2013 Class A State Tourney Overview
The 2013 Minnesota High School State Hockey Tournament is finally here. Obviously to many Minnesotans, this is one of the greatest times of the year because the "Trek to the X" has finally arrived. But at the same time, it's a subtle reminder of what's around the corner.
This year's section playoffs brought in an obnoxious amount of spectators, proving once again that we do abide in the State of Hockey. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend both the section 7A final between Duluth Marshall & Duluth Denfeld and the section 7AA final between Grand Rapids and Duluth East.
The atmosphere in Amsoil was indescribable not only were the ticket lines backed out beyond the entrance to the arena, but the rink itself was packed and loud. Keep in mind this was for a section final, not even at the Xcel.
Here is my Class A breakdown. I'll post my predictions by Tuesday, but use this to create your own or preview teams before you make the trip to St. Paul to enjoy one of the greatest events in Minnesota.
Class A
(1) St. Thomas Academy vs (8) St. Cloud Apollo
3/6/13 at 6:00PM - Xcel Energy Center
Trek to the X:
St. Thomas Academy has shut out all three of their opponents in section playoffs to find themselves in the "X". They started out by blanking Sibley 8-0, then Chisago Lakes fell 7-0 to the cadets, and finally a 3-0 victory over Totino Grace propelled STA into the state tournament.
St. Cloud Apollo's journey to the state tournament didn't with the ease of their first round opponent, but it was successful none-the-less. a 10-0 win over Wedena jump started the eagles, followed by a 7-3 win over Fergus falls and finally a 6-3 victory over Little Falls.
Skater Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Tom Novak
|
10
|
F
|
St. Thomas Academy
|
Regular
|
25
|
25
|
22
|
47
|
1.88
|
Sections
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
6
|
2.00
|
||||
Christiano Versich
|
10
|
F
|
St. Thomas Academy
|
Regular
|
24
|
12
|
22
|
34
|
1.42
|
Sections
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
1.00
|
||||
Alex Johnson
|
12
|
F
|
St. Thomas Academy
|
Regular
|
23
|
14
|
19
|
33
|
1.43
|
Sections
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
1.67
|
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Jared Christen
|
12
|
F
|
St. Cloud Apollo
|
Regular
|
25
|
36
|
37
|
73
|
2.92
|
Sections
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
9
|
3.00
|
||||
Paul Kenney
|
11
|
F
|
St. Cloud Apollo
|
Regular
|
25
|
24
|
33
|
57
|
2.28
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
3.00
|
||||
Jason Omann
|
10
|
F
|
St. Cloud Apollo
|
Regular
|
25
|
16
|
30
|
46
|
1.84
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
10
|
13
|
4.33
|
Goaltender Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
David Zevnik
|
12
|
St. Thomas Academy
|
Regular
|
19
|
0.938
|
1.32
|
Sections
|
3
|
1.000
|
0.00
|
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
Nick Althaus
|
9
|
St. Cloud Apollo
|
Regular
|
25
|
0.864
|
3.18
|
Sections
|
3
|
0.923
|
2.00
|
(4) East Grand Forks vs (5) Rochester Lourdes
3/6/13 at 8:00PM - Xcel Energy Center
Trek to the X:
East Grand Forks fought through Lake of the Woods in their first game, beating them 6-1, then a victory of Crookston 4-1, and finishing section playoffs by ending Warroad's successful season in a close 2-0 win.
Rochester Lourdes started their quest of the state tourney with an 8-2 win over Le Sueur-Henderson. Their closest section playoff game came next with a slip by Northfield in a wild 5-4 victory and punched their ticket to the X with a 6-1 win over Mankato West.
Skater Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Tommy Hajicek
|
12
|
F
|
East Grand Forks
|
Regular
|
23
|
17
|
23
|
40
|
1.74
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
1.00
|
||||
Dixon Bowen
|
10
|
F
|
East Grand Forks
|
Regular
|
25
|
15
|
19
|
34
|
1.36
|
Sections
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
0.67
|
||||
Tanner Tweten
|
9
|
F
|
East Grand Forks
|
Regular
|
25
|
16
|
15
|
31
|
1.24
|
Sections
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
1.33
|
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Jason Samuelson
|
12
|
F
|
Rochester Lourdes
|
Regular
|
25
|
25
|
40
|
65
|
2.60
|
Sections
|
3
|
1
|
8
|
9
|
3.00
|
||||
Alex Funk
|
12
|
F
|
Rochester Lourdes
|
Regular
|
24
|
34
|
27
|
61
|
2.54
|
Sections
|
3
|
8
|
4
|
12
|
4.00
|
||||
Ben Weir
|
12
|
F
|
Rochester Lourdes
|
Regular
|
24
|
13
|
8
|
21
|
0.88
|
Sections
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
1.33
|
Goaltender Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
Tanner Lindstrom
|
12
|
East Grand Forks
|
Regular
|
19
|
0.921
|
1.78
|
Sections
|
3
|
0.939
|
0.67
|
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
Jack Burkel
|
10
|
Rochester Lourdes
|
Regular
|
21
|
0.890
|
3.12
|
Sections
|
3
|
0.882
|
2.09
|
(3) Hermantown vs (6) Duluth Marshall
3/6/13 at 1:00PM - Xcel Energy Center
Trek to the X:
Hermantown began their journey down south with a statement-making 10-0 win over Proctor followed by another blanking 9-0 win over Rogers. Hermantown finally gave up a goal in the section 5A final when they passed by St. Cloud Cathedral in a 4-1 win.
Duluth Marshall's ticket took the "X" came with a little more intensity. The hilltoppers started section playoffs with a 6-1 win over Eveleth, then a close match between hibbing resulting in a 3-2 victory and finally another 3-2 W over local city rival Duluth Denfeld allowed Duluth Marshall to take the trip down 35W.
Skater Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Chris Benson
|
12
|
F
|
Hermantown
|
Regular
|
25
|
26
|
32
|
58
|
2.32
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
7
|
2.33
|
||||
Travis Koepke
|
12
|
F
|
Hermantown
|
Regular
|
22
|
23
|
33
|
56
|
2.55
|
Sections
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
6
|
2.00
|
||||
Bo Gronseth
|
12
|
F
|
Hermantown
|
Regular
|
25
|
23
|
31
|
54
|
2.16
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
5
|
8
|
2.67
|
||||
Neal Pionk
|
11
|
D
|
Hermantown
|
Regular
|
24
|
14
|
15
|
29
|
1.21
|
Sections
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
1.67
|
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Jeremy Lopez
|
12
|
F
|
Duluth Marshall
|
Regular
|
25
|
11
|
21
|
32
|
1.28
|
Sections
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
1.33
|
||||
Kris McKinzie
|
12
|
F
|
Duluth Marshall
|
Regular
|
25
|
18
|
12
|
30
|
1.20
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
1.33
|
||||
Matthew Klassen
|
12
|
F
|
Duluth Marshall
|
Regular
|
19
|
13
|
8
|
21
|
1.11
|
Sections
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0.67
|
Goaltender Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
Adam Smith
|
11
|
Hermantown
|
Regular
|
23
|
0.917
|
1.60
|
Sections
|
3
|
0.978
|
0.43
|
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
Caden Flaherty
|
12
|
Duluth Marshall
|
Regular
|
21
|
0.924
|
2.47
|
Sections
|
3
|
0.947
|
1.33
|
(2) Breck vs (7) Marshall
3/6/13 at 11:00AM - Xcel Energy Center
Trek to the X:
Breck jumped on the victory bus with a 6-1 win over Waconia to start playoffs, followed by a blowout of Providence in a 11-1 decision, and finally a victory over my own alma mater, Delano, 6-2.
Marshall beat the Windom eagles 4-0, Luvern 5-3 and finally the top-tiger downed Hutchinson in a close 3-2 battle to be crowned the section 3A champs.
Skater Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Matt Colford
|
12
|
F
|
Breck
|
Regular
|
25
|
30
|
37
|
67
|
2.68
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
10
|
3.33
|
||||
Thomas Lindstrom
|
12
|
F
|
Breck
|
Regular
|
22
|
26
|
21
|
47
|
2.14
|
Sections
|
3
|
7
|
3
|
10
|
3.33
|
||||
Jack O'Connor
|
12
|
F
|
Breck
|
Regular
|
25
|
10
|
22
|
32
|
1.28
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
1.33
|
Player
|
Grade
|
Pos
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
Pts/G
|
Quinn Horvath
|
12
|
F
|
Marshall
|
Regular
|
22
|
18
|
14
|
32
|
1.45
|
Sections
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
1.33
|
||||
Beau Mikel
|
12
|
F
|
Marshall
|
Regular
|
22
|
14
|
10
|
24
|
1.09
|
Sections
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
2.33
|
||||
Corey Clark
|
12
|
F
|
Marshall
|
Regular
|
22
|
9
|
11
|
10
|
0.45
|
Sections
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
1.33
|
Goaltender Watch:
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
Henry Johnson
|
11
|
Breck
|
Regular
|
25
|
0.916
|
2.06
|
Sections
|
3
|
0.902
|
1.33
|
Player
|
Grade
|
School
|
Season
|
GP
|
Save %
|
GAA
|
Mason Campion
|
11
|
Marshall
|
Regular
|
20
|
0.889
|
2.90
|
Sections
|
3
|
0.952
|
1.59
|
Enjoy.
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