2016 Minnesota High School Boys Hockey State Tournament | CLASS AA

CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, March 5th | Excel Energy Center WAYZATA 5, EDEN PRAIRIE 3 WAY: Jack Carlson 1g, Billy Duma 1shg, Matt Nelson 1g WAY: Logan Lindstrand 1g, Colin Schmidt 1eng WAY: Alex Schilling 30 saves EP: Casey Mittelstadt 1g, Michael Graham 1g, Jarod Blackowiak 1g EP: Shawn Durocher 21 saves GWG: Logan Lindstrand 3rd period, 5:32 ______________________________________________________________________ THIRD PLACE Saturday, March 5th | Xcel Energy Center GRAND RAPIDS 3, STILLWATER AREA 2 GR: Brendan Mark 1g, Drake Anderson 1g, Mitchell Mattson 1g GR: Gabe Holum 28 saves STI: Brody Swanson 1g, Noah Cates 1g STI: Josh Benson 30 saves GWG: Mitchell Mattson 3rd period, 11:48 ______________________________________________________________________ FIFTH PLACE Saturday, March 5th | Mariucci Arena BEMIDJI 4, FARMINGTON 1 BEM: Nick Leitner 2g, Jack Johnson 2g (1eng) BEM: Matt Fitzgerald 18 saves FAR: Jake Jensen 1g FAR: Gavin Enright 27 saves GWG: Nick Leitner 2nd period, 6:17  ______________________________________________________________________ SEMIFINALS Friday, March 4th | Xcel Energy Center WAYZATA 2, STILLWATER AREA 1 WAY: Logan Lindstrand 1g, Griffin Ness 1g WAY: Alex Schilling 22 saves STI: Jackson Cates 1g STI: Josh Benson 22 saves GWG: Griffin Ness 3rd period, 15:25 EDEN PRAIRIE 6, GRAND RAPIDS 2 EP: Casey Mittelstadt HAT TRICK (1sh), 2A EP: Cole Lawrence 2g, Michael Graham 1g EP: Shawn Durocher 28 saves GR: Micah Miller 1g, Alex Adams 1g GR: Gabe Holum 31 saves GWG: Caey Mittelstadt 2nd period, 7:41 _____________________________________________________________________ CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS Friday, March 4th | Mariucci Arena FARMINGTON 4, BURNSVILLE 2 FAR: Erik Holmstrom 1g, 1a, John Siebenaler 1g, 1a FAR: Darby Grengs 1g, Devin Bernu 1g FAR: Gavin Enright 21 saves BUR: Gavin Wagner 1g, Roman Ahcan 1g BUR: Nick Lee 20 saves GWG: Erik Holmstrom 3rd period, 1:09 BEMIDJI 5, ANOKA 0 BEM: Alex Pollock 2g, 1a, Jack Johnson 1g, 1a BEM: Brady Tatro 1g, 1a, Tyler McNamara 1shg BEM: Matt Fitzgerald 15-save shutout ANO: Spencer Olson 46:05 MIN, 24 saves on 29 shots, Loss ANO: Brendan Corbin 4:55 MIN, 4 saves on 4 shots, ND GWG: Alex Pollock 1st period, 10:16 _____________________________________________________________________ QUARTERFINALS Thursday, March 3rd #2 STILLWATER AREA 4, FARMINGTON 1 STI: Jackson Cates 2g, Noah Cates 1g, 2a, Luke Manning 1g STI: Josh Benson 21 saves FAR: Erik Holmstrom 1g FAR: Gavin Enright 19 saves GWG: Luke Manning 1st period, 15:56 #3 WAYZATA 3, BURNSVILLE 1 WAY: Mark Senden 1g, Luke Paterson 1g, Dillon Riley 1g WAY: Alex Schilling 21 saves BUR: Cade Borchardt 1g BUR: Nick Lee 20 saves GWG: Luke Paterson 2nd period, 3:29 #1 EDEN PRAIRIE 7, ANOKA 3 EP: Hunter Johannes 2g, 1a, Nicky Leivermann 2g, 1a EP: Casey Mittelstadt 1G, 5A, Spencer Steen 1g, 1a, Michael Graham 1g EP: Shawn Durocher 12 saves ANO: Michael Talbot HAT TRICK ANO: Spencer Olson 32 saves GWG: Nicky Leivermann 2nd period, 12:25 #4 GRAND RAPIDS 3, #5 BEMIDJI 2 OT GR: Gavin Hain 1g, 1a, Micah Miller 1g, Alex Adams 1g GR: Gabe Holum 27 saves BEM: Alex Pollock 2g BEM: Matt Fitzgerald 24 saves GWG: Alex Adams Overtime, 2:06

FTP Notes: Friday, January 11th

Dan Cecka - Hill-Murray Pioneers

Hill-Murray won it's third straight game since losing to Minnetonka at the Schwan Cup in late December. Pioneers' Senior Dan Cecka continues to be scorching hot scoring the game winner against the #1-ranked in Class A St. Thomas Academy Cadets on Thursday night. The Pioneers won 4-2. Cecka has scored six goals in the last three games. He scored four goals in their win over Simley on January 5th.

Section 7AA: Will a front runner please stand up?

So, Duluth East defeated the Thunderhawks from Grand Rapids Thursday night, 4-2. Surprised? Not really. My problem is that I don't know what Greyhounds team will show up from night to night. I have the same feeling about most of the supposed talented teams in Class 7AA. With that said, will the best team in Class 7AA please stand up???

I really thought Grand Rapids would start making a run starting with East. I know Grand Rapids is 6-6-1 and have not stepped up when facing ranked opponents but something innate is telling me that the Thunderhawks are the ones that will come out on top when it matters, the playoffs. This comes from someone who has sentimental leanings toward Cloquet and likes Duluth East. But, consistently, the Hounds and the Jacks have been just as inconsistent this year.

The Hounds lost to Minnetonka, White Bear Lake, and Cloquet in a 3-game stretch and then dominated Moorhead, Centennial, and Anoka in the next three games. Before defeating a decent Denfeld team earlier this week and then Grand Rapids last night, Duluth East went 0-3-1 before that including 0-2-1 at the Schwan Cup.

Cloquet was on a roll in December going 4-1-1 for the month. They won their next two in January giving them a 6-1-1 run but then they were handed a crushing defeat by Brainerd, 2 to 7, on January 4th and then lost to Superior (WI) who, granted has a very good team, 1 to 4. If the Jacks would have won that game, I would have marked them as the front runner for the 7AA crown. Now, they move back into the other top but inconsistent teams.

Anoka is just as inconsistent but is just as viable to win it as Grand Rapids, Duluth East, and Cloquet. The Tornadoes (9-4-0) were on a four game winning steak and looking like they were in stride until they faced the Trojans of Wayzata Thursday night. Wayzata won 5-3.

Forest Lake is above .500 and has a 3-1 record against other 7AA opponents but their only quality win out of eight was against Grand Rapids in OT early in the season.

So, who will step up in this Section? Right now, I believe it is still very wide open.

Disrespecting the disrespected???

When I made the current poll, I forgot to add three other teams to the list who have great records that might feel that they are getting little to no respect:

Northern Lakes Lightning (8AA) (12-3-1) - Coach Shawn Chambers has the Lightning playing very well. The concern though is that they play only two games with Class AA teams. Northern Lakes is a Class AA team. They've played 8AA Becker/Big Lake/Milaca twice already and beat them both times. Becker/Big Lake/Milaca's record is currently 2-11.

La Crescent Lancers (1A) (13-2-1) - The Lancers play 15 games against Wisconsin teams and only 7 against Minnesota teams. They are 5-0 so far against Class A teams in Minnesota with four of the wins against Section 3A schools. They do not play any ranked Minnesota teams at all this year. Their schedule consists only of Wisconsin opponents the rest of the regular season. They did not and will not play any Section 1A teams in which they are apart of.

Mora/Hinckley-Finlayson Mustangs (5A) (10-2) - The Mustangs are playing well and have a strong goaltender in A. J. Martin. I think it is too soon to know what this team can do. They have yet to face a ranked opponent. They beat Northern Lakes once and also lost to them once. The game to look ahead to is way at the end of the year when they face the currently undefeated team of the Park Rapids Area Panthers on February 15th. If the Mustangs make a nice run in January, people might start to take notice.

IN THE NEWS: Section 7AA

Cambridge-Isanti:

12/19: Bluejacket boys hockey goes 1-1 on weekend
12/12: C-I boys rack up goals to down rival Saints, Tigers

Cloquet/Esko/Carlton:

12/13: CEC defeats St. Cloud Tech, White Bear Lake
12/06: Lumberjacks face one of state's best

Forest Lake:

12/19: Rangers denied in boys hockey action
12/12: Perfect ride ends in Woodbury

Grand Rapids:

12/17: Spuds skate past Grand Rapids

Blues' Minnesota contingents show commitment to youth

Courtesy of the Belleville News-Democrat

BY NORM SANDERS
News-Democrat

They come from Elk River, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Grand Rapids and Faribault.

They are the St. Louis Blues' contingent from the land of 10,000 lakes, the Minnesota boys.

Veteran winger Dan Hinote, second-year forward David Backes, rookie defensemen Erik Johnson and Steve Wagner and coach Andy Murray call Minnesota home.

Outside of Hinote, a solid two-way forward, the group is living proof of the team's commitment to building through youth and the farm system.

Continue reading the article here.

Grand Rapids Thunderhawks 2007-2008 Varsity Roster

Grand Rapids Thunderhawks
2007-2008 Varsity Roster

1	Trevor Tabaka				G	12
2	Nick Serratore				D	12
3	Robb Roy - Captain				F	12
4	Eric Bishop				D	12
5	Tony Palkki				F	11
7	Billy Shaw				F	12
8	Sam Rendle				D	11
9	Jack Moore				F	12
10	Sam Sparen - Captain				F	12
11	John Skrbec				F	10
14	Matt Jerulle				F	12
15	Shane Greniger				F	12
16	Nate Dumm				F	12
17	Grant Prokop				F	12
18	Kyle Kleinendorst				D	10
19	Corey Kosak - Captain				D	12
20	Brad Horsmann				D	11
21	J. R. Mackey				F	12
23	Jake Leingang				D	11
30	Kyle Figgins				G	12
35	A. J. Underwood				G	11

Head Coach: Bruce LaRoque

Assistant Coaches: Steve Anderson, Todd Peart, Craig Pierce

Student Manager: Anthony Podominick

Grand Rapids Thunderhawks 2007-2008 Schedule

Section: 7AA | Roster | Stats | Team Preview
Conference: Independent
Head Coach: Bruce LaRoque
Home Ice: IRA Civic Center, Grand Rapids, MN


0-0-1 | T | 2-2 | 11/27/07 #12 Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (7AA) - Box Score
0-1-1 | L | 3-4 OT | 11/30/07 Forest Lake (7AA) - Box Score
1-1-1 | W | 5-2 | 12/04/07 at Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl (7A) - Box Score
2-1-1 | W | 6-5 | 12/07/07 at Greenway (Coleraine) (7A) - Box Score
3-1-1 | W | 6-2 | 12/11/07 at #17 Brainerd/Pillager/Pierz (8AA) - Box Score
3-2-1 | L | 2-4 | 12/14/07 #14 Moorhead (8AA) - Box Score
12/19/07 EDINA INVITATIONAL
3-3-1 | L | 2-3 | vs. #2 Edina (2AA) - Box Score - First Round
12/20/07 EDINA INVITATIONAL
3-4-1 | L | 1-3 | vs. #17 Eden Prairie (6AA) - Box Score - Second Round
12/21/07 EDINA INVITATIONAL
4-4-1 | W | 6-4 | vs. Elk River (7AA) - Box Score - Third Round
5-4-1 | W | 7-1 | 12/29/07 Lakeville North (1AA)
5-5-1 | L | 1-3 | 01/05/08 at #7 Bloomington Jefferson (2AA)
6-5-1 | W | 5-1 | 01/08/08 #14 Hermantown (5A)
6-6-1| L | 2-4 | 01/10/08 Duluth East (7AA)
7-6-1 | W | 6-1 | 01/12/08 Stillwater (4AA)
8-6-1 | W | 4-2 | 01/15/08 at #13 Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (7AA)
8-7-1 | L | 2-4 | 01/18/08 at Hibbing/Chisholm (7A)
9-7-1 | W | 4-0 | 01/22/08 at Bemidji (8A)
10-7-1 | W | 7-3 | 01/24/08 Greenway (Coleraine) (7A)
10-8-1 | L | 0-3 | 01/26/08 #12 Anoka (7AA)
11-8-1 | W | 9-1 | 01/31/08 at Eveleth-Gilbert/Mesabi East (7A)
12-8-1 | W | 4-1 | 02/04/08 Hibbing/Chisholm (7A)
12-9-1 | L | 2-3 OT | 02/08/08 at International Falls (7A)
13-9-1 | W | 3-1 | 02/12/08 at #19 Duluth Denfeld (7A)
13-10-1 | L | 0-1 | 02/15/08 at #1 Roseau (8AA)
_________________________________________________________________________________

Schedule Breakdown:
vs. Class AA Teams: 14 (5-8-1)
1AA: 1 (1-0)
2AA: 2 (0-2)
4AA: 1 (1-0)
6AA: 1 (0-1)
7AA: 6 (2-3-1)
8AA: 3 (1-2-0)

vs. Class A Teams: 10 (8-2-0)
5A: 1 (1-0)
7A: 8 (6-2)
8A: 1 (1-0)

Section 7AA - Team Info

Andover
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Huskies
Head Coach: Bill Thoreson
Home Arena: Andover Arena, 1685 Crosstown Blvd, Andover, MN
'06-'07 record: 8-19-0 | '07-'08 record: 9-16-1 | '08-'09 record: 11-13-2
____________________________________________________________
Cambridge-Isanti
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Bluejackets
Head Coach: Chad Carlson
Home Arena: Isanti Ice Arena, 600 First Ave N, Isanti, MN
'06-'07 record: 20-5-2 | '07-'08 record: 11-15-0 | '08-'09 record: 9-15-1
____________________________________________________________
Cloquet/Esko/Carlton
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Lumberjacks
Head Coach: David Esse
Home Arena: Cloquet Area Recreation Center, 1102 Olympic Drive, Cloquet, MN
'06-'07 record: 22-4-2 | '07-'08 record: 15-13-2 | '08-'09 record: 6-19-2
____________________________________________________________
Duluth East | 2009 Section 7AA Champions
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Greyhounds
Head Coach: Mike Randolph
Home Arena: DECC, 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN
Home Arena: Heritage Arena, 29th Ave West and Michigan St., Duluth, MN
'06-'07 record: 18-7-2 | '07-'08 record: 18-8-1 | '08-'09 record: 24-5-1
State Champions: 1998 (AA), 1995 (AA), 1960
____________________________________________________________
Elk River/Zimmerman
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Elks
Head Coach: Tony Sarsland
Home Arena: Elk River Arena, 1000 School St., Elk River, MN
'06-'07 record: 17-9-1 | '07-'08 record: 8-18-0 | '08-'09 record: 17-10-1
State Champions: 2001 (AA)
____________________________________________________________
Forest Lake
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Rangers
Head Coach: Aaron Forsythe
Home Arena: FLAAA Sports Center, 5530 206th St. N, Forest Lake, MN
'06-'07 record: 11-13-2 | '07-'08 record: 13-13-0 | '08-'09 record: 9-16-2
____________________________________________________________
Grand Rapids
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Thunderhawks
Head Coach: Bruce LaRoque
Home Arena: IRA Civic Center, 1401 NW 4th Ave, Grand Rapids, MN
'06-'07 record: 19-8-4 | '07-'08 record: 14-11-1 | '08-'09 record: 11-11-4
State Champions: 1980, 1976, 1975
____________________________________________________________
Princeton/Milaca
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Tigers
Head Coach: Todd Frederick
Home Arena: Princeton Ice Arena, 511 S 14th St. (Ice Arena Dr.), Princeton, MN
'06-'07 record: 5-21-1 | '07-'08 record (5A): 9-17-1 | '08-'09 record: 11-15-1
____________________________________________________________
St. Francis
Schedule | Roster
Mascot: Fighting Saints
Head Coach: Tony Hoops
Home Arena: East Bethel Ice Arena, 20675 Hwy 65, East Bethel, MN
'06-'07 Record: 8-16-1 | '07-'08 record: 5-21-0 | '08-'09 record: 19-6-1

Section 7AA Standings

2007-2008
Section 7AA Standings
Final - Regular Season

Pos.	Team	Overall Record	Section Record
1	Anoka	19-6-0	5-1-0
2	Duluth East	17-7-1	4-2-0
3	Forest Lake	13-12-0	3-2-0
4	Cloquet/Esko/Carlton	12-11-2	2-2-2
5	Elk River	8-17-0	3-3-0
6	Grand Rapids	13-10-1	2-3-1
7	Cambridge-Isanti	11-14-0	1-2-0
8	Andover	9-15-1	2-5-1
9	St. Francis	4-20-0	0-2-0

Note: Standings are based on Section record first & overall record is secondary.