The first match up of the day pits Class AA rising power #7 ranked Eagan versus Class A foe #15 ranked Hibbing / Chisholm. It almost conjures up images of the old one class state tournament where a regular and compelling story line pitted a Twin Cities school against an Iron Range opponent. One thing is for sure, the two head coaches know each other well as best friends Hibbing / Chisholm's Mark DeCenzo goes against his former assistant in Eagan's Mike Taylor who was once his assistant when he was the Head Coach at Apple Valley. The two clubs have already been practicing on the frozen ice of Lake Pokegema near Grand Rapids. In a scene reminiscent of the movie Mystery, Alaska a Zamboni makes its rounds trying to make the ice as perfect as it can be for outdoor ice.
What, no shovels? Either way it makes for a classic setting up in Iron Range country, and I think most of us (fans) would love to trade places with those young players out there. Well, at least I know I would. Its a windy (15 mph) frigid (14 degrees) on the lake. So who would win the first battle of Hockey Day Minnesota?
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1st Period Thoughts: Hibbing looked a little frozen out there to start the period as the brisk wind was right in their faces. They seemed to struggle to handle Eagan's speed as they were able to establish their forecheck early. The Wildcats were also quick to take the body, and the smaller Hibbing squad was again at a significant disadvantage. Eagan would take a 1-0 lead as Jack Jenson found a little space and raced into the Hibbing zone before firing a bullet of a wrist shot by Tyler Carlson to make it 1-0 Wildcats. Hibbing would get a power play but it didn't matter at all as Eagan's defense was more than able to stymie the Blue Jackets' offense. Andrew Lindgren made a few shots with some good traffic near his crease to keep the Wildcats ahead by one. A few minutes later Eagan would add to its lead as a point shot by Nick Wolff caused Tyler Carlson to have some problems and Zach Glienke was there to jam home the active carom off the boards to make it 2-0. The ice seemed to almost be permanently tiltled into the Hibbing end, but the Blue Jackets would start to try to use the stretch pass as they tried to set up their leading scorer in UMD recruit Adam Johnson. Johnson would finally find a little space in the neutral zone where he'd dangle around Tommy Muck with a pretty toe drag move but he lost his balance as he shoveled a shot on goal that Lindgren struggled with and Cole Maki tapped into the open net to cut the Eagan lead in half 2-1. Eagan would go right back on the attack; again asserting itself with their speed and size punishing the Blue Jackets with big hits. Senior Cullen Willox would deliver a huge hit on Ty Birdsall that sent him flat on his back. The Wildcats forecheck started to look more and more like an Eagan power play as the controlled the zone and firing shots from all over. It was only a matter of time before this pressure would yield another goal as Josh Loew would fire a shot at close range that Carlson stopped but Glienke was there again to finish to make it 3-1 going into the 2nd period. Hibbing needs to try to find more ways to alleviate pressure in their own end as Eagan will turn this game into a rout in a hurry if the Wildcats are allowed to spend that much time in the offensive zone as they were in that period. Perhaps the lack of glass on this outdoor rink might be affecting the players' confidence to clear the zone.
2nd Period Thoughts: An early elbowing call on Cullen Willox gave the Blue Jackets a chance to cut into the Eagan lead. Hibbing would create a few quality chances; the first coming off the stick of Josh Bestul who tried to lift a backhander over Lindgren who got a piece of it and Bestul knocked it out of the air but wide of the goal. Eagan would have a good opportunity of their own shorthaneded as Jack Jenson skated in and fired a shot that was fought off by the blocker of Tyler Carlson. A few moments later the Blue Jackets had another great chance as Bestul set up Colten Perkins who redirected a shot that went just wide. After they killed off the Hibbing power play the Wildcats went back on the attack. The pressure again drew a power play and Eagan would take full advantage of it. A little pass by Josh Loew back to junior Kyle Stebbing who ripped a wrister by Carlson to make it 4-1 and you could feel the wind going out of the sails of the Blue Jackets. The wheels quickly came off in this game after Stebbing's goal as Eagan buried two more goals in quick succession. The first came off a wrist shot by Nick Wolff that threaded its way to the twine behind Carlson, to make it 5-1. Just a few seconds later, Eagan would add to its lead as Willox passed a puck over to Zach Glienke who wired a one-timer off the post and in to make it 6-1. With the hats littering the ice for Glienke's hat trick, Hibbing's bench boss Mark DeCenzo called a timeout to settle his team down while Mike Taylor told his troops to calm down and stay away from the chippiness. Eagan would earn another power play but it was obvious they took their foot off the gas as they calmly moved the puck around the Hibbing zone but the frustration was causing the Blue Jackets to take some foolish penalties giving the Wildcats a 5-on-3. Eagan would not cash in on the two-man advantage but instead would take a penalty as Derek Abrahamson would help draw a penalty as he used his speed on a shorthanded rush to make it 4-on-4. With the ice opened up a bit the Wildcats nearly lit the lamp again as Loew fired a shot that Carlson stopped but he gave up a bad rebound right in front of his goal but he'd redeem himself on a sprawling rebound save when he stonewalled Jenson. Eagan continued to pour it on and Jenson would find the back of the net on a nice backhander that eluded Carlson to make it 7-1. DeCenzo had seen enough so he had Tyler Carlson come to the bench and sent out backup goaltender A.J. Allison. Allison would find out what Carlson had been feeling all afternoon as Jesse Gabrielle made a pretty little shot from between that rebounded back to Josh Loew who chipped a shot by Allison to make it 8-1. With the game clearly out of hand, Hibbing needs to try to think small and try to chip in a goal or two just for pride purposes alone. Eagan should sit down its top line and let its bottom 3 play lots of minutes.
3rd Period Thoughts: Hibbing had a good scoring chance to start the period as Eagan got caught pinching a bit and Cole Maki moved in all alone but he was shut down by a great effort by Lindgren to stack the pads. Eagan would then answer Hibbing's scoring chance with a goal of their own as Glienke embraced the role of a playmaker as he dished a nice pass to Willox who tapped it by Allison to make it 9-1 Wildcats. Hibbing would then answer back as Josh Bestul had a little space as he lifted a shot over Lindgren to cut Eagan's lead to seven, 9-2. The intensity didn't stop in the 3rd either as Nick Wolff would light up Joe Kanipes with a huge open ice hit right near center ice. Mark DeCenzo and Mike Taylor would decide to change goaltenders, sending Allison to the bench to toss in 3rd string goalie Isaiah Dilley between the pipes for the Blue Jackets and Eagan gave Lindgren a break by putting in Matt Richmond. The game would slow down a bit as both clubs worked their bottom lines more into the contest. With running time the game would fade fast as Eagan would relish a 9-2 victory.
My 3 Stars:
1st Star: (Eagan) Zach Glienke – The Wildcats leading scorer was a force in this one, netting a hat trick and an assist in the victory.
2nd Star: (Eagan) Jack Jenson – Jenson was the first to line the lamp in this game that was never really all that close but finished the day with 2 goals and an assist.
3rd Star: (Eagan) Cullen Willox – The team captain was a physical force all game long, and he used his strong frame to protect the puck effectively. Willox also helped out on the scoresheet with a goal and two helpers to his credit.
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