Around the Arenas: Mississippi 8 and Sections 5A/7AA
East's Andy Ness takes a close-in shot
The race for sectional seeds continues to heat up the cold January. Outside, things have warmed to above zero temps. Most think it is because of the sun. Most Minnesota Hockey fans know it is caused by the heat generated around the arenas. Hockey this time of year makes the winters short and the summers long. The nine teams in the Mississippi 8 Conference are part of that heat as the nine get ready to split-heading into three different sectionals, one Class A sectional and two Class AA sectionals. Four of the Mississippi 8 teams (Princeton, Chisago Lakes, MAML, and North Branch) are headed for Section 5A playoffs. Five of the Mississippi 8 teams are headed to Class AA playoffs in Sections 7AA and 8AA (St. Francis and Cambridge-Isanti to 7AA and St. Michael-Albertville, Rogers, and Buffalo to 8AA). This Around the Arena post covers three games played Thursday, two Mississippi 8 conference games (MAML at Cambridge-Isanti and St. Francis at Chisago Lakes) and one key Section 7AA game between Duluth East and Forest Lake played at Forest Lake. Four of the teams that played are bound for 7AA and two for Section 5A.
"You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours." Herb Brooks
Tyler Anderson, Keith Holme, Charlie Voller, Nick Zwach, Jaden Jarmuzek, Casey Chiodo, and Ben Ward all members of the 2012 MAML peewee A State Tourney team.
MAML at Cambridge-Isanti
Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake (overall 6-13-0, Section 5A 2-4-0, ninth place Mississippi 8 1-8-0): MAML moved from Section 7AA to Section 5A this year. Some may have the vision of a bigger, stronger, hockey program moving to compete with smaller, weaker, programs. That happened when the MSHSL tried Tier 1/Tier 2 hockey for two seasons. Rosemount, a large school, dropped from Tier 1 where the Irish struggled to Tier 2 and made it to the Tier 2 championship game before losing to Greenway 6-1. The MSHSL went away from the “tier approach” to the two class system we have today which uses school size (and other factors) to maintain a competitive approach. This season MAML, as a Class A hockey program, still plays 12 Mississippi 8 games that they played last season and the Moose still played three games in the Granite City Classic over the holiday weekend. MAML other ten schedule games this year were Prairie Centre, Orono, Sauk Rapids, Becker/Big Lake, Red Wing, Sartell, Little Falls, Mora/Milaca/Hinckley-Finlayson, St. Cloud Cathedral, and Legacy Christian.
The difference in MAML's schedule this season from last season is two games. Basically MAML replaced Brainerd and Bemidji, two Section 8AA teams they played last year with Orono and Mora. The Moose posted a 9-16-0 record record and are on a similar path this season. But this year the Moose are in the middle of the Section 5A race for the ticket to Xcel. Last season, they played in the Section 8AA playoffs beating Becker/Big Lake in the play-in game and losing at Bemidji to end their season, essentially facing a “one and done” playoff situation. This year, they are in a battle with rival Mississippi 8 teams for the ticket to the Xcel and are competing with Chisago Lakes for home ice in the Section 5A playoffs. A win last night would have given the Moose the edge. Though a young team, the Moose can contend this season and could battle Princeton at Princeton in their second playoff game to get to the Xcel. The opportunity to compete means a stronger program at MAML. The MSHSL made a good move for hockey in the towns north of the Twin Cities, now if they would stop telling hockey players and coaches how the sport should be played and be what they are-educators, things could get better.
Cambridge-Isanti
Cambridge-Isanti (overall 5-13-0, Section 7AA 0-4-0, seventh place Mississippi 8 3-6-0): Where MAML and Becker/Big Lake were moved last season to Section 5AA, Cambridge-Isanti was not. From a numbers perspective, making the Bluejackets the ninth team in Section 7AA make no sense. The C-I’s should have been moved joining MAML (and Becker/Big Lake) as the eleventh team in Section 5A. Cambridge's win and St. Francis' loss last night helps the Bluejackets, but C-I could win their remaining seven games (and they could) and it would not help their 7AA ranking. The Bluejackets will still travel to Elk River or Grand Rapids if they beat St. Francis in their first Section 7AA playoff game. With top ranked Elk River and top ranked Grand Rapids are fighting for the Section 7AA #1 seed, the Bluejackets’ are likely to play at either the Elks or the Thunderhawks’ arena in their first playoff game. In Section 5A, winning their last seven games (or most of them) would have meant two home Section 5A playoff games and a trip to a local arena for the Section 5A ticket to the Xcel. That would have been great for the Mississippi 8 teams.
Cambridge-Isanti's Derek Becklin shot is stopped by MAML goalie Tyler Klatt.
America
Cambridge/Isanti-4 MAML-0
The Bluejackets and MAML battled to a 0-0 tie in the first period. C-I out shot the Moose 13-9 in the period, but it was the ability of the Cambridge-Isanti defense that stopped the MAML passing game inside the Bluejacket zone that made the difference. The Moose could mount an attack through neutral ice, but could not get off the good shot. The Bluejackets scored twice in the second period and added two more in the third period in the win. The Cambridge/Isanti’s Austin Schlenker scored the first goal with Derek Becklin getting the assist; Cullen Osen scored the second goal with Alex Cummings and Caleb Wessel getting the assists. Jack Goodmanson scored twice in the third period. Jared Konen and Austin Schlenker got the assists on Goodmanson’s first goal (a power play score). Konen assisted on the second Goodmanson goal. Bluejacket goalie Nate Muehlberg stopped all 25 Moose shots to earn the shutout.
Two players go flying chasing the puck in front of Cambridge-Isanti goalie Nate Muehlberg.
St. Francis at Chisago Lakes
St. Francis (overall 6-13-0, Section 7AA 2-2-0, fifth place Mississippi 8 4-5-0): St. Francis has had a strange season. They started strong easily winning their first three games, played a tough game with Anoka before losing 2-0, beat STMA 3-2 in mid-December, and then struggled in the Schwan Cup Tournament losing three straight games. That struggled continued through January with the Saints winning only games they should have won. Last night they should have beaten Chisago Lakes, but didn’t and that hurt. St. Francis’s six remaining games get tougher. Two are with Section 7AA foes (Andover and Forest Lake). The Saints need wins in both those games plus two more to move up in 7AA rankings. The problem is that if they do, they end up playing at Grand Rapids or Duluth East in their first playoff game. The Forest Lake game at home February 9th will be the key game for St. Francis this season. With Forest Lake losing last night, a Saints win will boost their prospects. But the win will not be enough. St. Francis needs another good game at Buffalo two days later to solidify them.
Chisago Lakes
Chisago Lakes (overall 7-12-0, Section 5A 4-1-0, sixth place Mississippi 8 3-4-0): Chisago Lakes has been successful competing in Section 5A. They went to the Xcel in 2014, but lost to Spring Lake Park in the Section 5A championship last season. Spring Lake Park is gone from Section 5A this year (they are a top ranked team in Section 5AA this year along with Blaine, Centennial, and Anoka). The Panthers leaving has left Section 5A wide open with Princeton and Mora/Milaca/Hinckley-Finlayson filling the void. For the Wildcats, their win over St. Francis last night was big warning sign to their Section 5A foes. They will be back and who they play to get to the championship game does not matter. What will matter is the game played with Princeton February 6th. That game will really set the course for the Section 5A playoffs this year except for those wildcards like Mora and MAML.
Chisago Lakes-5 St. Francis-2
The firepower of the Saints sophomore Reese Kaehle (29 points/21 goals in 18 games), did not show up last night. Instead, after a tight even start to the game, Chisago Lakes’ senior leading scorer Landon Lushanko (32 points/18 goals) teamed with junior Cooper Hoheisel to take over the game and to beat St. Francis 5-2. Lushanko and Hoheisel each scored twice in the win with Wildcat senior goalie Bryce Thompson (8-11-0 giving up 3.7 goals a game while stopping 89% of the shots on goal). Thompson stopped 30 of 32 shots last night.
The two teams were locked in a scoreless battle for most of the opening period. St. Francis scored first with three plus minutes left on the clock. Kaehler got the goal with Tristan Hanson and Alex Besch getting the assists. A goal by the Wildcats’ Nicholas Bartz tied the game. Chase Hemme and Adam Hanson got the assist. The first period ended in a 1-1 tie. The Saints outshot the Wildcats 8-6 in the opening period. Chisago Lakes took a 2-1 lead on an early second period goal scored by Hoheisel. Lushanko and Brandon Caudill got the assists. The Wildcats held the lead most of the second period until St. Francis tied the game 2-2 with three minutes to play. Tristan Hanson scored with Travis Carroll getting the assist. Then, in the key play of the game, the Wildcats launched a last second second period rush on the Saints' net with the puck rebounding to Lushanko in the crease. Lushanko buried his shot to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead with four seconds remaining in the period. Caudill and Chasse Heskala got the assists. The period ended with Chiscago Lakes leading 3-2 despite being outshot 16-10 in the period. The Wildcats added two more third period scores to win the game 5-2. Hoheisel and Lushanko teamed up to score the fourth goal. Hoheisel got the goal. Lushanko and Darin Krueger got the assists. Lushanko scored the final goal halfway through the third period on a power play with Bartz getting the assist. The Wildcats won 5-2. Lushanko had a four point game (two goals/two assists). St. Francis outshot Chisago Lakes 32-21 in the game.
Chisago Lakes scoring leader Landon Lushanko scores the winning goal putting the Wildcats up 3-2.
Duluth East at Forest Lake
Duluth East (overall 10-7-0, Section 7AA 3-3-0, plays independent schedule): Duluth East and Forest Lake along with Cloquet have battled over the past few years for the #3 and #4 seeds in the Section 7AA playoffs. At stake is home ice in the first round of the Section 7AA playoffs. The Hounds have usually win. Last season they took the #3 seed despite posting an 11-10-4 season record. Home ice is a key advantage in Section 7A that pits Northeastern Minnesota teams against schools in the northern Twin City suburbs. This year, Duluth East is a team that looked so good at the start of the season that their play to date is a major disappointment. Last night, the Hounds put some of that to rest beating Forest Lake and solidifying their hold on a playoff opener on home ice. A Hound loss last night could have forced East to return to Forest Lake to play the Rangers again in the Sectional 7AA quarterfinals or worst head to the Northwoods Arena in Cloquet to play the Lumberjacks. With remaining games to be played with Anoka, Elk River, Cloquet, Hopkins, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Superior, and Minnetonka; Duluth East that played last night will be tested in the run-up to Sections. If they play as they have earlier, they will struggle to remain above .500. Worst, the Hounds could end up falling to 3-5 record in Section 7AA play and still open the playoffs in a place they do not want to be. Quite a balancing act for a team that many thought would end this season as one of the top five teams in the state. The Hounds’ season this year is the stuff fans love to see and why coaches turn grey at forty. Last year the Hounds made the turn and played in the Class AA State Tourney Championship game.
Forest Lake
Forest Lake (overall 8-8-1, Section 7AA 1-3-0, tied for fourth Suburban East conference 5-5-0): Forest Lake has eight tough games left to play and after being blitzed by Duluth East last night, they only have a day to recover. Fortunately the Rangers should beat Mounds View and North St. Paul in the next week. After that, things get tougher as the Rangers hit the main part of their Suburban East Conference schedule playing White Bear Lake, Woodbury, Stillwater, and Cretin/Derham Hall. The only relief they will get from Suburban East competition is a dangerous Section 7AA game with St. Francis February 9th at East Bethel Ice Arena-a game the Rangers can’t lose or they could find themselves going to Cloquet for the Section 7AA playoffs instead of Cloquet traveling to Forest Lake.
Duluth East-7 Forest Lake-1
For those not there, the Hounds really beat the Rangers. Forest Lake’s defense stopped the Hounds offense containing them in the first period that ended in a 1-1 tie. East outshot the Rangers 11-4 in the period. The first period was just a warm-up. The Hounds put on a hard hitting excellent second period show outshooting the Rangers 23-5 scoring five goals. The show culminated with Ash Altmann scoring a tough goal that started with corralling a hard pass with his skates (shown in the sequence of pictures start left and finishing below. After holding the Hounds off the scoreboard for most of the opening period, the Rangers’ Derick Johnson scored an even strength goal with three minutes left in the opening period to put Forest Lake up 1-0. With under a minute left in the period, Ryan Peterson scored with Ash Altmann and Luke Dow getting the assists.
....beats the Forest Lake defense getting his body between defense man and the puck
Ash Altmann controls the puck with his skates....
.....pushes it ahead just far enough to keep control
.....and scores!
