Analysis of the Class A Quarter-Finals
Posted by bcbenzel on March 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Tomorrow marks the start of the Class A portion of the Tournament and, while I’ve posted my previews, I haven’t yet posted any real analysis of the games.
Sooooooooooo…
This should be a really good tournament this year. There are number of college committed players in the bracket, as well as a number of players that are ranked in the NHL’s CSS rankings. Let’s take a look at the Class A games, shall we?
Mahtomedi vs. Alexandria
Mahtomedi Regular Season Record: 20-5-0
Alexandria Regular Season Record: 18-6-1
Mahtomedi Sectionals Results
Mahtomedi 9 Chisago Lakes 2
Mahtomedi 5 Totino-Grace 2
Mahtomedi 3 St. Thomas Academy 1
Alexandria Sectionals Results
Alexandria 9 St. Cloud Apollo 3
Alexandria 3 Willmar 1
Alexandria 4 Sartell-St. Stephen 1
Mahtomedi Sectional Scoring Leaders
Brandon Zurn – 3 GP, 5 G, 4 A
Charlie Adams – 3 GP, 5 G, 0 A
Alexandria Sectional Scoring Leaders
Thomas Williams – 3 GP, 5 G, 1 A
Ashton Gronholz – 3 GP, 4 G, 0 A
Mahtomedi Sectional Goaltending Leaders
Brad Wohlers – 3-0-0, 1.67 GAA, .939 Sv Pct
Alexandria Sectional Goaltending Leaders
Erich Murphy – 3-0-0, 1.67 GAA, .922 Sv Pct
Analysis: This could be one of the most even first round match ups in the tournament, both teams are fairly evenly matched. Mahtomedi has a little bit more scoring pop from their top line, while Alexandria will rely on their defense and goaltending from Erich Murphy to put a stop to Mahtomedi’s attack. In the end, I like the scoring line of Mahtomedi and Brad Wohlers is starting to get hot right at the right time. Mahtomedi wins a close game.
Hermantown vs. Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl
Hermantown Regular Season Record: 22-3-0
Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl Regular Season Record: 15-7-3
Hermantown Sectionals Results
Hermantown 13 North Branch 1
Hermantown 6 Rogers 0
Hermantown 3 Duluth Denfeld 2
Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl Sectionals Results
Virginia/MI-B 22 Silver Bay 0
Virginia/MI-B 3 Duluth Marshall 2
Virginia/MI-B 3 Hibbing/Chisholm 0
Hermantown Sectional Scoring Leaders
Adam Krause – 3 GP, 2 G, 3 A
Charlie Comnick – 3 GP, 3 G, 1 A
Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl Sectional Scoring Leaders
Garrett Hendrickson – 3 GP, 3 G, 7 A
Jordan Krebsbach – 3 GP, 4 G, 5 A
Hermantown Sectional Goaltending Leaders
Tyler Ampe – 2-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .950 Sv Pct, 1 SO
Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl Sectional Goaltending Leaders
Casey Myhre – 3-0-0, 0.63 GAA, .968 Sv Pct, 2 SO
Analysis: This could be the upset game of the first round. Hermantown is good and you can never count out this team, especially with Adam Krause leading the way, but Virginia’s Casey Myhre is getting hot exactly at the right time, and if Garrett Hendrickson and Jordan Krebsbach continue to lead the way, Virginia could sneak this one out. Virginia wins in overtime.
Breck vs. New Ulm
Breck Regular Season Record: 23-2-0
New Ulm Regular Season Record: 13-9-1
Breck Sectionals Results
Breck 8 St. Louis Park 0
Breck 8 Orono 0
Breck 5 Blake 1
New Ulm Sectionals Results
New Ulm 8 Windom Area 0
New Ulm 11 Luverne 1
New Ulm 5 Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 2
Breck Sectional Scoring Leaders
Nate Traina – 3 GP, 3 G, 4 A
Mike Morin – 3 GP, 4 G, 3 A
New Ulm Sectional Scoring Leaders
Zach Hoffman – 3 GP, 1 G, 6 A
Kaleb Juntunen – 3 GP, 3 G, 3 A
Breck Sectional Goaltending Leaders
John Russell – 3-0-0, 0.33 GAA, .978 Sv Pct, 2 SO
New Ulm Sectional Goaltending Leaders
Blake Burgau – 3-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .950 Sv Pct, 1 SO
Analysis: While New Ulm is playing good hockey right now, they’re no match for the Breck juggernaut. Led by John Russell and a deep, deep offense Breck should have no problem with this one. If New Ulm is to win, it’s going to be on the shoulders of Blake Burgau, who will have to steal the game. Breck wins big.
Warroad vs. Rochester Lourdes
Warroad Regular Season Record: 21-4-0
Rochester Lourdes Regular Season Record: 14-8-3
Warroad Sectionals Results
Warroad 9 Red Lake Falls 3
Warroad 9 Kittson Central 2
Warroad 2 Thief River Falls 0
Rochester Lourdes Sectionals Results
Rochester Lourdes 2 Northfield 1
Rochester Lourdes 4 New Prague 1
Rochester Lourdes 3 Red Wing 0
Warroad Sectional Scoring Leaders
Brock Nelson – 3 GP, 8 G, 4 A
Brett Hebel – 3 GP, 3 G, 6 A
Rochester Lourdes Sectional Scoring Leaders
Alex Funk – 3 GP, 2 G, 3 A
Jason Samuelson – 3 GP, 2 G, 1 A
Warroad Sectional Goaltending Leaders
Andy Foster – 2-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .952 Sv Pct, 1 SO
Rochester Lourdes Sectional Goaltending Leaders
Nick Heimer – 3-0-0, .067 GAA, .953 Sv Pct, 1 SO
Analysis: Is there anyone more dominant in Minnesota High School hockey right now than Brock Nelson? Realistically, the only way that Lourdes wins this game is because of a strong defensive performance. Heimer will have to be solid, as Nelson is going to show up on the state’s biggest stage in a big way. Warroad wins big.
