Odd Own Goal the Difference as CC moves on to the Finals

The contest between Andover and Chaska Chan promised to be fast and wide open.  Sometimes promises are not kept.  The StormHawks were penalized for 22 minutes  (for more than half the game they were at least one man short), so the game never really got the fast flow that was expected. Andover meanwhile had many shots and several close calls but could not finish. Up 1-0, with two minutes to go in the second period, Jacob Langheinrich was called for Slashing.  During the delayed penalty, Andover pulled it’s Goalie.  Controlling the CC zone and Andover forward attempted a pass to a defenseman at the point.  While missing his target shot the puck the length of the ice into his own net to to tie the score 1-1. A sight these eyes have never seen.

Meanwhile, another sight was unfolding. Andover’s play continued to draw penalty after penalty.  The StormHawks would face

four 5-on-3 Penalty Kills. Of which they fought all of them off successfully. For the record, CC was called for 9 consecutive minor penalties without it’s opponent being called for one.  An odd sight at any hockey rink, considering the age old “marble rule” where a ref tries to keep the penalty count relatively even in an evenly played game. These two opponents were clearly even.

With the score tied in the middle of the third, and you guessed it, CC shorthanded. Calvin Barrett broke up a play in the neutral zone for CC and began a two on one with Ethan Benz and Benz fired the GWG into the top shelf. Justin Bach lead the StormHawks making 35 saves. Final Score: CC > Andover 2-1.

Edina wins in final moments

Having the high seed in a tournament can sometimes be a curse.  First of all you are expected to win. Second you often don’t a test until it’s too late. Edina cruised through Pool Play winning their three games by a margin of 33-3.  Then faced a well coached team with a well balanced, discipline team.  The game was scoreless after the first period.  Which for Prior Lake was a victory.  They withstood the Heavyweight champs first knockout punch.  Early in the second, Nico Vega got a pass from Jack Jensen and Vega put it past Prior Lake Goalie Cade Kujawski for a 1-0 lead. Kujawski, a big athletic Goalie would become a Sunday storyline as the game and day wore on. Later in the second, Charlie Kashmark would even the score with a wrister of his own and tie the game with three minutes left in the Second Period. The teams would trade penalties at the end of the second. But from that point on, it was all Edina.  The Hornets had great scoring chance after great chance, but every time Kujawski would be there. He faced 22 shots in the third period  and 44 for the game. Finally with just over a minute to go, Jack Jensen came screaming down the left side got himself to a great launching pad and fired a rocket past Kujawski to lift the Hornets to victory.  With an insurance goal late, the final was 3-1 Edina.

Welcome to the Jungels

Edina faced off against ChaskaChan earlier this Fall. Edina won 5-3, giving the StormHawks hope for an upset on Sunday. There are several keys to defeating this Edina team this year. First, don’t let them get up by more than 2 early.  This team won’t give up a three goal lead (a 1 goal lead is possible, 2 is within realm, 3 is no chance). Six minutes into the contest, Edina had delivered the punch to CC that it couldn’t deliver to Prior Lake earlier Sunday.  Another key is shutting down Grant Silianoff, Jack Jensen and Jett Jungels. In Sunday’s final, Jungels scored twice in four minutes to help the Hornets to a quick 3-0 lead.

Jungels is fast, skates well with or without the puck, but his greatest trait is he is tenacious around the net. He would add another goal in the middle of the second after out working his opponent in front for a loose puck to give Edina a convincing three goal lead and final score of 4-1.

Goalie – Cade Kujawski, Prior Lake – AKA KUJO.  Followed up his morning performance against Edina with a 37 save shutout against Andover

Skater – Charlie Schoen, Andover – Quick as a cat, Schoen gave opposing teams nightmares all weekend.

Skater – Jack Perbix, Elk River – Finished the weekend with 9 points and a cluster of new fans at the YHH offices.

Skater – Grant Silianoff, Edina – Lead the tournament with helpers…

Skater – Jack Jensen, Edina – Lead by example, scored one of tournament’s biggest goals in semifinals.

Skater – Ethan Benz, Chaska Chan – great all around player who made big plays all weekend.

Tourney MVP – Jett Jungels, Edina – lead tourney in Goals and Points. Had hat trick in championship game. Easy and well deserved choice.