It’s difficult to
say that these two defending state champions need this victory to rebound after
a tough holiday break, but that might just be the position they both find
themselves in. Add in bragging rights in the Suburban East Conference and it
should be a great game over at Aldrich Arena this Thursday night.
Both teams
stumbled in the Schwan Cup Gold division over the holiday break. Defending Class
AA state champion Hill-Murray (8-2-0) lost two of three to finish as the
consolation runner-up, while defending Class A state champion St. Thomas Academy
(7-3-0) also lost two of three, beating Moorhead in the seventh place game. In
fact, both teams beat only the Spuds, while each lost to Centennial.
Hill-Murray
(ranked No. 6 in Class AA) has tallied 48 goals in 10 games, nearly half from
its top line of Isaac Kohls (10-7-17),
Tyler Zepeda (4-13-17) and Nick Widing (9-7-16). The trio has a great
combination of speed and size and creates match-up problems all over the ice for
foes. We ranked the three as the top line in the state this winter, despite the
fact they’re playing together for the first time. The Pioneers also get
offensive contributions from Paul Prescott (4-5-9), Ben Bahe (1-7-8), Jeff
Westerhaus (6-1-7), Jack Walsh (2-5-7) and Ryan Holler (4-2-6).
The Pioneers have
allowed just 16 goals in that same time, although seven came in the two losses
in the Schwan Cup last week. Sophomore Tim Shaughnessy (6-2-0, 1.66 GAA, .906
save %) has played in nine games, taking the majority of time in nets for the
graduated Joe Phillippi, who won the Brimsek Award as the top senior goaltender
in the state last winter. He’s had help from a very good defensive corps with
tough junior Chris Casto (0-6-6), quiet but potent sophomore J.D. Cotroneo
(3-4-7), Alex Kelly and Jordan Johnson.
St.
Thomas Academy (ranked No. 3 in Class A) has racked up 46 goals in 10 games with
a significant balance up and down the lineup. Forwards Justin Crandall (9-7-16),
A.J. Reid (8-5-13) and Kevin Sienko (6-6-12) lead the goal-scoring race, but
another nine players have two or three goals each, including leading scorer
Christian Isackson (2-17-19). Sienko is
the only senior in the group for the young Cadets.
Defensively, the
Cadets have registered 26 goals against, although like Hill-Murray, many came in
the three games at the Schwan Cup. St. Thomas Academy allowed 14 against the
tough tournament field. Junior Kurt Altrichter (6-2-0, 2.23 GAA, .899 save %)
has played the majority of time in nets, just as he did for last year’s state
title run. He’s supported by defensemen Joe Graveline (3-4-7), Eric Schurhamer,
Taylor Fleming, Matt Baer and Grant Sattler.
There have already
been a significant number of common opponents for the two teams: Minnetonka (3-1
over H-M, 4-3 win for STA), Moorhead (7-0 win for H-M, 4-3 win for STA),
Centennial (4-1 over H-M, 6-3 over STA) and Simley (11-1 win for H-M, 10-1 win
for STA).
