State Tournament Quarterfinals Notebook
Results
Edina, Eden Prairie, Blaine and St. Thomas Academy all advanced in a set of four games that seemed to only get better as the day went on. Here are a couple notes going into tomorrow’s semi-finals. Since I didn’t pay as close attention to class A, I’m not going to get into that bracket.
The match-ups in AA are:
Edina x St. Thomas Academy
Eden Prairie x Blaine
I need the Edina x Eden Prairie final. I just do.
If the hockey gods won’t grant that, I’d be psyched for a Blaine / STA tilt. All four teams have more than proved they belong here and are hungry.
EP’s Jack Jensen may have been the best player today, but after playing tough minutes through three overtimes, can he be the best player tomorrow? + then for the title game?
A lot of great teams went home or didn’t even make it here. Minnetonka, for one. Same goes for Andover, and I’m sure there are others worth noting. As far as teams that made it to the X, Lakeville South and Duluth East in particular could have done some damage had pucks gone the other way. The wins for EP and STA were well-earned, though.
Blaine’s Carsen Richels got his 40th of the season today and he has to have turned some heads. Not only is he draft-eligible next season, he’s got a nice upside that he's showcasing in the biggest event of the year. Still uncommitted.
Duluth East’s Ryder Donovan, a recent Badger commit, continues to grow on me. I think he’s a tricky one, the offense doesn’t always seem high-end, but few kids can wheel and move the way he does at his size down the middle. Very athletic; a nice prospect for the league, even if he is years away.
If Jack Jensen hadn’t scored in 3OTs I think Mr. Clutch would be St. Thomas Academy senior Ryan O’Neill, who in addition to almost single-handedly taking down Duluth East (scoring-wise, that is), has six goals in his last three games. He’s got a real streak going, hasn’t been held off the board since before Christmas and has nineteen points in his last eight.
Edina have a really nice group, per usual. So do EP. That’s why I want that game, not only is it a rivalry, but I think they’d be well-matched and playing for all the marbles. Both teams are captained by talented Minnesota recruits in Mason Nevers and the aforementioned Jensen. Hopefully they do make it to the title game.