Pre-Game

Most peewee A teams will have 7-8 players that will end up playing varsity hockey for their association's high school.  But the East Grand Forks peewee A team has been much like their school's nickname-a wave.  Like a wave they have stayed rolled to the ultimate climax, a beach called graduation.

Seven of the Green Wave's 09 peewees are seniors (Zane Hernsing, Eddie Eades, Nick Ranten, Cale Mack, Taylor Brierley, Colton Poolman, and Brandon Loven).  Seven will return (Trent Stengl, Dixon Bowden, Tye Ausmus, Jace Pesch, Tanner Tweten, Austin Monda, and goalie Garrett Lieberg).  They had opportunities to leave the Wave, a number of them played selects and were successful.  Some ended up on the USA national teams.  They have been a successful group of kids that have developed into players.

At YHH, we find all sorts of approaches that local hockey associations take with their programs.  We rarely criticize and feel, as Minnesota Hockey does, that the local boards do what is best for the kids in their community.  Orono's association reflects an approach that has a small town feel to it despite being a suburb on the west side of the Twin Cities.  Their fans are terrific and have been so over the years.  Last night their Spartans lost, So to honor those fans, at the end of this post you will find two pictures, a before and after of the Orono fans.  Picture 1 was taken as the puck hit the back of the net for Orono's lone goal.  Picture 2 was taken a second later just as the fans realized the Spartans had scored.  If you or a friend were there Wednesday evening, look for your before and after.  And congradulations to the Orono team on a great season.  At YHH we have one regret, not being at the Spartans' Section 2 win over Breck 2-1 in the championship game.

Period One

The Green Wave play relentless hard hockey.  They just keep on coming at their opponent in a methodical unnerving way.  They are not Persians.  For Star Trek fans, it is like playing the "Borg".  The Green Wave scored two minutes into the opening period, added a second goal four minutes later, and score with two minutes left on the clock.  Reed Corbid beat Orono's goalie Flakne from the slot early with Jace Pesch and Colton Poolman getting the assists.  Tweten scored next as his hard shot trickled through Flakne, rolled slowly through the crease, and was batted by the Orono defense into the net as they attempted to clear the puck.  Dixon Bownman and Grant Loven got the assists.  Tweten also got the third goal with Grant Loven and Poolman getting the assists.  The first period ended with the Green Wave up 3-0 and rolling along.

Period Two

Orono won the second period.  The Spartans stiffened came back to score seven minutes into the period.  The Spartans' Dave McClusky beat the Green Wave defense low right and drove the net beating goalie Josh Weber with a backhander to the short side.  Sam Challgren and Joey Luedtke got the assists.  The goal cut the Green Waves' lead to 3-1.  The Spartans continued to pressure East Grand Forks, but they could not score.  Orono outshot the Wave 7-4 in the second period.

Period Three

East Grand Forks' Nick Ranten scored an unassisted goal four minutes into the third period to put the Green Wave up 4-1.  It took the edge off Orono's game.  A penalty a minute later didn't help Orono.  The Green Wave played steady, consistent hockey.  They held the Spartans to two shots in the third period.

With three minutes to play, Orono pulled a cross checking penalty.  The Wave's Dixon Bowen scored twenty seconds into the power play to end the scoring 5-1.  Eades and Poolman got the assist.

What is Next?

East Grand Forks plays St. Cloud Cathedral in the Class A second semifinal Friday.  The Crusaders beat Totino-Grace 4-3 in overtime last night scoring a power play goal one minute into the penalty.  Grace was called for a too many men on the ice penalty.  East Grand Forks beat Cathedral 3-1 in early January.  Orono plays Totino-Grace in the consolation semifinals.