Wayzata outscores Forest Lake

The first game of the day got off to a late start due to a scheduling mishap setting the Rink 1 games behind thirty minutes. But once it got started, Wayzata scored five goals in the first 11 minutes and lead 6-1 after 1. Forest Lake shook off their bus legs and made a game of it in the second period getting the score to 7-4 after two.  The Rangers had a little extra hop and their step and looked to make a game of it.  A minute into the third, Luke Fairchild got a pretty pass from Rhett Pitlick and scored to make it 8-4. Forest Lake could not recover. Final Score 11-5. Players to watch: Forest Lake was a late entry to the BIG Pumpkin, many thanks to them and their players. A special shout out to Brady Meyer from the Rangers.  This kid was a stud.  He had a goal and three assists and several near misses.  Keep an eye out for him and the Rangers, they had some real nice skaters.

Edina cruises past Lakeville South

Different day, same story for the Hornets.  They are so strong up front. Friday they scored five goals in the first and eventually lead 9-1 after two.  Three Hornets had two goals: Grant Silianoff, Nico Vega, and Peter Colby. The Hornets need a win over White Bear Lake to advance to Pool Play on Sunday.

Andover takes out #2 Sibley

When a number four team beats a number 2 team, it is hardly an upset.  Based on size and experience Sibley had an advantage heading into the game. Andover is fairly small and lack a ton of second year talent.  No matter the age or size, this is a great team.  They have three solid lines and a budding superstar. Charlie Schoen is an electric player and he showed it again Friday taking the puck end to end several times constantly attacking Sibley. One such rush lead to a scoring chance for Holden Dunleavy who buried a rebound to give Andover the lead after 1. Schoen again got loose on a Sibley turnover and he made a great move on the goalie to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead after 2. Down 3-0, Sibley mounted a great attack in the second half of the game but it wasn’t enough. Final Score: Andover 3, Sibley 1. Andover needs a win over Brainerd tomorrow to advance to the semifinals on Sunday. Players to watch: Sibley’s Luke Herzog can really play, another very strong player for the Warriors. Gunnar Thoreson for Andover is not a new name to YHH, but this kid deserves mention…a great first year player for the Huskies.

Student teaches Teacher a lesson.

It’s been well documented on YHH that Brainerd coach Kim Larson once coached Eden Prairie coach Mark Germain.  Tonight the two coached against one another. The Eagles came out ahead 4-1. Like any good coach would teach, you gotta get an early lead. And the Eagles did as taught, scoring four minutes in on a Spencer Rudrud goal on a nice deke to the Brainerd goalie’s glove side. Jacob Lillejord would score again for the Eagles late in the first to give the “City” kids a 2-0 lead after 1. Down 3-0 and the best player, Gavin Andres, Brainerd began to take control but could not get a goal until late in the second when Gavin’s brother Riley scored on a scored on a scrum in front of the net to make it 3-1. EP’s Sam Wilhite scored early in the third to lift EP to the win 4-1. Final shots: Brainerd 35, EP 21.

Chaska Chan hangs on to beat Rosemount

The evening game between CC and Rosemount was a matchup of two great skating teams that still showed signs of October rust.  That said, both teams have a stockpile of great players. CC got out to a big 4-0 lead and looked to be running away with it.  Sawyer Schugel turned over a Rosemount defended and made a highlight reel goal, Blaine Warnert scorched a slap shot in from the point, Mike Koster scored short side and Joe Simpson came out of the Penalty Box and scored for Chaska. But the Irish showed no signs of quitting. Luke Levandowski (remember that name sports fans) scored on a nice pass from Tyler Linnerooth to make it 4-1.  Moments later the Irish were attacking and scored an apparent second goal that was disallowed.  Some teams quit when they have a bad break, this team just kept battling.  A testament to good kids and good coaches. With four minutes to go, the Irish cut the StormHawk lead in half when Zeph Goret got a working man’s goal to make it 4-2.  The Irish kept battling but had no answer for Chaska goalie Justin Bach who ended up with 33 saves. Final Score: CC 4, Rosemount 2. Players to watch: Really like what Blaine Warnert does with the puck for CC and Max Carter for Rosemount is a nice talent.

Roseville and Superior skate to a 2-2 tie.

An even played and fast paced game on the Olympic sheet at BIG.  Superior got on the board first when Peter Hansen knocked home a pass from Xavier “the X Man” Patterson. In the middle of the second the Raiders tied it when Nik Norman got his hands on a Ryan Peterson pass and evened the score 1-1. Next Roseville would score on a shortened Power Play to take the lead when Michaela Arnold scored for the Raiders.  But the Warriors would keep battling.  And the hard work paid off when Keelan Golat scored with two minutes to go to tie it up.  That was the final, 2-2. No overtime is played in Pool Play.

Prior Lake edges OMG

Back in the day before there was AAA hockey, there were All Star teams.  One such All Star team composed of two future  (and many more) Division I hockey players Tony Bianchi (Jefferson/U of M) and Curtis Janicke (Park Center/Notre Dame). Today they coach Prior Lake (Bianchi) and Osseo Maple Grove (Janicke)…see photo right. Friday’s game paired two great skating teams with bonafide stars on each.  Prior Lake’s Jackson Jutting is a joy to watch and OMG’s Trevor Janicke can really play (some say he’s almost as good as his little brother Justin). OMG came out flying, firing pucks like a BB gun (26 shot attempts and 13 on goal in the first). First year PeeWee Connor Kelley knocked home a rebound goal on the power play to give the Crimson a 1-0 lead. Almost as if not to be shown up Prior Lake answered a minute later with a Power Play goal of their own when Jutting scored from in close to tie it at 1. Late in the first, Trevor Janicke was flagged for a checking from behind penalty.  After much deliberation, the officials gave Janicke a disputable five minute major and game ejection. A big blow, five minutes plus the loss to a key player on the Crimson. The Lakers would capitalize with two quick goals, one by Jutting and another by pint sized Owen Neuharth to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead. A few minutes later, Jutting got into space and scored on one of the prettier shots YHH has seen this year, a double bar special..to which all said, “wow.” At this point the Lakers had the game well in hand. But as YHH stated earlier this week, OMG has a very high compete level.  These kids really get after it. The rest of the game they came and came and came. Miles Ezell scored two goals in a span of five minutes setting up a third period where OMG would have several great scoring chances, but all to no avail.  Prior Lake played smart and held on to go 2-0 in the very tough D Pool. A win over Superior tomorrow and they will advance to Bracket Play on Sunday. Players to watch: Prior Lake’s Charlie Kashmark is a budding star and OMG’s Nick Latvala and Tyler Kostelecky are new names to keep an eye on.