Last year, Lakeville South dominated District 8 in regular season and in the playoffs.  The Cougars return two players from that team, but have also picked up some “move-ins”.  The Cougars are unbeaten going into the game with Sibley with a 3-0-2 record.  Their two ties were against OMG 4-4 and White Bear Lake 1-1.  Last week, the Cougars beat Prior Lake 7-1, so they may be back again.

Sibley has played few games so far this year. The Warriors were impressive in a loose scrimmage against Highland three weeks ago.  The game against Lakeville South would be their first real test.  Sibley is YHH’s pick to win the Spring Lake Park tourney this weekend.

This game matched a D8 team classified AA (Lakeville South) against a D8 team classified A (Sibley).  That means both teams will have separate opportunities to make the East AA and A Regional Tourneys to be held in Cottage Grove and South St. Paul in February.

Last nights game at Sibley opened at a fast pace.  The first two minutes of the first period was an up tempo, up and down, game with one team attacking, then the other.  The game slowed at the 10 minute mark and became ragged.  Lakeville South started to pressure Sibley in the Warriors’ zone, but couldn’t sustain the pressure.  Sibley would breakout and counter attack.

The first period play continued to be an up and down affair with good pace.  Lakeville South had the territorial edge, but neither team could score.  No penalties were called.  It was a quick opening period that ended in a 0-0 tie.

Thirty seconds into the second period, that would change.  Sibley drew a checking penalty and a minute later, the Cougars scored.  South set up in the power play and controlled the puck for the first minute.  The Cougars launched an attack from the left slot.  The shot rebounded back to the right slot and the second shot deflected left where South’s John Welk was able to corral the puck and score by putting the puck low between the goalie and the left post.  Cougars led 1-0 on the power play goal.  Ty Black got the assist.

A minute later Sibley came back to tie the score.  A Sibley wing beat the Cougar defense and turned the right corner on the end line.  Skating to the goal he passed to Nick Davidson in the slot.  Davidson scored hitting the upper left corner to tie the game 1-1.  Grayson Milosch got the assist.

Lakeville South drew a tripping penalty 30 seconds later.  Sibley established control in the South zone on the power play, but could not beat South’s goalie, Isaiah Dilaura.  Sibley was starting to get good shots down low on the Cougar’s net forcing Dilaura to make some tough stops.

At the 7 minute mark, Lakeville South scored.  Tyler Black scored from the slot.  Sibley’s goalie was screened.  South led 2-1.

The last six minutes of the second period was all Sibley.  They applied tremendous pressure to the Cougars.  Dilaura played an excellent game controlling the puck well on hard shots by the Warriors.  A Lakeville slashing penalty didn’t help.  Still the second period ended with the Cougars leading 2-1. 

Sibley pressure continued in the opening minutes of the third period.  They had some great opportunities to tie the game with shots down low.  They couldn’t.  A Sibley penalty at the 7 minute mark turned out to be the game breaker.

The Warriors successfully killed the penalty, but mistimed their line change.  Lakeville South caught the Warriors forwards coming on to the ice.  They moved the puck away from the Warriors’ bench and attacked the Warror net.  Welk got the goal.  Cougars Zack Zemlak and Jack Olsen got the assists.  The Cougars led 3-1 and 6 minutes were left on the clock.

Sibley came back to apply pressure, but at the 3 minute mark, Lakeville South’s Aaron Grounds came up with a loose puck in the slot in front of the Warrior’s net and scored to put the Cougars up 4-1.  With less than a minute to play, the Warriors’ Brendan McFadden scored to end the game 4-2.  Luke Herzog got the assist.

Lakeville South came into the game having played regular games and they were prepared to skate the whole game.  Sibley had played a couple of loose scrimmages.  It looked like the Warriors first game of the season.

These two teams are likely to be the top teams in D8.  At this point in the season, both are playing better than their D8 foes.  They will tangle once more near the end of January for what should be the D8 regular season title.

Sibley plays in the Spring Lake Park tourney and open against Wayzata Gold Peewee A.  The Gold lost their first D3 game to Hopkins 3-1 last weekend.  The Warriors are favored to win the Spring Lake Park tourney.  Lakeville South plays two D8 games, Cottage Grove and Rosemount this week.  Sandwiched between those two games, the Cougars play Edina Thursday at Minnesota Made (6:30 pm).  One thing is certain about the Cougars this year, they are back.

This maybe the last game that Lakeville South will play in the West St. Paul arena.  It is due to be closed after this year after 40 years of operation.