FTP's 2008 Minnesota State Boys Hockey Tournament - Predictions - Semifinals

Here are FTP's predictions for the semifinal match-ups on Friday:

Class A:

Game 1: Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers (24-5-0) vs. Warroad Warriors (23-6-0)

Quarterfinal Results:

Duluth Marshall defeated Mankato West 2-1
(Pat Mahoney GWG; David Hafferty 1g; Willie Paul 20 Saves)

Warroad defeated Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 4-0
(Jeremy Hahn GWG; Brock Nelson 1g; Bryce Ravndalen 1g; Mark McDonald 1g; Jared Paquin 10 Saves)

Key Players:

Duluth Marshall: David Hafferty (Sr.), Zach Mausolf (Jr.), Pat Mahoney (Jr.), Dano Jacques (Sr.), Matt Messina (Jr.), Willie Paul (Jr.)

Warroad: Bryce Ravndalen (Sr.), Dane Shaugabay (Jr.), Jeremy Hahn (Sr.), Jared Paquin (Sr.)

It was January 25th, 2008. The Hilltoppers of Duluth Marshall were 16 seconds away from a 2-0 hard fought victory at The Gardens Arena in Warroad. 16 seconds. However, when you are a Warrior, 16 seconds is enough time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

With 16 seconds left in the game, Warrior forward Jeremy Hahn slipped the puck past Duluth Marshall goaltender Willie Paul to cut their 2-0 deficit to 2-1. The Warriors avoided the shutout. Most teams would consider that a victory in itself, a moral victory. Nobody wants to be shutout, especially at home in front of their hometown fans. Alas, the Warriors were not satisfied with a moral victory against the #1-ranked team in the state. When the puck was dropped at center after having scored just their first goal of the game, the Warriors skated up ice again and, incredibly, within 15 seconds, Warrior defenseman Tai Larson shot the puck toward the Hilltopper net and scores with one second left on the clock. The score is tied. They did the improbable. The Warriors scored two goals in the last 16 seconds of the game and tied the best team in the state. They forced overtime. In overtime, the Warriors were down a man due to a penalty. In overtime, a man short, and playing the best team in the state, the Warriors should have hoped for the best just to make sure the puck stayed out of their own zone. Instead, Dane Shaugabay took the puck down the ice and scored shorthanded on the Hilltopper goaltender with 1:16 left in overtime. Wow. What a game!

I'm looking forward to this match-up on Friday. I would think that Duluth Marshall has not forgot about that game. The 250+ mile trip back to Duluth mostly likely allowed for several hours of self-examination and time to memorize what happened on that fateful day. Instead of playing 50 minutes 44 seconds, I believe that Duluth Marshall will make sure that they play all 51 this time around.

Better offense: Even

Better defense: Even

Better goaltending: Even

FTP's Prediction: Duluth Marshall 3, Warroad 2
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Game 2: St. Thomas Academy Cadets (23-5-0) vs. St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (23-5-1)

Quarterfinal Results:

St. Thomas Academy defeated Little Falls 5-3
(Ryan Walters 3g; James Saintey 1g, 2a; Kurt Alrichter 24 Saves)

St. Cloud Cathedral defeated Blake School 3-1
(Jordan Palusky 1g, 1a; Kyle Kudak 1g, 1a; Stephen Rindelaub 1g; Nick Maiers 13 Saves)

Key Players:

St. Thomas Academy: Ryan Walters (So.), James Saintey (Sr.), Conor Rooney (Sr.), Rob Vannelli (Sr.), Kurt Altrichter (So.)

St. Cloud Cathedral: Stephen Rindelaub (Sr.), Nick Maiers (So.), Sam Lommel (Sr.), Joe Nessler (Jr.)

Best offense: St. Thomas Academy

Best defense: St. Cloud Cathedral

Best goaltending: Even

FTP's Prediction: St. Thomas Academy 4, St. Cloud Cathedral 1
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Class AA:

Game 1: Edina Hornets (27-2-0) vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights (26-3-0)

Quarterfinal Results:

Edina defeated Cloquet/Esko/Carlton 5-0
(Joe Gleason 2 goals; Zach Budish 1g, 1a; Derek Caschetta 27 Saves)

Benilde-St. Margaret's defeated Woodbury 4-1
(Matt Bergland 1g, 1a; Blake Applehof 1g, 1a; Jacob Meyers 20 Saves)

Key Players:

Edina: Marshall Everson (Jr.), Anders Lee (Jr.), Zach Budish (Jr.), Joe Gleason (Sr.), Derrick Caschetta (Sr.)

Benilde-St. Margaret's: Matt Berglund (Sr.), Steve Zierke (Sr.), Chris Student (Sr.), Blake Applehof (Sr.)

Edina and Benilde-St. Margaret's faced each in the Schwan Cup Invitational back on December 26th. The Red Knights came out on top that day winning 2-1. It was the first of only two losses that Edina suffered during the regular season. In that game, Steve Zierke and Brett Patterson scored for Benilde-SM while Everson scored for the Hornets. The shots were just 21 to 19 in favor of Edina.

If the first meeting was any indication of what we are to expect on Friday, it should be a defensive game.

Better offense: Edina (Even though Benilde has a better gpg, half of their regular season schedule was against Class A teams)

Better defense: Benilde-St. Margaret's

Better goaltending: Edina

FTP's Prediction: Edina 3, Benilde-St. Margaret's 1
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Game 2: Roseau Rams (29-0-0) vs. Hill-Murray Pioneers (25-3-1)

Quarterfinal Results:

Roseau defeated Blaine 8-2
(Tyler Landman 4g, 2a; Aaron Ness 2g, 2a; Ben Nelson 1g, 4a; Mike Lee 32 Saves)

Hill-Murray defeated Lakeville South 3-0
(Ryan Furne 2g; Dan Cecka 1g; Joe Phillippi 18 Saves)

Key Players:

Roseau: Mike Lee (Jr.), Aaron Ness (Jr.), Ben Nelson (Sr.), Tyler Landman (Jr.), Adam Knochenmus (So.), Dustin Moser (Sr.), Nick Oliver (Jr.)

Hill-Murray: Joe Phillippi (Sr.), Dan Cecka (Sr.), Ryan Furne (Jr.), Isaac Kohls (Jr.), Tyler Zepeda (Jr.), Nick Widing (Jr.)

Better offense: Hill-Murray

Better defense: Roseau

Better goaltending: Even

FTP's Prediction: Roseau 4, Hill-Murray 3