Hopkins Extinguishes Blaze 6-3

ST. PAUL, Minn— Don’t let the 6-3 final score fool you. The last quarterfinal game of the day Thursday between Hopkins and Burnsville was a beautifully played chess match between two of the top coaches in Minnesota Girls hockey. Burnsville’s Bruce Anderson and Hopkins Vin Paolucci masterminded the most exciting quarter final contest of this years state tournament.

The Blaze got on the scoreboard in the first period taking advantage of a Alison Rolandelli checking penalty when Amanda Colin sent a pass through the slot that bounced right back to her stick. She deposited the rebound at 6:43 for the 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, Jane Dupay evened the score for the Royals when she pounced on a rebound in the crease to knot the game at one. Caralan Johnson had the play of the night when she skated in short handed and put the Royals up 2-1 with 1:47 remaining in the first period. It would be a lead Hopkins wouldn’t relinquish. Outshot 12-9, the Royals found themselves on the good end of a 2-1 lead as the teams retreated to their locker rooms.

As so often is the case, a team comes out and scores in the first two minutes of a period. That was the case to begin the second as Mari Mankey, the hero from the Section 6 championship game a week ago scored even strength to extend the lead to 3-1. Burnsville cut the lead to one at 3-2 at 6:46 of the second on a power play goal from Irene Hanson. The Royals bounced right back in the last minute of the second when Kersten Calder deposited her first goal of the tournament extending the Royals back to two goals.

Heading into the third period trailing by two at 4-2 the Blaze could not take advantage of an Allison Rolandelli interference call. With both teams skating at even strength, the Blaze won a draw in their offensive zone and Megan Killmer sent a shot through traffic that made it past Hopkins goaltender Kallie Billadeau and the lead was again a single goal at 4-3. The Blaze continued to sizzle until Allison Waters was whistled for a holding call at 9:23 of the period. The power play was short lived for the Royals as Calder was flagged with a hooking call less than a minute later. Looking to tie the contest, skating four on four it was the Royals who played opportunistic. Johnson scored her second of the contest and effectively put the game out of reach. Mankey scored her second of the game short handed with five minutes remaining in the contest and close out the scoring.

With the win, the Royals will face #1 seed and top team Roseville in the semi-finals tomorrow night.

“We need to bring our ‘A’ game tomorrow it is that simple,” said Vin Paolucci. “When you play a team that is that quick that can beat you in so many different ways, the first thing is you gotta get a good nights sleep.”

With that Paolucci and his squad boarded the busses back to Hopkins with dreams of playing in a second straight state championship.