks would often get lost in the snowbank, often not finding them until spring.

Popular stick brands, usually with straight blades, were Northland, Sherwood Sherbrooke, CCM and Koho.

Our blades were taped with electrical tape. Due to lack of friends, when blades cracked we would just tape on a pop can. Most kids actually wore figure skates but weren’t allowed to run on the tips. Teams ranged in age from six to 18 and everyone was included. Kids that couldn’t skate were the goalies and played with snow boots on. My brother, Scott, and a neighbor were usually in the net. For the goalies, bruises and stitches were all apart of the game. Ironically, I never played hockey on an organized team.

I started collecting vintage wooden hockey sticks when our two children started playing hockey. It became an obsession. Currently, I have around 800 sticks. I have sticks from the 1890s to the 1980s; the majority are 1-piece straight blade. As my collection grew, I had plans for a hockey themed man cave

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Lee Werscheim of Willmar has been collecting hockey equipment, gear and memorabilia his whole life. But now he is ready to sell his entire lot to someone who is as passionate about collecting hockey memorabilia as he is. above our garage.

Often I reminisce about the north side days. Very few of us rink rats would have proper equipment – just a puck, stick, chins with sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt. Like myself, very few of us went on to play organized hockey.

During those days, Willmar teams, including varsity, played at Barfield’s outdoor rink. Eventually, the varsity played thirty miles away at the Litchfield Arena. In the 1970s, the Willmar Civic Center was built. In 1946, Willmar boys hockey had their only state hockey

appearance. I have an original copy of the 1946 State Hockey Tournament program which sold for 10 cents. Willmar’s girls program has had a few appearances at state. My love for the game must have carried through to my children since they also love the game of hockey.

Our son, Cass, graduated in 2005; he was a four-year starter. He had recruitment visits and was an All State Defenseman. He chose not to play collegiate hockey; however, he still plays on a men’s league in Rochester, Minn. He passed on his skills to an adoptive hock-

ey team and was an assistant coach. Our daughter, Chelsey, graduated in 2009.

She was a five-year starter on varsity, and also an All State Forward. She went on to play collegiate hockey at the University of Wisconsin Superior where she was a four-year starter. She also had D1 visits but chose UWS Yellowjackets as her home. She also coached at UWS. Even though I never played on a team, I did coach youth hockey and was an assistant coach for Willmar girls hockey. When driving through the north side in Willmar, I still reminisce about drinking a 15 cent cream soda, warming our feet in the warming house, and getting splintered feet from the rough sawn wooden plank floors.

I started out collecting wooden sticks dating back to 1890, but then the collection became an obsession with various hockey related pieces. Some of the items are: •1969 Zamboni (with Bobby Hull’s Autograph) •Skate Sharpener from Mariucci Arena •800 stick collection (100 are autographed) •Door prop from Mighty Ducks movie •Hockey toys and games •Life-sized wood sculpture •Puck collection (including a Rocket Marice Richard autographed puck) •Vintage oak display cases •Various signed pieces by the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal team I have enjoyed my collection very much, but have decided it’s time for others to enjoy it also. I am selling it as a whole unit if possible. Note, this collection is larger than what I have listed.

I have displayed parts of my collection at tournaments. We have also been approached by a movie company to use as props.

Any inquiries contact Lee Wierschen at 320-212-8822.

WCHA announces Final Faceoff partnership with adidas

Footwear and apparel giant to provide participant gifts, championship gear and tournament merchandise BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Women’s League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced adidas as an official sponsor of the 2020 Final Faceoff.

The footwear and apparel giant will furnish participant gifts for student-athletes from the four competing teams, championship gear and Final Faceoff fan merchandise for next month’s tournament.

“The WCHA is incredibly proud to be partnering with adidas for our 2020 Final Faceoff,” WCHA Women’s

League Commissioner Jennifer Flowers said. “adidas is one of the largest supporters of women’s hockey in the country and we’re excited that our student-athletes will have the opportunity to feel that support. We thank adidas for everything they are doing, both for the WCHA and for the sport of women’s hockey.”

The premier conference tournament in women’s college hockey, the 2020 WCHA Final Faceoff will take place March 7-8 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. Single-session tickets grant sepa-

rate access to each of the tournament’s two days of competition and are priced at $20 (general admission bench for seniors/students and youth), $15 (general admission- adults) $12 (Seniors- 62 & older; Students- with valid student ID; Youth- 12 or younger), $20 (reserved chairback) and $7 (groups of 10 or more). For tickets and more information, visit wcha.com.

About adidas Founded by Adi Dassler in 1924, adidas has grown from a home-based

family business to one of the largest athletic shoe and apparel manufacturers in the world. Dassler assisted with the development of spiked running shoes for athletic events, which were first used by – among others – Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Nearly a century later, adidas footwear and apparel has been worn by athletes in a wide range of sports, including ice hockey, track & field, soccer, baseball, basketball, football, cricket, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, tennis and rugby.

50

March 5, 2020

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52

March 5, 2020

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR powered by America ’s No. 1 Hockey Newspaper!

All invitational tournaments held in Minnesota must first go through a district tournament coordinator before being sent to the Minnesota Hockey tournament coordinator, Tim Sweezo, for final approval.

The list below is of Minnesota Hockey tournament coordinators for each district. Please call them if you need information about a certain tournament.

District 1 Tom Mickus (651) 248-3075; District 2 Jake Reinseth (651) 274-9023; District 3 Chad Nicholls (952) 544-0808; District 4 Kris Hohensee (507) 360-6787; District 5 Jeff Carlen (320) 274-3509; District 6 Brad Hewitt (952) 250-6431; District 8 Zac Dockter (612) 735-9703; District 9 Troy Marquardt (507) 384-7386; District 10 Mark Osmondson (612) 747-8308; District 11 Clark Coole (218) 590-0703; District 12 Craig Homula (218) 744-5566; District 15 Cyndi Young (218) 731-5899; District 16, Mark Dragich (218) 791-0229; Senior Women, Nancy Wefler (763) 537-7837.

Tournament entrants from outside Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota: Be informed that Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Squirt, PeeWee and Bantam teams will likely have some players up to six months older than the USA Hockey age guidelines for those classifications. Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota are using a July 1 age cut-off date while USA Hockey is using a January 1 age cut-off date. If you are concerned about this issue, you should contact the tournament director immediately to determine whether or not you should register for the tournament.

MARCH 2020 6-8 Middletown, NJ: OneHockey New Jersey: AA – 16U, 14U, 12U, 10U. A – 16U/14U/12U/10U. B – 14U/12U/10U. A & B – 8U half ice. Contact sebastienf@onehockey.com. www. onehockey.com.

7-8 Silver Bay, MN: Mite Jamboree; Contact Mike Guzzo (218) 226-4214 or silverbayarena@ hotmail.com or visit www.silverbayhockey.com 13-15 Marshall, MN; Marshall Madness 6-on-6 Men 19+. Register at https://bit.ly/marshallmadness.

Or Call 507-537-6767.

13-15 Marshall, MN: Tiger Classic, Mites/MiniMites; Chris Foley (507) 828-0146 or cfoleyecowater@vastbb.net or visit marshall.pucksytems2.com 13-15 Moorhead, MN: North American College Hockey Showcase. Open to all current HS Girls.

Register at www.nachstournament.com.

13-15 New Richmond, WI: Senior Men’s (no check), Open & Over 35-40; Contact Barry Cunningham (651) 283-0072 or tournaments@nryha.net or visit www.nryha.net 13-15 River Falls, WI: Mites Shamrock Shootout; Contact Marissa Feely (651) 983-6350 or rfhockeytourney@gmail.com or visit riverfalls. pucksystems.com 13-15 Worthington, MN: Mite/Mini-Mite Jamboree; Contact Charley Ahlers (507) 360-7183 or cahlers727@hotmail.com or visit www.worthingtonhockey.com 20-22 Rochester, MN: Return of the Robin adult hockey tournament. Open to men and women novice to selects. Contact Jeremy (507) 951-1019 or visit www.returnoftherobin.com 20-22 River Falls, WI: Fat Boys, 40+; Contact Doug Black at ddblack@vector1776.com or visit riverfalls.pucksystems.com 27-29 Blaine, MN. AAA Opener. Boys 2012/11, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

27-29 Sioux Falls, SD. AAA Opener. Boys Open 2012.11, 2010, 2009. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

27-29 Barrie, ON: Barrie Colts Novice AAA Tournament, U8, AAA; Contact James Zitmanis (877) 702-5701 or info@weekendhockey.com or visit www.weekendhockey.com

27-29 Superior, WI: The Gilby Senior Hockey Tournament; Adult Men; Visit superior.pucksystems2.com

April 2020 3-5 Northfield, MN. North American College Hockey Showcase. Open to all current HS Girls.

Register at www.nachstournament.com.

3-5 Sioux Falls, SD. AAA Opener. Boys Open 2008, 2007, 2006.

3-5 Northfield, MN. North American College Hockey Showacase. Open to all current HS Girls. register at www.nachstournament.com.

3-5 Twin Cities, MN. Early Trailblazer AAA. Boys 2005-2012. Girls 10U/12U. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

16-19 Edina and Burnsville, MN. Under Armour Face-Off. AAA Open - 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Contact: Adam Hauser adamh@ mnmadehockey.com or 952-641-6887. Register at www.mnmadehockeytournaments.com.

17-19 Duluth, MN/Superior, WI area. Battle by the Bay AAA Hockey Tournament. Girls: 10u-14u Tier 1 and 2, 10u Tier 3 8u. Register at northernstorm.net 17-19 Green Bay, WI. Cheese Cup. 20062007-2008 birth years. Contact Jay Boxer 920-4032000 or email: cornerstoneicecenterjay@gmail. com.

17-19 East Metro MN and Western WI. Border Battle Tournament. 2012- U-16 Boys & U-8, U-10, U12 and U14 Girls Divisions. Contact Dan Gilkerson 715-222-2448 or email: dgilkerson@somersethockey.com. www.blazehockey.net 17-19 Blaine, MN. AAA Opener. Boys Open 2005, 2004. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

17-19 St. Cloud, MN. Girls Open 10U, 12U, 14U. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

17-19 Twin Cities, MN. Early Trailblazer AA. U16 Boys, Boys 2005-2012. Girls U8-U14. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

24-26 Green Bay, WI. Cheese Cup. 20092010-2011 birth years. Contact Jay Boxer 920-4032000 or email: cornerstoneicecenterjay@gmail. com.

24-26 Alexandria, MN. Midwest Icebreaker: Boys 2008-2010. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

24-26 St. Cloud. MN. Mountain Dew Blast.

Boys Open 2012/11, 2010, 2009. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

24-26 Fargo/Moorhead. Mountain Dew Blast.

Boys Open 2012/11, 2010, 2009, 2008. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup. com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

30-3 Minneapolis, MN. Stars and Stripes AAA Hockey Tournament. Boys ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, 13’. Tier I and Tier II Girls 16U, 14U, 12U, 10U, 8U. Contact: Adam Hauser adamh@mnmadehockey.com or 952-641-6887. Register at www. mnmadehockeytournaments.com.

MAY 2020 1-3 Alexandria, MN. Midwest Icebreaker: Girls U10-U14. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

1-3 Blaine, MN. Mountain Dew Blast. Boys Open 2004. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

1-3 Blaine, MN. Super Rink. Mountain Dew Blast. Girls Open 10U, 12U, 14U. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

1-3 St. Cloud, MN. Mountain Dew Blast.

Boys Open 2008, 2007, 2006. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

1-3 St. Louis, MO. St. Louis Weekend Hockey Tournament. Adult Men. Contact James Zitmanis at james@weekendhockey.com or at 877-702-5701.

Register at https://weekendhockey.com/st-louis-momay-1-3.

8-10 Spring Stampede AAA: Boys 2005-2012.

Girls U10 and U12. Contact dan@midwesthockey. net. www.midwesthockey.net.

15-17 St. Cloud, MN. Mountain Dew Blast.

Boys Open 2005. Contact Randy Peake at randy@ northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

15-17 Twin Cities, MN. Mountain Dew Blast.

Boys Open 2012/11, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006.

Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments. com.

15-17 Twin Cities, MN. Spring Stampede AA: U16 Boys, Boys 2005-2012. Girls U8-U14. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

15-17 Edmonton, AB: OneHockey Edmonton: AAA Elite, AAA Gold, AAA Silver 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Contact sebastienf@onehockey. com. www.onehockey.com.

22-24 Duluth, MN: MN Female Elite Prospects Tournament, Girls 16U & U19; Contact Kevin Mudrak (218) 522-1375 or kmudrak@yahoo.com or visit www.mnfemalehockey.com 22-25 Southern CA: OneHockey California:Midget A/JV High School, Midget Tier/Varsity, 14UA, 14UAA, 12UA, 12UAA, 12UB, 10UA, 10UB. 8U – A/B/Gretzky half ice. Contact sebastienf@onehockey.com. www.onehockey.com.

28-31 Duluth, MN/Superior, WI area. Battle by the Bay AAA Hockey Tournament. Boys: 2004 16u, 2005-2011/12 birth years open and invite. Register at northernstorm.net 29-31 Blaine, MN. Mountain Dew Blast. Boys and Girls High School Prep. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

JUNE 2020 4-7 Rapid City, SD. Rushmore Cup. Boys Open 2010, 2009, 2008. Girls Open 12U. Contact Dave Druk at dave@northlandhockeygroup.com.

Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

5-7 Blaine, MN: OneHockey Minneapolis: AAA – 2001/2002/2003 (19U). 2004/2005 (16U), 1006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 . Contact sebastienf@onehockey.com. www.onehockey.com.

11-14 Rapid City, SD. Rushmore Cup. Boys Open 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004. Contact Dave Druk at dave@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

19-21 Willmar, MN. North American College Hockey Showcase. Open to all current HS Girls.

Register at www.nachstournament.com.

26-28 Blaine, MN. Lettermen Cup. Boys Open 2012/11, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

26-28 Alexandria, MN. Living the Dream Hockey Series. Adult men’s tournament. To register, call 763-225-7320 or email dan@midwesthockey.com.

BE GAME DAY READY

with the Tournament Experts Visit our tournament headquarters at

www.tag-up.com Call 800-528-0828 or email: sales@tag-up.com

26-28 Plymouth/Maple Grove, MN. Lettermen Cup. Boys Open 2006, 2005, 2004. Girls Open 10U 12U. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

JULY 2020 10-12 Alexandria, MN. Living the Dream Hockey Series. Adult women’s and co-ed tournament. To register, call 763-225-7320 or email dan@ midwesthockey.com.

17-19 Duluth, MN: 15th Annual Northern Exposure AAA Hockey Tournament, 2003/04-2010/11; Contact Kasey Yoder (651) 432-1840 or kaseyyoder@gmail.com or visit www.northernexposureaaahockey.com 24-26 Aston, P: OneHockey Philadelphia: AAA – 20U, 18U, 16U, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Contact sebastienf@onehockey.com. www.onehockey.com.

31-Aug 2 Sioux Falls, SD. Combat Cup. Boys Open 2011-2012, 2010, 2009. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

AUGUST 2020 6-9 Edina and Burnsville, MN. Rumble at the Rink. Boys 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Contact: Adam Hauser adamh@mnmadehockey.com or 952-641-6887. Register at www.mnmadehockeytournaments.com.

7-9 Alexandria, MN. Summer Round-Up. Boys 2008-2010. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

7-9 Twin Cities, MN. AAA Combat Cup. Boys Open 20012/11, 2010, 2009, 208, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

7-1 East Metro MN and Western WI. Blze Cup. 2012 through 2005 boys birth years & U-16 Boys. Contact Dan Gilkerson 715-222-2448 or email: dgilkerson@somersethockey.com. www. blazehockey.net 14-16 Sioux Falls, SD. Combat Cup. Boys Open 2008, 2007, 206. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

14-16 Woodbury and Stillwater, MN. Combat Cup. Girls Open 10U, 12U, 14U. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

14-16 Summer Round-Up AA. U16 Boys, Boys 2005-2012. Girls U8-U14. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

14-16 Alexandria, MN. Summer Round-Up. Girls U10-U14. Contact dan@midwesthockey.net. www.midwesthockey.net.

21-23 Summer Round Up. Boys 2005-2012.

Girls U10 and U12. Contact dan@midwesthockey. net. www.midwesthockey.net.

28-30 Blaine, MN. Combat Cup. Boys and Girls High School Prep. Contact Randy Peake at randy@northlandhockeygroup.com. Register at www.aaatournaments.com.

TAG-UP IS YOUR TOURNAMENT

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•Bag Tags •Badges •Trophies •Custom Awards •Custom Medals •Banners •Puck Decals •Locker Name Plates •Dry Erase Boards

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A Cure for the Sniffles

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR continued

SEPTEMBER 2020 4-6 Columbus, OH: OneHockey Columbus: AA- 18U/16U/14U. A – 14U/12U/10U. B – 14U/12U/10U. A/B/Gretzky – 8U half Ice. Contact sebastienf@onehockey.com. www.onehockey.com.

No portion of the tournament calendar may be copied, reproduced or transmitted without written permission from Let’s Play Hockey and its publisher.

by Michael DeBrule

I can’t get out of bed. I feel sick.

Really sick. Super sick.

I have the sniffles.

Sniff, sniff.

And a cough.

Cough, cough.

And a sore throat.

And a headache.

It hurts when I breathe.

It hurts when I move my pinky finger.

It might be the measles.

It could be the coronavirus.

Sniff, sniff.

Cough, cough.

It’s Saturday and I have a hockey game?

Why didn’t you tell me?

No, don’t call the coach.

I’m feeling better.

Much better.

In fact, I might make a full recovery.

Can you leave now?

I need to get ready for my game.

Carroll Goalie School/Brian’s

SHUTOUT WALL www. carrollgs .com PLAYER/TEAM ADDI BRONWELL Eagan Wildcats U15A CONNER ROFF Thief River Falls Bantam A WILLIAM BUDDE MN Rec League 12U Teal KIERA ROSE Winona10UB ALLISON OLSON OMGHA U12A OMGHA U12A ANNIKA MULLEN Cottage Grove Wolfpack 10U-B2

www. goalies-only .com OPPONENT

DATE

SAVES S CORE

Hastings

2/21/20

21

2-0

Moorhead

2/21/20

20

2-0

MN Rec League 12 Maroon 2/15/20 14 6-0 Dodge County

2/23/20

Brainerd-Little Falls Alexandria

2/28/20 3/1/20

St Paul Capitols - Roseville 3/320

15

16

1-0 3-0 5-0 3-0

kobesportswear.com

HAT TRICK/ PLAYMAKER WALL

Know a youth hockey player who scored three goals or three assists in one game? Let us know for a chance to win gear from Kobe Sportswear!

E-mail the following information to editor@letsplayhockey.com: Player’s name, team name, level of play, opponent, date of game, number of goals/assists, final score, mailing address.

Submitted hat tricks/playmakers from recent games are below. The complete list will appear on stateofhockey.com.

Two players each week will be randomly chosen to win gear from Kobe.

PLAYER/TEAM JACOB BANN South St Paul Packers Ban A MATT MILNER South St Paul Packers Ban A AYDEN ALTHAUS North Shore Storm COLE ANDERSON North Shore PeeWee B TYSEN LOEFFLER Thief River Falls Bantam A

OPPONENT

DATE

G-A-PTS SCORE

Woodbury

2/17/20

0-3-3

4-2

Woodbury

2/17/20

2-1-3

4-2

Moose Lake Red

2/20/20

4-0-4

9-1

Cloquet White

2/22/20

3-2-5

8-6

Detroit Lakes

2/23/20

0-3-3

4-5 (OT)

March 5, 2020

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Youth hockey teams raise $24,608 for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Blaine Bantam B2 selected as winning team in Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids Program ST. PAUL, Minn. – Twenty-three youth hockey teams throughout Minnesota used the same teamwork so important for success on the ice to raise $24,608 for kids with serious health conditions being treated by Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in Saint Paul.

Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids, an award-winning collaboration between the Minnesota Wild, Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk and Hiway Federal Credit Union, encouraged youth hockey teams to use their own creative ideas to raise funds for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. This is the third year for the program that was introduced during the Wild’s 20172018 season. In the three years that Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids has been in existence, over $75,000 has been raised for Gillette Children’s.

Teams that raised $500 or more qualified to win a one-of-a-kind team party in a suite to see the Minnesota Wild vs. the Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues on Sunday, Feb. 23.

The Blaine Bantam Banton B2 team was selected at random from all eligible teams to receive the party, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Xcel Energy Center, a meet-and-greet with Dubnyk and other Wild players and gifts from the Wild and Hiway.

Every player from a team that raised at least $500 received a custom Minnesota Wild - Hockey Kids4Kids cap and all participating teams have been invited to private skating parties at the Xcel Energy Center compliments of Hiway.

Roseville Bantam B1 ($5,427) and Blaine Banton Baton B2 ($5,181) were the top fundraising teams. Five other teams raised over $1000 this year. The Minnesota Wild Foundation provided $2,500 matching funds to the first two teams to raise that amount.

“No matter our age, we can always practice being a good teammate and giving back to the community,” said Hiway Federal Credit Union President/CEO Dave Boden. “We created Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids to help young athletes learn the joy of community service using something they already understand, the power of teamwork. We thank every player, coach team manager and parent who gave their time and effort to support Gillette Children’s.”

“We at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare are proud and grateful for this amazing collaboration between Hiway Federal Credit Union, the Minnesota Wild, Devan Dubnyk and so many young players from the great State of Hockey,” said Kate Abbott, Executive Director - Foundation, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. “In addition to the generous support it provides, it is a priceless gift for our kids to see their peers out in their community rooting for them. We can’t thank you enough! Many thanks to the Hiway Hockey Kids for Kids program!”

Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids ran

from Oct. 1, 2019 through Feb. 10, 2020. Any youth hockey team governed by Minnesota Hockey, the official governing board of youth hockey in the state, was eligible to participate.

This year’s participants include: Roseville Bantam B1 Monticello Moose Mites 8U LiveLaughBloom Blaine Bantam B2 Wadena Youth Bantams OMGHA U12B2 Black Woodbury Predators 8U Black St Paul Capitals C Squirt Team Monticello Moose 8U Foster White Agency Lakeville South Pee Wee C Dodge County Youth Hockey Squirt B Centennial Mite D Knights Burnsville Apple Valley Firehawks U10A Lakeville South Squirt C Crimson Woodbury Predators MM3 White Osseo Maple Grove Squirt B1 White Saint Paul Capitals Mite B Wadena Youth PeeWees Saint Paul Capitals Squirt C CCHA Squirt B1 Gold Andover Huskies 12UB Wayzata Trojans Peewee AA Lakeville South Cougars - Squirt B Rosemount PeeWee A Squirt A Firehawks Wadena Youth Squirts Mankato Mavericks Spring Lake Park B1 PeeWees NP Squirt C Red for Gillette Children’s Chisago Lakes PeeWee B2 Edina Girls 8U Wolves Anoka Rogers 10UB About Hiway Federal Credit Union Hiway Federal Credit Union was founded in 1931 to serve the employees of the Minnesota Highway Department. Today, Hiway serves an expanded member base, with over 77,000 members in Minnesota and nationwide, registers $1.3 billion in assets and welcomes new membership from individuals and small businesses.

Hiway offers its members unparalleled service and value “on the road of life” through lower loan rates, higher savings rates and fewer and lower fees.

For more information about Hiway, visit hiway.org.

About Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Founded in 1897, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare , based in St. Paul, Minn., was the first hospital in the nation for kids who have disabilities. Last year, nearly 25,000 families with children facing such complex medical conditions as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury, trusted Gillette to help their children thrive. Gillette tailors its care model specifically to the needs of its patient and family community so they can achieve their highest potential.

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UPDATE Alexandria forward Strong signs NAHL tender

The Alexandria Blizzard of the NA3HL are pleased to announce that forward Caleb Strong has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Minnesota Wilderness of the NAHL’s Central Division.

Strong, 19, is in his second season of playing junior hockey in the NA3HL. The 5’7/165 lbs. native of Alexandria, Minn., has 26 points (8 goals, 18 assists) in 16 games played with the Blizzard so far this season.

Strong is in his second season with the Blizzard and prior to playing in the NA3HL he played high school hockey in Minnesota for Alexandria Area High.

He is the 12th NA3HL player this season who has signed an NAHL tender for the 2020-21 season.

2019-2020 NA3HL Tenders Alexandria Blizzard: Caleb Strong, F, Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL) Atlanta Capitals: Gunner Moore, D, Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL) Coulee Region Chill: Parker Severson, F, Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL) Granite City Lumberjacks: Tal Halliday, D, Minot Minotauros (NAHL) Mid Cities Jr. Stars: Payton Carter, F, Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL) New Ulm Steel: Nick Wieben, F, Chippewa Steel (NAHL) North Iowa Bulls: Lucas Wahlin, F, Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL) Northeast Generals: Kolye Bankauskas, F, Northeast Generals (NAHL) Peoria Mustangs: Dillan Bentley, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL) Rochester Grizzlies • Sean Guerin, G, Wichita Falls Warriors (NAHL) • Peyton Hart, F, Austin Bruins (NAHL) St. Louis Jr. Blues: Seamus Campbell, F, Aberdeen Wings (NAHL) Yellowstone Quake: Dylan Rumpke, F, Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL) A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include one tender exclusively used on players from the NA3HL – plus or minus any trades – which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on June 2, 2020.

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Chaska/Chanhassen Bantam AA wins West Region title

North Shore Storm players play in K1 All Stars game

Players: Owen Buesgens, Matthew Magnuson, Blake Markwell, Brodie Ziemer, Adam Kleber, Brady Marsh, Alex Lunski, Joey Parker, Ty Broten, Luke Iverson, Tanner Bruender, Tyler Smith, Sam Scheetz, Nathan Hinze, Erik Charchenko, Drew Jensen, and Kai Girard. Head coach: Tre Douglas. Assistant coaches: Zack Friedli, and Jace Carlin.

Chaska/Chanhassen Bantam AA captured the championship of the Minnesota Hockey West Region Tournament on Feb. 28-March 1 in Anoka, winning a trio of close games to earn a spot in the 2020 Bantam AA State Tournament.

En route to the title, the Stormhawks defeated Wayzata 4-2, Centennial 3-2 and Andover 5-4. CCHA Bantam AA will make its second consecutive appearance in the Minne- Youth Hockey Report sota Hockey State Tournament on March 13-15 in Edina and will face the host Hornets in the opening round. Chaska/Chanhassen is looking for its first state championship at the Bantam level after runner-up finishes by Bantam AA in 2019 and Bantam B in 2006.

Congratulations to some of our North Shore Girls’ Varsity players. They partook in the K1 All Stars game. Pictured here are Rheo Johnson, Senior All Star; Libby Althaus and Hope Ernest, Freshman Young Stars; Megan Maxey, Senior All Star; and Livia Hoff, Sophomore Young Star. The girls enjoyed playing with other local All Stars and working with coaches from other programs. Storm coaches, Zach Vieu and Steve Graden, coached one of the Young All Stars team as well.

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Shakopee Bantam C wins District 6 Championship

The Shakopee Bantam C team was seeded 4th in the double elimination playoff bracket but won the District 6 Championship on March 1 against Prior Lake/Savage.

In their first playoff game, held Feb. 24, they beat Chaska/Chanhassen 3-2. The next day, they played Prior Lake/Savage and lost 1-2. On Feb. 26, Shakopee played Edina White and won 5-1, and on Feb. 27 they played Jefferson and won 2-1. The next day, they overcame a tough Edina Green team, winning 1-0 after double overtime and a shoot out. On Feb. 29, Shakopee played #1 seed Prior Lake/Savage and won 5-2.

Since Prior Lake/Savage hadn’t lost a game in the playoffs, Shakopee had to play them again on March 1 for the final game, winning 5-1 to take home the championship trophy.

Centennial B2 Peewees wins District 10 Championship

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Chaska/Chanhassen Squirt A takes third in Fargo

Goalie: Johnny Abercrombie. First row (from left): Kaleb Bergman, Donovan Madsen, Logan Motzko, Blake Smeed, Dylan Sherban, Brady Kennedy and Landon Huh. Second row: Liam Schultz, Paxton Lee, Ryan Colleran, Jake Bloedorn, Jameson Flannery, Blake Bigelbach, and Elliott Schultz. Coaches: Chad Lee, Nick Bigelbach, Dan Kennedy, and Matt Motzko.

Chaska/Chanhassen Squirt A captured third place overall at the 68-team Squirt International Tournament in Fargo on Feb. 27-March 1, posting a 5-1 record and outscoring its opponents 32-11.

Chaska/Chanhassen opened the tournament with wins over Bismarck White (7-2) and Cottage Grove (11-3) to earn a spot in the first of five brackets. After shutting out Minot Youth Hockey Report 6-0 and Osseo/Maple Crimson 3-0, CC fell 4-2 to eventual champion Fargo Freeze Black in the semifinals. Chaska/Chanhassen rebounded in the third-place game with a 3-2 win over West Fargo Blue.

White Bear Lake Mite 4 Black wins Thanksgiving and Flake Jam tournaments

Centennial B2 Peewees took home the District 10 Championship beating Mora 5-1, Rogers White 4-0, Blaine White 4-2, and Champlin Park 3-2. Team members include Alex Carlson, Kaden Morstad, Devon Garcia, Ethan Lewis, Brady Wettstein, Brayden Sockel, Cole O’Hearn, Logan Olson, Traxton Becker, Jackson Landmeier, Gavin Berg, Nico Summers, Quinn Gould, Matthew Seigler, and Cam Welle. Coaches are Rodney Olson, Brian Gould, Rob Berg, and Pete Garcia.

Wayzata Squirt B2 Royal wins Albert Lea Squirt B tournament

The Wayzata Squirt B2 Royal took home first place at the Albert Lea, Minn., Squirt B tournament held Jan 31-Feb 2, 2020. The boys worked hard and had a great time together!

Thanksgiving tournament champs at the Lumberyard!

Forest Lake Flake Jam champs!

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Fergus Falls 12UB girls head to Regions

by Michael Swenson The 12U B girls’ hockey team competed in the District 15 tournament Feb. 21-23 in Little Falls, Minn.

Game one of three on the weekend was against the Moorhead Orange team. The Otters started off a little sluggish as they gave up two goals in the first and trailed 2-1 heading into period two. However, it was all Otters after that point. The Otters scored five consecutive goals to earn their way to victory over Moorhead by a final score of 6-2. Rachel DeBrito started and finished the scoring for the Otters as she had a hat trick on the night. Two of her three goals were unassisted, the other one assisted by Emma Sandstrom. Otters’ Ava Eklund had a pair of goals in the game – one unassisted and one coming off the sticks of Atleigh Shol and Izzybelle Kenyon-Woessner.

DeBrito and Hannah Johnson also teamed up to assist Shay Katzenmeyer with a goal. The Otters advanced to the next round to face off against number one seeded Alexandria.

The next day the Otters were well rested and ready to go head-to-head against an extremely talented Alexandria team.

The Otters played with a lot of heart and determination. Ava Noon started the scoring and DeBrito would add two more goals as the Otters stunned the number one team, just narrowly squeaking out a 3-2 victory. Even though the girls were excited about their win, they knew they had one more tough challenge ahead of them. They would have to take on a very balanced Moorhead Black team in the championship.

Sunday morning the Otters took to the ice trying for one more upset to secure the championship. As both teams exchanged two goals in the first period, there wouldn’t be much scoring after that. DeBrito and Johnson both scored for the Otters. Johnson was assisted by Katie Bergren. As the second and third periods came and went, no goals were made, but it was an action packed couple of periods. A total of 15 shots on goal by each team and three penalties by each team resulted in a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation. Both teams playing stubborn and not willing to give up a goal resulted

in no players scoring in the first two overtime periods. It was in the third overtime when Moorhead Black’s Kali Engrbretson scored her second goal of the game, giving them the win and taking home first place. Ella “Stella” Sem was in net for a total of 66:54 minutes and saved 91 percent of shots of goal.

However, the Otter girls went home with their heads held high and will advance to Regions which takes place in Lakeville Feb. 28-Mar 1.

Congratulations to the 12U B girls’ hockey team on an outstanding tournament and good luck at regions.

North Shore PeeWee B’s CC/EP 15U B advances to State Tournament District 11 champs

The North Shore PeeWee B’s finished their district play, keeping their undefeated streak alive. They played a tight game versus Cloquet White, but got the win with an 8-6 score. North Shore will head to Regions as the District 11 No. 1 seed.

Duluth Denfeld Bantam A wins District 11 championship

The Duluth Denfeld Bantam A hockey team won the District 11 Championship on Feb. 15. The Hunters defeated Duluth East and Hermantown to capture the title.

Pictured are (front, left to right): Andy Larson, Brendan Friday; (middle) Jonas Martinelli, Tyler Stewart, Jake Feiro, Brady McGinn, Sam Kartch, Evan Regas, Brendan Flaig; (back) Peter Smith, Martin Hoffmann, Blake Imhoff, Joe Stauber, Owen Hindermann, Nolan Udd, Jacob Jarvi, Jaden Ibriks, JJ Davis, Ryan Nephew and Mathias MacMillan.

Chaska Chanhassen/Eden Prairie 15U B earned a spot in the 2020 Minnesota Hockey State Tournament with a second-place finish in the Regional Tournament in Stillwater on Feb. 28-March 1. CC/EP posted a pair of shutouts in the quarterfinals and semifinals, blanking Duluth 5-0 and Stillwater 1-0, before falling 3-1 to fellow District 6 rival Minnetonka in the title game. The Stormeagles advance to the 15U B State Tournament on March 15-16 in Rochester where they will face Lakeville in the opening round. Pictured are (front row, from left): Piper Crow, Ashlyn Hazlett, Makenna Hansen, Caplyn Cusick, Taya Cordes, Lauren McCartan; (middle row) Maddie Olson, Anneliese Farnan, (back row) Anna Bracket, Sophia Hucovski, Sophia Yoerks, Maggie Lobsinger, Lauren Myster, andMayia Melchert.

Moose Lake Bantam B District 11 Champions

The boys battled to win the District 11 Championship and earn first seed to the North Regional Tournament in Cloquet. Coaches, parents, fans are proud of this crew!

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Prairie’s Edge Dental 10UA Hockey caps season with 3 wins, claiming District 15 title

by Amy Wedll The Otters’ 10U Hockey team traveled to Wadena to compete in the 10U A District 15 Championship. Entering the tournament with a 15-10-1 record, the girls were ready to claim the title after finishing second in 2019.

First for Fergus Falls were the Cardinals of Alexandria. With a record of 2-1-1 on the season series, it was clear that this would be a close match for the Maroon & Gold. The teams traded possession for the first period but neither scored; then, in the second period, Maggie Greenagel scored from defense to clear the zero. Maddison Brimhall then set the stage for Greenagel goal #2, providing some insurance for the Prairie’s Edge squad. The Otters played some

PHOTOS BY JENNY OLSON

Celia Smith protects the puck from a Moorhead defender.

disciplined hockey in their own zone to support goalie Mia Olson, who earned her fifth shut-out of the season with 18 saves.

Next up on Saturday, the Otters rematched with Moorhead’s 10UA team.

Coming off a decisive win against the Spuds less than a month prior, Fergus Falls looked to defend their 2-0 record.

The fans got an early case of déjà vu with Greenagel scoring from a Brimhall assist early in the first, and then again less than two minutes later, this time assisted by Claire Duffy and Brinly Shol.

In the second period, Lydia Johnson made good on a Power Play setup from Shol to put the Otters in front 3-0. The Spuds snuck one past Olson to make it 3-1 before the zamboni break, but it was all Otters again in the third. First, Evelyn Wedll scored from Anna Sem and Shol on the Power Play, with Greenagel earning the Hat Trick in the final five minutes for a final of 5-1. Shol earned the Playmaker for three assists in one game.

With two wins on Saturday, the Prairie’s Edge girls were a lock for the District Championship on Sunday. Late in the evening, the news came through that Moorhead would be the final hurdle in the pursuit for the championship.

With another round of impressive forechecking by all ten forwards, the Otters hit the scoreboard first with a Johnson goal from Kynzie Zender. Despite only three first-period shots on goal from Moorhead, one made its way to tie the score. In the second, the Maroon & Gold found their stride with some explosive scoring. Johnson earned her own Hat Trick and Brimhall scored twice. Earn-

CCHA Squirt B1 Gold earns consolation crown in Fargo

Players: Casey Becker, Nathan Brandt, Nicholas Carlson, Brody Ferrell, Griffin Friedrich, Aiden Gerding, Sean Hokkanen, Tyler Hromatka, Theo Koubeck, Reid McGinn, Griffin Nutter, Sam Tessmer, Marco Tobin, Oscar Waisanen. Coaches: Erik Hromatka, Tom Becker, Brian Carlson, Paul Kobeck, Derek Nutter.

Chaska/Chanhassen Squirt B1 Gold captured the consolation championship of the Squirt International Tournament in Fargo on Feb. 20-23, posting a 5-1 record and outscoring its opponents 30-15.

CCHA Gold opened the tournament with wins over St. Michael-Albertville (8-3) and Las Vegas (6-0) to earn a spot in the first of five brackets. After a 4-0 loss to eventual over- Youth Hockey Report all champion Omaha Black, Chaska/Chanhassen rattled off three straight wins to take home the consolation title, defeating Grafton Park River 8-3, Woodbury Royal 3-2 and Edina 5-3.

The District 15 10U Champions. ing assists were Zender, Shol, Payton Wolden, Johnson and Greenagel. After starting the third period with a comfortable 6-1 lead, only the Spuds scored in the third for a final of 6-2. Both teams played some very physical hockey, with 24 combined penalty minutes assessed.

When asked for his thoughts on the tournament and season, coach Erik “EJ” Johnson said the following: “The girls worked so hard both on and off the ice during the season, and improved along their journey. It was so much fun getting to watch the girls celebrate on the ice today with the Championship trophy, after beating both Moorhead and Alexandria.”

The Prairie’s Edge Dental 2019-20 team finished the season with a record of 18-10-1.

Lydia Johnson (#10) celebrates her goal with Claire Duffy (#3) and Brinly Shol (#5).

CCHA Bantam A Purple wins District 6 Playoffs

First row (l-r): Ben Curtis, Jack Christ, Hunter Friedrich, Mason Fasching, Thomas Laaksonen, Caleb Heil. Second row (l-r): Henry Muench, Billy McNeeley, Henry Sohn, Jake Risch, Evan Flynn, Mason Lang, Alex Jensen, Nickolas Azanov. Coaches: Antti Laaksonen, Jeff Heil, Eric Jensen, John Christ.

Chaska/Chanhassen Bantam A Purple won the championship of the District 6 Playoffs, going 3-1 in the double-elimination tournament held Feb. 15-23 in Eden Prairie.

Top-seeded CCHA Purple edged #5 seed CCHA Gold 3-2 in the quarterfinals before downing #2 Edina in the semifinals Youth Hockey Report in the first of three straight meetings with the Hornets.

After slipping by CCHA Gold in the losers’ bracket, Edina defeated CCHA Purple 4-1 to set up a winner-take-all title game. In a tightly-played affair, CCHA Purple came out victorious with a 2-1 win to earn the District 6 Playoff Championship and a #1 seed to this weekend’s Minnesota Hockey East Region Tournament in Shakopee. In Friday’s first round, Purple will face Farmington, while Gold will take on Roseville.

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