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Osseo Maple Grove takes the Gold

By Tony Scott/Teams to Watch, 02/23/14, 11:00PM CST

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Crimson Take the Crown Jewel, the Fargo International

On any given Sunday

Number 1 versus Number 2...the two most talented Squirt teams in Minnesota. OMG had won the previous two meetings in the YHH Squirtacular and the Moose Goheen.  Both signficant wins for OMG, but without a win in Fargo - their season would not be complete. White Bear losers of the first two, still had their eye on the biggest prize the Fargo International title.

In order for WBL to win, they were going to need get huge production out of their stars Lucius, Lucius, and Roed. The other groups were going to need to mistake free and opportunistic. 

OMG needed to continue to get great goaltending from Jack Wieneke and continue to pressure WBL in their own zone.


Brock Faber goes 5 hole...to tie the socre 1-1 in the first period.

First Period

The first shift of the game was fast paced, both teams came out flying. White Bear got an odd man rush and converted when Lleyton Roed slid a pass to Ryan Sweeney and he scored to get the Bears the all important first goal. 

Down by a goal, OMG winger Brock Faber got loose and made a move on Goalie Anton Castro. Castro made a great save to keep the score 1-0 in favor of WBL. 

Later in the first, Justin Janicke got a puck in the corner and slid it into the slot to his liney Brock Faber and he made a move on Anton Castro and slid the puck 5 hole to make it 1-1. With the Crimson starting to apply more pressure, Ethan Elias got a pass from Brandon Reller and his wrist shot beat Castro short side to give OMG a 2-1 lead at the end of 1.

Second Period

Having seen this movie before, it was essential that the Bears get the next goal. White Bear had scored only once in two games versus OMG. The Crimson continued to apply pressure and when they did, Kyle Kukkonen got a loose puck and sniped it short side to give OMG a 3-1 lead. 

With an OMG defender called for Body Checking, the Bears had a chance to get the next goal. After a couple attempts in the OMG zone, Brock Faber got the puck to the neutral zone on a two on two. As he entered the offensive zone, his liney Justin Janicke snuck past the WBL defense and Faber hit him right on the tape in a way that got Castro off balance and Janicke slid it home short handed to give him OMG  a 4-1 lead after 2. 


Justin Janicke scores short handed to give OMG a 4-1 lead and put the Fargo Int'l on ice.

Third Period


Ethan Elias Lotzza Motzza Player of the Game

After the resurface, OMG kept is going when Ethan Elias sent a pretty saucer pass to Brandon Reller and the rangy centerman ripped a wrist shot far side that went off the post and in to give the Crimson a decisesive 5-1 lead. 

As the period progressed, OMG began to play with more and more confidence. Ethan Elias, added another assist to his scoresheet when he fed Chris Kernan to give OMG a commanding 6-1 lead. 

Chaz Lucius scored his ninth goal of the tournament late in the third to make the final score 6-2. 

OMG had six different scorers on Sunday.  Is it a team of super stars or is it a team of great players that are the product of a great system. One local Squirt coach said of OMG earlier this year, "they don't care who scores, they only care who wins...such a great team." On Sunday they won again and are on their way to a perfect season.  

In 2011 and 2012 Edina made a similar undefeated run. Last year, Rosemount had only one tie. This OMG team will likely be cast as one of these great teams. Congrats Crimson on a great run.

2014 Scoring Leaders

Player Team   Points Goals Assists Pen PIM
JAKSEN PANZER Devils Lake Flames 20 9 11    
AUSTIN DEVIER Devils Lake Flames 18 10 8    
Cruz Lucius White Bear Lake 17 9 8 1 1.50
Lleyton Roed White Bear Lake 16 8 8    
Brandon Reller Osseo-Maple Grove 16 8 8    
Chaz Lucius White Bear Lake 15 9 6    
Landon Parker East Grand Forks 15 7 8    
Hunter Bischoff Grand Rapids 14 9 5    
Joe Palodichuk Park-Cottage Grove 14 9 5 1 1.50
Cullen Hiltner St Cloud Red 14 9 5    
Justin Janicke Osseo-Maple Grove 14 8 6    
Ethan Elias Osseo-Maple Grove 14 6 8    
Daimon Gardner Warroad 13 10 3    
Gavin Lindberg Fergus Falls 13 8 5 1 1.50
Owen Bartz Fargo Freeze Blue 13 8 5 1 1.50
Joey Kennelly Grand Forks Gladiators 13 8 5 1 1.50
Brock Faber Osseo-Maple Grove 13 5 8    
Drew Holt Eden Prairie 12 8 4    
Jack O'Brien Krivo School of Hockey Elite 12 7 5 1 1.50
Zam Plante Hermantown Hawks 12 6 6  
 

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