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Just when it seems there can’t be another big hockey weekend, here we go again. Take your pick:
Olympic hockey has been nothing short of sensational, with the bar set as high as it can get when the U.S. defeated Russia 3-2 in a shootout that shall forever more be known as the “T.J. Oshie Show.” All 12 teams advanced to the medal round, because the entire preliminary round is only for seeding purposes. The quarterfinals were Wednesday, with the U.S. facing the Czech Republic, Canada taking on Latvia -- a surprise winner over Switzerland, top-seeded Sweden facing Slovenia, and, in the best match-up, Russia challenged Finland, the No. 4 seed.
By the time The Reader hits the news-stands, those winners will have been determined, setting up a spectacular Friday semifinal. It could be that pre-tournament favorite Canada would have to play the U. S. in a semifinal, while Sweden plays the Russia-Finland winner. Whatever, the bronze medal game will be a keeper on Saturday morning, and Sunday, it will be worth it to get up at 6 a.m. for the gold medal game.
Ordinarily, that would be enough great hockey to satisfy the most zealous hockey fan, but coming in the morning because of the time differential between Duluth and Sochi, Russia, those breathtaking games will only serve as appetizers for the rest of the weekend.
For example, UMD’s hockey team had to be stunned to go to St. Cloud State last weekend with the chance to take the National Collegiate Hockey Conference lead, but the Bulldogs fell twice at St. Cloud and dropped from sole possession of second place to a tie with Western Michigan for fifth and sixth places. The bounce-back chances this weekend, on UMD’s return to AMSOIL Arena, are lessened by the opposition -- North Dakota. The team Formerly Known as Fighting Sioux is on Coach Dave Hakstol’s usual glide-path toward playoff time with a rise in standings and rankings, and they will not be sympathetic to UMD’s needs in the Friday-Saturday series.
Meanwhile, the UMD women’s team, trying to get into playoff rhythm in its final regular-season series, finds an even more imposing task by playing at Ridder Arena against the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers, who contributed mightily to the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team that made its bid for the gold Thursday in Sochi against arch-rival Canada, have lost one game in two seasons. Interestingly, as UMD coach Shannon Miller explained, “the Gophers are very, very good, but they aren’t invincible. Nobody’s invincible.” Miller is hoping to get defensemen Lara Stalder (Switzerland) and Tea Villila (Finland) back, weary or not, in time to play this weekend.
If Olympic and college hockey isn’t enough, high school hockey reaches a regional crescendo Saturday at AMSOIL Arena, with the Section 7AA semifinals starting at High Noon, when Duluth East takes on Grand Rapids in a battle of traditional rivals, and the second semifinal sends two new rivals, Elk River and Andover, against each other. They split during the season. Those games provide a tasty couple of morsels prior to UMD’s battle with North Dakota Saturday night, and the two 7AA semifinal winners get a few days off to rest up for next Thursday’s championship game at AMSOIL.
The girls state tournament runs this week, of course, and Proctor-Hermantown was representing Section 7A and played Friday night. We can hope the Mirage advanced past St. Paul United and will play in Friday’s semifinals at Xcel Center.
The boys state high school tournament will, as usual, be a season highlight for all of us in Minnesota, but it remains a fact that the sectional play is usually the absolute best hockey of the season.
If you doubt this, look at 7AA. Duluth East won the No. 1 seed, and the Greyhounds continue to play at their season peak, whipping a game but outgunned St. Francis team 6-0 Tuesday night at Heritage Center. The ‘Hounds had struggled early in the season, around the time when coach Mike Randolph was experimenting with putting defenseman extraordinaire Philip Beaulieu up at center, then at both positions.
Randolph did that because Jack Kolar, a big, aggressive forward, had been hurt in preseason scrimmage play and missed the first eight games of East’s season. When Kolar came back into the lineup, it translated to strengthen the Greyhounds throughout. It gave the forward corps a powerful top gun, and it allowed Beaulieu to go back and focus on defense.
With Kolar joining Nick Altmann and Brian Bunten on a line, the Greyhound offense has come alive. Just look at the last week of the regular season as it swept into Tuesday’s 7AA quarterfinals. East went over to Superior and thrashed a very good Spartans team 7-0. Kolar scored twice, to push the score from 1-0 after a period to 3-0, and it became 4-0 later in the second. Kolar had two goals, Nick Altman a goal and two assists, and Bunten two assists. Nick Altmann had a goal and two assists in East’s 6-3 victory over Tartan on Saturday, too.
Then came the 7AA quarterfinal, and Kolar scored for a 1-0 lead in the first period, and Nick Altmann’s goal made it 2-0 om tje second, before Kolar scored twice more for a hat trick and a 4-0 lead after two periods. Nick Altmann scored again in the third, and is brother, Ash Altmann, added an assist on Alex Spencer’s ginal goal for a 6-0 romp. Kolar had his three goals, Nick Altmann had two goals and three assists, and Bunten had two assists, meaning the line had five of the six goals, and combined for five assists.
“We’re starting to score,” said Randolph. “No question, getting Kolar back gives us someone who can finish off a lot of the chances we used to get without scoring. But I will say, St. Francis is the best No. 8 seed we’ve ever played.”
Around the rest of Section 7AA, being a favorite meant little. Grand Rapids survived Forest Lake for a 2-1 victory and the chance to face East on Saturday. Elk River-Zimmerman had to score late in regulation to tie Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, then scored in the second overtime to win 4-3. And Andover also had to squelch an upset threat, beating St. Michael-Albertville 3-2 in overtime. All that happened Tuesday night. So anything can happen Saturday at AMSOIL Arena.
Meanwhile, the Section 7A tournament promises to be just as crazy, with Hermantown the No. 1 seed, but Marshall, Denfeld, Virginia and Hibbing all poised to take a run at the title. Next week, the 7A championship game will be at AMSOIL Arena Wednesday night, with the 7AA final Thursday. By then, at least, the Olympics will be over!