There were two sets of semifinal A games Saturday night at Bloomington Ice Garden; PeeWee A and Bantam A.  Here are a few thoughts and pics from each of the four games. 

PeeWee A

MAML vs. Tartan: The first game was very exciting.  Tartan got out to a 3-1 lead before YHH arrived on the scene from the Bantam AA game in rink 3. By all accounts Tartan had control of the game but they could not get that all important fourth goal.  MAML playing a floating fifth skater most of the third period, eventually got slick skating Tyler Anderson open on a breakaway. Anderson was able to put it over the Tartan goalies left shoulder to make it 3-2.  The final five minutes were crazy.  MAML applied major pressure on Tartan but could not score.  Eventually MAML pulled their goalie.  The extra attacker really helps when the puck is loose in front of the net.  And that’s what happened, Keith Holme got a wide open net and put it “Holme” to tie the score at 3 with less than a minute to play.  In the waning minutes of the game, Tartan got a penalty that would put them shorthanded for the eventual Overtime period.  Said Overtime period didn’t last long.  Eleven seconds into the session MAML superstar Justin Paschke, slid one over Tartan Goalie Greyson Hoerth’s left shoulder for the game winner.

Jefferson vs. Wayzata “A”: Jefferson came out flying attacking Wayzata for much of the first period.  They scored two goals in the first period, the second was a beauty by Jefferson’s Princeton Oppong, beating the Wayzata defenseman and then subsequently their goalie with a bar down snipe. In the second period Wayzata began to play with the Jags.  Scoring a goal to make it 2-1. As is the case in most hockey games, that team then starts to get more confidence.  Their shots increased and their pressure on Jefferson’s goalie mounted.  Just as you thought Wayzata was going to tie it, Jefferson forward Nathan Johannes got loose and stuck a beautiful backhand shot over the Wayzata goalie to make it 3-1 to end the second period. As the game wore on Wayzata picked up steam and began to take control of the entire third period.  If it weren’t for the great goalie play of Jefferson’s Emma Bonney, the Jags may have given up the lead.  As if Wayzata needed anymore help, Jefferson got two penalties to give Wayazata a 5-3 powerplay.  The Wayzata coaches took time out to set up the strategy.  Whatever they said it worked..Wayzata scored and made it 3-2.  For the rest of the game, the Trojans attacked.  Getting a shot to hit the post with 3 minutes left to tie it.  But minutes later, Oppong got loose behind the aggressive Wayzata defense and he scored on a top shelf backhand to end the Wayzata charge.  Final score, Jefferson 4, Wayzata 2.

Championship Game: Jefferson vs MAML.  Big District 6 versus outstate District 5. Historical note: a lot of these kids played one another as Squirt A in the Fargo International tournament.  MAML won that day 4-2. Last year MAML beat Jefferson in the Midwest third place game in an OT shootout.

YHH says: Jefferson has too many weapons for the Moose this time.