Team Southeast Claims Elite League Playoff Title
NEW HOPE, Minn. – An amazing third-period comeback and a dramatic overtime goal gave Team Southeast the playoff championship of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League Sunday.
Justin Crandall’s backhand goal at 2:46 of overtime gave Southeast a 6-5 victory over Team Southwest just minutes after it looked as though Southwest would win the tournament.
Southeast trailed 5-2 with less than three minutes remaining in regulation when Zach Schroeder’s goal cut the margin to 5-3 and put some life into Team Southeast.
“We told them to just keep working, and they’re a talented bunch of kids,” said Southeast Coach Sean Toomey. “All you can do is keep putting pucks on net and see what happens.”
Caleb Herbert scored for Southeast just 32 seconds after Schroeder’s goal to cut the margin to 5-4. With 1:13 left, Joe Faust scored to tie a game that earlier had looked like it would be a blowout for Southwest.
Mike Morin and David Jarrett scored in the first period for Southwest, and when Charlie Taft scored just 1:48 into the second period, Team Southwest had a 3-0 lead. Chris Fischer scored for Southeast to make it 3-1, but Morin’s second goal of the game, a power-play tally at 8:46 of the third period, reestablished a three-goal margin for Southwest at 4-1.
A.J. Reid scored for Southeast to cut the margin to 4-2, but when Taft scored an unassisted goal at 12:24, Southwest led 5-2 and looked to have things under control.
After Southeast’s three-goal outburst sent the game to overtime, a Southwest penalty led to a power-play goal by Crandall, assisted by Herbert and Max Gaede.
The two teams had finished 1-2 in the Elite League regular season, with Southeast edging Southwest by one point in the standings.
Seeded 1-2 for the league playoffs, both clubs won both Friday and Saturday games to reach the finals. Southeast opened with a 12-0 blitz of the Omaha Lancers behind a five-point game from St. Thomas Academy’s Christian Isackson, who had a pure hat trick in the second period to go along with two assists. In the semifinals, Southeast topped Team Northeast 5-1, with Herbert and Crandall each recording a goal and assist.
Southwest had a tougher road to the finals, coming from behind in the quarterfinals to beat Wisconsin 3-2. After falling behind 2-1 late in the second period, Zach Knight’s power-play goal tied the score at 2-2, and Tyler Dietzer scored the game-winner with just 38 seconds left in regulation. The goal spoiled a strong effort by Wisconsin goalie Austin Schmid, who stopped 37 of 40 shots. In the semifinals, Southwest scored three third-period goals to break a 1-1 tie with Team Northwest. Chad Hennum, Andrew Prochno and Archie Skalbeck all scored – Skalbeck’s goal was his second of the game – to put Southwest in the championship game.
In the tournament’s third-place game, Brandon Zurn and Connor Reilly each had a goal and an assist to lead Team Northeast to a 6-5 win over Team Northwest. Team Great Plains defeated Wisconsin 7-2 in the 5th-place game as Brett Hebel scored a pair of goals.
After the tournament, 40 Elite League players were notified of their selection to either Team Minnesota Red or Team Minnesota White, which will compete in this weekend’s Bauer National Invitational Tournament. The NIT takes place Friday through Sunday at New Hope Arena, and in addition to the two Minnesota squads, the field includes defending champion Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Wisconsin, the Dallas Jr. Stars, the Michigan Developmental Hockey League all-stars, Culver Academy of Indiana and an all-star team from the Manitoba Prep School league. For Minnesota Red and Minnesota White rosters, along with more information on the Bauer NIT, visit www.hselitehockey.com.
Justin Crandall’s backhand goal at 2:46 of overtime gave Southeast a 6-5 victory over Team Southwest just minutes after it looked as though Southwest would win the tournament.
Southeast trailed 5-2 with less than three minutes remaining in regulation when Zach Schroeder’s goal cut the margin to 5-3 and put some life into Team Southeast.
“We told them to just keep working, and they’re a talented bunch of kids,” said Southeast Coach Sean Toomey. “All you can do is keep putting pucks on net and see what happens.”
Caleb Herbert scored for Southeast just 32 seconds after Schroeder’s goal to cut the margin to 5-4. With 1:13 left, Joe Faust scored to tie a game that earlier had looked like it would be a blowout for Southwest.
Mike Morin and David Jarrett scored in the first period for Southwest, and when Charlie Taft scored just 1:48 into the second period, Team Southwest had a 3-0 lead. Chris Fischer scored for Southeast to make it 3-1, but Morin’s second goal of the game, a power-play tally at 8:46 of the third period, reestablished a three-goal margin for Southwest at 4-1.
A.J. Reid scored for Southeast to cut the margin to 4-2, but when Taft scored an unassisted goal at 12:24, Southwest led 5-2 and looked to have things under control.
After Southeast’s three-goal outburst sent the game to overtime, a Southwest penalty led to a power-play goal by Crandall, assisted by Herbert and Max Gaede.
The two teams had finished 1-2 in the Elite League regular season, with Southeast edging Southwest by one point in the standings.
Seeded 1-2 for the league playoffs, both clubs won both Friday and Saturday games to reach the finals. Southeast opened with a 12-0 blitz of the Omaha Lancers behind a five-point game from St. Thomas Academy’s Christian Isackson, who had a pure hat trick in the second period to go along with two assists. In the semifinals, Southeast topped Team Northeast 5-1, with Herbert and Crandall each recording a goal and assist.
Southwest had a tougher road to the finals, coming from behind in the quarterfinals to beat Wisconsin 3-2. After falling behind 2-1 late in the second period, Zach Knight’s power-play goal tied the score at 2-2, and Tyler Dietzer scored the game-winner with just 38 seconds left in regulation. The goal spoiled a strong effort by Wisconsin goalie Austin Schmid, who stopped 37 of 40 shots. In the semifinals, Southwest scored three third-period goals to break a 1-1 tie with Team Northwest. Chad Hennum, Andrew Prochno and Archie Skalbeck all scored – Skalbeck’s goal was his second of the game – to put Southwest in the championship game.
In the tournament’s third-place game, Brandon Zurn and Connor Reilly each had a goal and an assist to lead Team Northeast to a 6-5 win over Team Northwest. Team Great Plains defeated Wisconsin 7-2 in the 5th-place game as Brett Hebel scored a pair of goals.
After the tournament, 40 Elite League players were notified of their selection to either Team Minnesota Red or Team Minnesota White, which will compete in this weekend’s Bauer National Invitational Tournament. The NIT takes place Friday through Sunday at New Hope Arena, and in addition to the two Minnesota squads, the field includes defending champion Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Wisconsin, the Dallas Jr. Stars, the Michigan Developmental Hockey League all-stars, Culver Academy of Indiana and an all-star team from the Manitoba Prep School league. For Minnesota Red and Minnesota White rosters, along with more information on the Bauer NIT, visit www.hselitehockey.com.
