This is the one the locals have been waiting for. Another theme of the state tournament is public schools versus private schools and this features last year's state champion Benilde-St.Margaret's and hometown favorite Grand Rapids in what should be another terrific high school game. The Red Knights feature one of the most potent top lines in the state and will look to use its overpowering offense to overwhelm the defensive-minded Thunderhawks squad. While Benilde-St. Margaret's are comfortable in trying to turn this game into a track meet, Grand Rapids will want to slow this game down and be patient and bide their time for some timely scoring chances. With the ever inspirational Jack Jablonski always nearby, the Red Knights will be looking to turn Hockey Day Minnesota into their own showcase that they should still be considered amongst the state's elite teams after a few mid-season stumbles. Grand Rapids is hoping to also get their named mention as a contender to represent Section 7AA in the state tournament which has traditionally been a 3-way battle between the Thunderhawks, Duluth East and Elk River.
The game also features some real Minnesota High School star power in Grand Rapids' captain in senior defenseman and Gophers' commit Jake Bischoff while Benilde-St. Margaret's has perhaps the most electrifying scorer in Wisconsin recruit Grant Besse. So will the home team deliver big in front of its fans on the frozen ice of Lake Pokegema?
Click on "Continue Reading" for the rest of the article…
1st Period Thoughts: The wind kicked up to almost 30 miles per hour as the game started at a frigid 15 degrees but both clubs were moving well to start the game. A botched play of the puck near the blueline turned into an early breakaway for Spencer Naas who wasted little time beating Hunter Shepard with a backhander, 5-hole to make it 1-0 Benilde-St. Margaret's. The Thunderhawks tried taking the body but seemed to struggle with the superior speed of Benilde-St.Margaret's. Grant Besse was flying all over the ice and he nearly made it 2-0 as he unleasehd a heavy wrist shot that just missed by inches and had Shepard doing the splits trying to catch up to it. Grand Rapids tried to create some pressure of their own as Cody Mann tried to jam a shot near the left post but Andrew Sprang would hold the post well and keep his team holing onto a 1-0 lead. Grand Rapids' leading scorer Avery Peterson was not finding much room at all as he was shadowed closely by the Red Knights. Benidle-St.Margaret's would get a power play when Thunderhawks' defenseman David Horsmann was tagged with a roughing call after some pushing and shoving after Red Knights' shot on goal. Benilde-St Margaret's was fairly calm and collected on the power play, not creating a lot of scoring chances apart from a few big slap shots taken from above the faceoff circles that dind't find the back of the net. Grand Rapids successfully killed off the man advantage and a few moments later it would be the Thunderhawks going on the power play as Johnny Austin was called for holding. Grand Rapids' had a great chance on the power play came when Hunter Mackenhausen swung a puck towards the crease that nearly snuck by Sprang who dropped to cover the biscuit. A few seconds later Benilde-St.Margaret's had another fantastic chance as Eli Magni wheeled and dealed a shot on goal that Sprang somehow managed to stop on the doorstep to preserve a one-goal lead. Grand Rapids' struggles would continue as Benilde's Will Duda would chip a shot from the slot stick side to beat Shepard to give the Red Knights a 2-0 lead late in the period. Grand Rapids would get a power play late, and Jake Bischoff tee'd up a slapper that just skittered wide of the Benilde goal. The Thunderhawks would pepper Sprang with a few good chances during the power play but the Benilde goalie was razor sharp with his glove making some fine saves. As the wind seemed to rage the Thunderhawks seemed eager to go on the attack and Jonah Bischoff drew a penalty on Jack Sims giving Grand Rapids a power play to start tne 2nd period. It was a much better period of hockey compared to what we saw in the 1st game. Grand Rapids needs to find a way to get the next goal in this game or I think we could see this one getting ugly too. I think Grand Rapids had its best success throwing the puck on goal and jamming away at it; it may be ugly but any goal is a good goal for the Thunderhawks. Benilde is looking a little frozen out there right now, winning, but frozen.
2nd Period Thoughts: The Thunderhawks got a good chance early in their power play as Horsmann's wrist shot was just kicked aside at the last moment by Sprang. Grand Rapids couldn't quite get another scoring chance but they continued to attack and drew another Red Knights penalty as Sims went back to the sin bin after cross checking Magni. Grand Rapids would set up Peterson for a big one-timer and he hammered a slapper on goal that was directed away by Sprang. After killing off this penalty the Red Knights really started to get its forecheck going, keeping Grand Rapids bottled up in its own end. After a few minutes of watching the Red Knights work with impunity in the Thunderhawks' zone, the game would open up as both teams woudl trade chances. Grand Rapids would finally get onto the scoreboard on a delayed penalty, as Avery Peterson would move up the ice and then very patiently moved in and dangled around a defender before backhanding a shot that sort of caromed off Sprang's glove and in to cut Benilde's lead in half, 2-1. A terrific effort, and now you have a hockey game again. Grand Rapids got perhaps a little too excited as Shaffer Holum hauled down Benilde's Seth Chumley. Benilde's power play would sputter as it was Grand Rapids earning a quality shorthanded scoring chance as Peterson ripped a shot wide of the mark. Benilde would regroup and nearly cashed in as Ben Newhouse ripped a shot from the high slot that missed high and wide. His miss would come up large as Grand Rapids would tie the game a few minutes later as Peterson strikes again as he lifts a backhand over a sprawling Andrew Sprang to tie the game at 2-2 late in the period. Benilde-St. Margaret's Chase Jungels nearly gave the Red Knights the lead as Shepard just got enough of his shot to push the puck just wide and a scrum would emerge after the failed scoring chance and you have to think the game is now tiltled in favor of the home team as they have just what they want, a low scoring physical game.
3rd Period Thoughts: The 3rd period would start with some physical play as Seth Chumley began to impersonate a wrecking ball as he started knocking down Grand Rapids' skaters left and right with big hits. Both clubs were playing careful hockey as neither wanted to make a crucial mistake late in the game. Benilde-St. Margaret's was desperate, settling for shots whenever they appeared as they flung wrist shots whenever they had the chance. As they passed the mid-way part of the 3rd, Grant Besse finally found a little space and he rifled a shot that was challenged perfectly by Shepard and it was directed wide of the goal. Benilde-St.Margaret's started to pour it on and they near got the go-head goal as Alec Baer let loose a heavy wrist shot that Shepard knocked down before it was swept aside by Zach Frazier. Grand Rapids would take a penalty with just over 4 minutes left. Grand Rapids would be physical and work the puck out of their zone and Benilde would help the Thunderhawks' cause as Spencer Naas was called for slashing making it 4-on-4 for the next minute or so. Dan Labosky would find space and he set up and stepped into a slapper that was deflected by the stick of Cody Mann that went up and out of play. The Red Knights would take a late penalty with just under 30 seconds left as Jungels lifts his stick into the gril of Magni giving the Thunderhawks a power play. But despite a furious effort the game would go into overtime with Grand Rapids still on the man advantage.
Overtime Thoughts: With the temperature now down to 6 degrees and a -16 wind chill the two clubs would ready themselves to battle in overtime. The Red Knights had the first quality chance in overtime despite being shorthanded as Besse fired a wrist shot that was fought off by Shepard. Both clubs seemed exhausted as they attempted long passes just hoping to break someone free. The Red Knights had a great chance as Newhouse let loose a shot from the point that was held onto by Shepard. As the teams switched sides, the Thunderhawks would just charge the net as a mess of bodies collected near the crease by Sprang but Grand Rapids couldn't get that one last poke of the puck to bury it. The long pass finally paid off for Grand Rapids as it found its way to Cody Mann who moved in behind the defense and beat Sprang with a shot against the grain to give the Thunderhawks a huge 3-2 overtime victory. There wasn't a lot of velocity on the shot but it was enough to elude Sprang. What a thriller!
My 3 Stars:
1st Star: (Grand Rapids) Avery Peterson – The Thunderhawks leading scorer raised his game to carry the team on his back with two huge goals to give Grand Rapids a chance to win the game. Great patience with the puck and easily one of the most dangerous players on the ice.
2nd Star: (Grand Rapids) Cody Mann – The winger delivered the game winner for Grand Rapids and was one of the few other Thunderhawks players that seemed to be able to make things happen offensively for the defensive-minded squad.
3rd Star: (Benilde-St. Margaret's) Spencer Naas – While a lot of the focus and talk was about Grant Besse going into this game, I thought Naas was the Red Knights most dangerous player.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
