Each year, traveling teams in Minnesota pack up their cars and go out and find a few games in other parts of the state. Metro teams go to Brainerd, Roseau or Duluth. Northern teams come to the Cities for a tourney or a Tour.

Last weekend Moorhead's Bantam and PeeWee AA teams took a tour of the Minneapolis Suburbs. Each left with a couple nice wins and a loss that will probably help both teams down the road.

The PeeWee AA team played Edina Friday night and got a dose of reality losing 13-1.  A game that showed them in December what they need to work on if they are to make a trip to Thief River Falls in March. They also played and beat Rosemount, Lakeville North, and St. Cloud.

The Bantam AA team lost to Rosemount (4-3) and beat Lakeville North (5-1) and St. Cloud (4-1).  The Bantam AA Spuds have had an up and down year, playing against these strong teams heading into the second half was probably a good watershed moment for these boys.

We caught up to the Spuds Saturday afternoon in Rosemount.  As usual, the people from Rosemount were happy to see their friends from Clay County.  Besides two great hockey games on the docket, they provided a post game lunch and some great in-game music for the boys which generated a little atmoshphere for the players and fans.

Last Winter, the Squirt A Rosemount and Moorhead teams got together and practiced in Moorhead prior to the Fargo International Tournament.  The teams became fast friends. It was great as a fan of Minnesota hockey watch these teams cheer for one another at our Squirtacular tournament last Spring as Moorhead upset Edina in Pool Play. And even better to see the friendship continue as they moved on to PeeWees.

Once the ice was frozen and the Zamboni door was closed, the friendship went out the window. As soon as the puck was dropped, the boys got after it.

Moorhead struck first when Thomas Horan tipped in a wobbling puck to make it 1-0.  From that point on it was all Irish for the next part of the game. Last year's Wiz Wyatt Squirt Player of the Year Finalist, Kyle "Moose" Heffron scored on a rebound and the Irish tied it 1. Later in the first, the Moose knocked home a second rebound goal and made it 2-1 in favor of 

Early in the second, both teams scored quickly. Carter Johnson, one of my favorite Spud players from last year's Squirt A team scored to tie it, and a minute later, Rosemount big man, Tyler Linneruth gave the Irish a 3-2 lead. 

Later in the second, Rosemount continued to pressure the Moorhead defense and get scoring chances. Finally, Jackson Sabo got a chance in front of the  Spuds net and he sniped in a nice wrist shot to give Rosemount a 4-2 lead. At this point in the game, Rosemount was clicking on all cylanders.

A few minutes later, Moorhead super star Ethan Frisch showed why he is consisidered one of the state's best PeeWees. He got loose and and made a move and rifled home a key goal for his team unassisted to make it 4-3 Rosemount.  After this goal, the tide seemed to turn in favor the Spuds.

Another nice player for the Spuds is Isaac Howe.  He has great hands and some great natural skill and instinct. It was only a matter of time before he got on the scoresheet. With 2:00 left in the second he made the most of a loose puck in front and tied the score, 4-4.

The third period started out like the first. Both teams battling like crazy with fresh legs after a resurface. After battling off a Rosemount Power Play, Moorhead got their chance when a Rosemount player got nabbed for Tripping. After a couple shots, Moorhead got the puck to the net and Thomas Horan was able to get his second goal on a loose puck shot in front of the net past the Rosemount Goalie to make it 5-4. 

Down 5-4, Rosemount started to battle for the tie. But to no avail. Caden Triggs for Moorhead got loose on a breakaway with a minute left and beat the goalie 5 hole to ice the win for Moorhead 6-4.  It was a great game between evenly matched teams and "friends".