Team Minnesota played two great games Monday. In game one they knocked off Team Sask Jr. Pats 3-0. Eight TM kids got on the score sheet including number 1 star Isaac Howard, from Hudson, who scored the GWG in the first minute of the game. Jacob Fowler had a nine save shutout for TM. Minnesota controlled most of the game, winning puck battles all game long on both ends of the rink. 

In the final game of the night and arguably the second most exciting game of the day, Team MN lost to a very talented Montreal Ice Storm, 3-2. Montreal scored late in the first when David Goyette snuck a shot past Finn Dexheimer to give the Storm a 1-0 lead after 1. Team Minnesota had been carrying the play in the first, but Storm Goalie Jeremy Louchard was a stone wall, robbing Isaac Howard on the doorstep and then Ryan Chesley point blank. YHH had to take a double take, with the Canadiens' in their look-alike jerseys to see if it weren't Carey Price in net for the Storm.

In the second period while on the Power Play, Tristan Luneau beat Dexheimer short side to give Montreal a 2-0 lead. The goal took the momentum away from Minnesota who had really began to take charge of the game, but couldn't solve Louchard. It was 2-0 in favor of Montreal after two.

In the third, Edina's Nick Mikan had one of the prettiest goals of the day when he rushed the puck and was forced wide. The right hander gained his balance and whistled a wrist shot top shelf, bar down to beat Louchard at the 1:48 mark of the third. Both teams battled for the all important next goal. Brooks Bond got a great pass in front of the net and was robbed by Louchard to tie it. At the 6:31 mark of the third, James Swan jammed home a second effort goal to give Montreal a 3-1 lead. To Minnesota's credit, they did not quit. They drew 3 Montreal penalties down the stretch...TM could not convert on a 5 on 3 PP (their second of the night). But they were able to convert late when Aaron Schwartz feathered a great saucer pass to Howard who buried it past a diving Louchard to make it 3-2 with 1:21 to go. TM could not muster another great scoring chance after that and Montreal got their first win of the Brick.

Game of the Day 

Boston knocked off the Montreal Ice Storm 4-3 in an 2OT, ShootOut victory. A back and forth game that featured four lead changes and a dramatic finish. Montreal controlled much of the first half of the game. They finally were able to punch one past Boston Goalie, Brendan Flanagan. Boston big man Brady Berard got the B's on the board late in the second to tie it at one. The Bruins would eventually take the lead on a Billy Hughes goal with 2:42 to go in the game. But Ben Brassard would score from his stomach to the score with 15 seconds left to tie it for the Montreal. The two teams would battle in 3 v 3 and 2 v 2 extra sessions, but no team could score. In the Shootout, Berard would make a great fake backhand forehand move to score the only goal of the six shooters and Flanagan would come up big especially on the game winning save, going to his belly to snatch victory from the Storm.

Upset of the Day

Team Alberta came into the Brick with high hopes. Winners of the North American Hockey Classic in Winnipeg two weeks ago, they were ready. They knocked off Connecticut 4-1 earlier in the day to get the all important first win in the tournament. Team Pennsylvania came in fresh having only to play one game Monday. And only playing in their second Brick ever they came in under the radar this year, but after Monday, the whole tournament knows who they are and they really know who Luke Woodworth is. Woodworth got the Hatty today including the GWG with a little over five minutes to go. Team Keystone State is no longer the new kid on the block. Beating Alberta puts Pennsylvania in the Driver's seat for a spot in the Final 6. 

Other Games

Toronto Pro Hockey > Team California (4-2)...Cal Arnott GWG
Team Brick Alberta > Connecticut Yankees (4-1)...Jordan Gustafson 1G/2A
Detroit Red Wings > Chicago (6-1)...Maxim Namestnikov 2G
Boston Jr. Bruins > Winnipeg Jr. Jets (3-1)...Chris Delaney GWG (1G/1A)

Division 1

Bulldogs are elite...battle for 2 and 3 seeds will come down to Boston, BC, and Montreal. 

Division 2

This race is way too early to call out a favorite. Pennsylvania has a legit shot, as do Detroit, Alberta and Toronto. 

Big Games Tuesday

(D1) Toronto Bulldogs vs. Boston Jr. Bruins (7:10 pm)

(D2) Team Pennsylvania vs. Toronto Pro Hockey (10:50 am)

1. Every Kid on Toronto Bulldogs (they should be called Toronto Pro Hockey, because these kids look like pros).

2. Matthew Savoie, Team Alberta

3. Brady Berard, Boston Jr. Bruins

4. Dylan Andrews, Montreal Ice Storm

5. Luke Woodworth, Team Pennsylvania