Pioneer Press All State Team

jr · Post by jr » Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:27 am

PIONEER PRESS ALL-STATE BOYS HOCKEY TEAM: Stutz's record finish can't be ignored Greg Stutz had been all but written off in regard to the 2003-04 all-state boys hockey team. He made it anyway. Unfair as it is, one of the unwritten guidelines of selecting all-star hockey teams is that goalies who play for teams with overpowering offenses often are disqualified. The theory is that no matter how good those goalies are, they aren't required to do enough to be picked for all-metro or all-state. That's why the goalies for Bloomington Jefferson during the Jaguars' dynasty from 1992-94 never made the short list of candidates for the Pioneer Press all-state teams. And it's why one week ago Stutz wasn't on this year's all-state team, either. But the Centennial senior set an unbreakable state tournament record with three consecutive shutouts and made it impossible not to pick him. With Stutz in the goal, Centennial swept through the Class AA field last week, blanking Holy Angels 2-0 on Thursday, Wayzata 3-0 on Friday and Moorhead 1-0 in Saturday's championship game. Stutz was in the Cougars' goal for all nine periods and 153 minutes of the state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center, and the puck never got past him. That explains why four goalies, not three, are on the first three teams of this year's all-state roster. Two of them, Stutz and Apple Valley's Matt Lundin, the Frank Brimsek Award winner as senior goalie of the year, made the first team. Alex Stalock of South St. Paul made the second team, and B.J. O'Brien of Lakeville is on the third team. Centennial, which capped a 30-1 season with the school's first state hockey championship, became the first team to place three players on the first team: Stutz, forward Tom Gorowsky and defenseman R.J. Anderson. No other team this year has more than one player on the all-state roster. Five Cougars received honorable mention: forwards Ryan Flynn, Ben Ollila, Tim Ornell and Travis Vermeulen, and defenseman Greg Flynn. FIRST TEAM GREG STUTZ Centennial senior, goaltender Opened the season with nine consecutive shutout periods and ended it the same way. Made 53 saves in 153 minutes at the state tournament. Describes himself as a "read and react" goalie but is willing to gamble on occasion. He made some aggressive saves in the tournament, most notably on a breakaway by Wayzata's Joey Miller in the semifinals. Had nine shutouts in 25 games and allowed 31 goals for a 1.22 goals-against average. MATT LUNDIN Apple Valley senior, goaltender One of the best goalies in the state since his sophomore season. Opened the 2003-04 season by making 54 saves in a 2-1 loss to Duluth East, and that pretty much set the tone for the first six games (0-5-1). After that, Apple Valley went 14-7, thanks in large part to Lundin. He finished with a goals-against average of 2.26 and a save percentage of 94.0. Will play Division I hockey next year. Currently leaning toward Maine. R.J. ANDERSON Centennial junior, defenseman The name is Rajon Michael Anderson, but he prefers R.J. The muscular 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior is the best of Minnesota's puck-carrying defensemen. Only two forwards, teammate Tom Gorowsky and Blake Wheeler of Breck, accumulated more points this season than he did. He finished with 85, with 29 goals and 56 assists, for the Class AA state champions. ALEX GOLIGOSKI Grand Rapids senior, defenseman Not well-known in the metro area: His name was misspelled at the Mr. Hockey Banquet, where he was one of the finalists. But that will change soon enough. Has signed with the Gophers and is expected to play next year if Keith Ballard opts for the NHL. If Ballard stays in school, then Goligoski will play in the USHL. As a senior, he had 25 goals and 27 assists in 26 games. TOM GOROWSKY Centennial senior, forward Received the Mr. Hockey Award on Sunday. Led the state in scoring during the regular season with 85 points (37 goals, 48 assists), but was injured in final game. Added nine points in five playoff games, despite playing with a torn muscle in his knee, a sore hip and a hernia, which slowed him considerably. Great shooter. Gets shot off quickly and almost always on target. Will play in the USHL next year and at the University of Wisconsin in 2005-06. CHAD RAU Eden Prairie junior, forward Rau scored 34 goals and set up 24 others for the Eagles. When he was healthy, he averaged better than two points a game, and Eden Prairie was a dominant team. His value was never more evident than after he injured his shoulder near the end of the season. With Rau disabled, the Eagles lost to Chaska in the final game of the regular season, and even though he scored a goal in the 6AA quarterfinals, they were upset by Minnetonka. BLAKE WHEELER Breck junior, forward Ranked higher than any other Minnesota high school player by the NHL's Central Scouting Service. It was easy to see why at the state tournament, where he conjured up two hat tricks in three games to lead Breck to the Class A state title. The 6-4, 190-pound junior is big, strong and fast, and has soft hands. He led the state in scoring all season, finishing with 100 points on 45 goals and 55 assists. SECOND TEAM ALEX STALOCK South St. Paul junior, goaltender It was showtime whenever the puck was in the Packers' zone, because it meant Stalock had a chance to make a great save or fire a long pass to send a teammate in on another breakaway. He had nine assists this season, an unheard of total for a goalie. Turned in an amazing 38-save performance in a 3-2 semifinal loss to Breck at the state tournament. JACK HILLEN Holy Angels senior, defenseman In four seasons with the Stars, Hillen picked up 130 points and was a plus-233, which had a lot to do with Holy Angels reaching the state tournament each of the past three years, winning a state title (2002) and 7 of 9 tournament games. One of the Stars' two Mr. Hockey finalists, along with Mike Taylor, Hillen had 12 goals and 31 assists as a senior and would have had more if he hadn't taken time off to play for the USA National Junior Select Team in the Viking Cup tournament. MATT NISKANEN Virginia-Mt. Iron-Buhl junior, defenseman Was voted one of the "best stay-at-home defensemen" in a Let's Play Hockey poll of coaches. But the 6-foot, 175-pound junior is skilled away from home, as well: He scored 24 goals and assisted on 37 others for the Blue Devils this season. Niskanen was recruited by Minnesota and Minnesota State (Mankato), among others, before committing last week to Minnesota-Duluth. He is expected to go straight to the WCHA without stopping in the USHL. MATT GREER White Bear Lake senior, forward Moonlights as one of the metro's best golfers in the spring. Is captain of the golf and hockey teams. This winter, he scored 25 goals and assisted on 19 others for the Bears, who got off to a sluggish start and then won 14 in a row during one stretch. They were No. 2 in the final metro rankings before falling victim to Hill-Murray in the semifinals of the state's toughest sectional tournament, 3AA. SAM KELLY Hill-Murray senior, forward Maybe the fastest skater in Minnesota high school hockey, he beat several players from the Wild in a skills competition at the Xcel Energy Center in November. He put his speed to good use, averaging one breakaway per game and usually cashing in. Contributed 39 goals and 26 assists to the cause for the Pioneers, who went undefeated in the Classic Suburban Conference and came within inches of taking Centennial to overtime in the 3AA final. A Mr. Hockey finalist. BRENT OLSON Lake of the Woods senior, forward The 6-foot, 190-pound Olson will have earned 10 varsity letters: four in football, three in hockey and two in baseball, with one to go this spring. Racked up 57 points in hockey as a sophomore, 54 as a junior and 65 this season, with 33 goals and 32 assists for a team that took top-ranked Warroad into overtime in the Section 8A final. Olson's size and talents make him one of the state's best pro hockey prospects, but he will spend the next four years playing college hockey at the Air Force Academy. T.J. OSHIE Warroad junior, forward Warroad struggled in its 2-1 overtime loss to Orono in the Class A quarterfinals last week, but Oshie was his customary efficient self. He scored the Warriors' only goal and added another goal and four assists as Warroad crushed St. Cloud Cathedral 10-4 and Albert Lea 9-0 to claim the consolation trophy. Oshie ended the season with 42 goals and 40 assists for 82 points. Last year, he was one of the stars of the Warriors team that won the small-school state title. THIRD TEAM B.J. O'BRIEN Lakeville senior, goaltender Showed what he could do last year when he stopped 77 shots in a 3-2 five-overtime victory that got Lakeville into the state tournament. This year, he had 44 saves in a 0-0 tie with Eden Prairie during the regular season, allowed two goals in three Section 1AA games and kept the Panthers in all three of their state tournament games, even though they were outshot 116-62. BRIAN CONNELLY Bloomington Jefferson junior, defenseman Excellent defender who also ran the offense for the Lake Conference champion Jaguars whenever he was on the ice, scoring 12 goals and setting up 26 others. At 5-9, 160 pounds, he's not big, but he sees the ice as well any defenseman since Mike Crowley, who was the quarterback for Jefferson's state championship teams in 1992, '93 and '94. A lot of people, including former Jaguars coach Tom Saterdalen, compare Connelly to Crowley, the 1994 Mr. Hockey. ROB PAGE Blake senior, defenseman A Yale recruit, he is one of four Blake players who have signed with Division I schools. Forwards Will Engasser (Yale) and J.T. Wyman (Dartmouth), and goalie Justin Kowalkoski (Colgate) are the others. All-conference in the Tri-Metro since his sophomore year, Page was picked for the Fall Elite League all-star tournament in 2003. Had 11 goals and 28 assists this winte, and was a Mr. Hockey finalist. BRIAN GIFFORD Moorhead senior, forward Another Mr. Hockey finalist. Gifford scored 19 goals and had 37 assists this season, and with 56 points he was the second-leading scorer for the team that came up one goal short of Centennial in the Class AA state championship game. He and linemate Nick Deutz, who led the Spuds with 57 points on 31 goals and 26 assists, made up one of the best passing combinations in Minnesota over the past two seasons. MIKE KRAMER Como Park senior, forward "He's a big-timer," assistant coach Rod Magnuson said of the Cougars' senior. "The kid can really play. If we had just had a little more to surround him, it would have been nice." As it was, Kramer did pretty well. He ranked among the top scorers in the metro as a junior and was fourth as a senior. His 74 points during the regular season, on 33 goals and 41 assists, were exceeded only by Tom Gorowsky, Blake Wheeler and R.J. Anderson. RYAN THANG Edina junior, forward With Wayzata, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka and Edina, the Classic Lake was as strong a hockey conference as any in the state this season, and Thang was the leading scorer in the conference with 22 goals and 20 assists during the regular season. Was captain of the USA Under-17 team that won the 5 Nations Tournament in Slovakia last summer and was the second-leading scorer in the Fall Elite League. Plans on playing for Sioux Falls in the USHL next season. ELI VLAISAVLJEVICH St. Bernard's/St. Agnes/Concordia senior, forward In the era of open enrollment, he remained loyal to his school, even though it was never going to reach the state tournament. An indication of how effective he was this season is the fact that many people involved in high school hockey stats now can spell his name from memory. Had 143 points in four varsity seasons, 48 as a senior (29 goals, 19 assists). Has signed with Michigan Tech and will play for the Huskies next winter. HONORABLE MENTION FORWARDS Drew Akins, sr., Minnetonka Dom Barber, sr., Wayzata B.J. Bayers, sr., St. Louis Park Joe Bluhm, sr., Red Wing Dan Bonne, sr., White Bear Lake Justin Bostrom, sr., Mounds View Mike Carman, soph., Holy Angels Robbie Dee, jr., Breck Nick Deutz, sr., Moorhead C.J. Doolittle, sr., Farmington Pat Dynan, sr., Orono Will Engasser, sr., Blake Ryan Flynn, soph., Centennial Tom Freeman, sr., Eagan Jordan Fulton, sr., Breck Jason Gomez, sr., Holy Angels Nate Hedley, sr., Virginia Rob Johnson, jr., Duluth East Nick Kemp, sr., Hermantown Eric Kliewer, jr., Fairmont Adam Lawler, sr., Rochester Century Joe Long, sr., Elk River Cory Loos, jr., Moorhead David Martinson, sr., St. Louis Park Nate Meinze, sr., St. Cloud Tech Joey Miller, soph., Wayzata Scott Motz, sr., Tartan Tyler Neu, sr., Wadena-Deer Creek Ben Ollila, sr., Centennial Tim Ornell, sr., Centennial Mike Pilot, jr., South St. Paul Andy Roberts, sr., Rochester Mayo Morgan Shepherd, sr., Brainerd Johnny Swanson, sr., St. Cloud Tech Mike Taylor, sr., Holy Angels Deven VanHouse, sr., Silver Bay Travis Vermeulen, jr., Centennial Drew Walters, sr., Hibbing Shea Walters, jr., Hibbing Loren Wenzel, sr., Mankato East/Loyola J.T. Wyman, sr., Blake Glen Ylitalo, sr., Orono DEFENSEMEN Jon Ammmerman, jr., Moorhead Marcus Bellows, sr., Breck Chris Berenguer, sr., Eden Prairie Mark Bernier, sr., South St. Paul Andy Bryan, sr., Edina Jay Cascalenda, sr., Hill-Murray Matt Case, sr., Maple Grove Adam Davis, sr., Lakeville Peter Engebretson, sr., Orono Chase Evertz, sr., Anoka Greg Flynn, sr., Centennial Blake Friesen, sr., Benilde-St. Margaret's Kyle Hardwick, jr, Warroad Andrew Hasbargen, sr., Warroad Chris Johnson, sr., Duluth East Phil Johnson, sr., Duluth East James Laurinaitis, jr., Wayzata Brian Lee, jr., Moorhead Eric Olimb, sr., Warroad Chris Peluso, jr., Brainerd Mike Schmidt, jr., St. Cloud Cathedral Matt Sorterberg, sr., Anoka GOALIES Dustin Carlson, sr., Forest Lake Max Dodds, sr., Eden Prairie Luke Edwall, sr., St. Louis Park James Fangel, sr., Hill-Murray Casey Geissler, sr., Duluth Marshall Drew Glowa, sr., Jefferson Eric Hylok, sr., Edina Tyler Johnson, sr., East Grand Forks Kevin Jonassen, sr., Eveleth-Gilbert Justin Klinkhammer, sr., Thief River Falls Justin Kowalkoski, sr., Blake Jason Krueger, sr., Wayzata Jake Liesen, jr., Spring Lake Park Matt Loken, sr., International Falls Jake Maida, sr., Duluth East Kyle Olstead, sr., Anoka Anders Peterson, sr., Orono Kyle Ratalsky, sr., Shakopee Alec Richards, jr., Breck Tony Sorrels, sr., Warroad -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- — Mike Fermoyle

Linden16 · Post by **Linden16** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:41 am

Kramer is a junior

Hillfan · Post by **Hillfan** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:51 am

Looks pretty good to me, better then the Star Tribune thats for sure. Stutz is not a bad goalie whatsoever but he probably should have been something like 2nd or 3rd team. I really felt this year that B.J. O'Brien of Lakeville was outstanding, I thought should have been first team. He didn't have the team in front of him like Stutz did and B.J. still took them to state. Congrats to all of the honorable mention players, they should not be overlooked at all. Good luck to those seniors the rest of the way. I'm looking forward to the Great 8 tourney, should be some fun hockey to watch!

Videoscout · Post by **Videoscout** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 11:11 am

Brian Lee should have at least been on the first or second team. Doesn't surprise me that the powers that be didn't select him. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"> What else is new?

joe lulic · Post by **joe lulic** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 11:15 am

Was he #22?

Videoscout · Post by **Videoscout** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 11:28 am

Yes he was # 22 ... and played solidly all year. Smooth with the puck ... seldom made a mistake, although I remember one with Elk River ... but it never backfired. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"> "Satan the envious said with a sigh: Christians know more about their hell than I." -- Alfred Kreymborg, Envious Satan

joe lulic · Post by **joe lulic** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:01 pm

I agree. #22 was very good and moved the puck as well as any high school defensemen. I dont pay much attention to these teams. The people who put them together go by reputation and word of mouth. Plus by the time they are done with honorable mention, just about everybody is on the list.

slapshooter · Post by **slapshooter** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:26 pm

In typical 'Cidi<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/sick.gif ALT=":x"> t' form, I see where RJ Anderson from Centennial was described as a Class AA Champion and rightfully so, whereas TJ OSHIE was described as a star who partcipated in the taking of the "small-school title" in 2003. S<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> S

netmind29 · Post by **netmind29** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:45 pm

isn't loken a junior also,

ROYALELK · Post by **ROYALELK** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:55 pm

I have a problem with the ER kid even making the HM list.He busts a MSHSL rule and still gets awards.You guys can all tell me he payed for his mistake with the 2 week suspension blah blah blah.I just dont feel this sends the right message to the kids out there.Granted he is a good player and had some good stats plus played a heckuva game in Section Final,it just doesnt seem right

joe lulic · Post by **joe lulic** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:08 pm

It is an interesting issue. ROYALELK makes a good point. I lean toward giving the recognition for athletic ability. All State isnt a character award. If the player has done it on the ice, give him the recognition. But I do appreciate the other point of view. You know, when you are in middle of the road, you get hit by traffic from both directions.

ROYALELK · Post by **ROYALELK** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:41 pm

and you are probably right about the athletic ability,its just with this Bertuzzi deal ive kind of been on a role model kick lately

StarsFan · Post by **StarsFan** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:08 pm

Mike Taylor should have been awarded the goal and been named to 2nd team by PP. Too bad the missed goal is part of Tourney history.

gaborik04 · Post by **gaborik04** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 3:19 pm

Pretty good team overall. What's with the mistakes though? I noticed that Kramer and Bostrom were listed as seniors when they're actually juniors. Kramer's section also said how he "finished among the top scorers his junior year, and his senior year he came in 4th"... ugh... ok? They should try and be more accurate next year <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)">

centerman · Post by **centerman** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:09 pm

8 Centennial kids and no Montgomery? Wow!<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D">

blueeyesme2 · Post by **blueeyesme2** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:53 pm

i wonder if they meant dustin is was the senior. ???

hockeygoalie102 · Post by **hockeygoalie102** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:56 pm

Yeah...I too was a little disapointed that Montgomery wasn't included in the list...I wonder why that is...<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":\">

skipper · Post by **skipper** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 11:34 pm

pretty good, but i had to major problems: 1) Brian Lee not listed!!i would say he is one of the 4 best D in the state and he was honorable mention....?? 2) Justin Bostrom not listed!! great forward, made his team much better, desirved at least 3rd team, i think should have been 2nd!!

Hockeyhunny133 · Post by **Hockeyhunny133** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 11:43 pm

I also think that Monty should be listed because with out his goal, who knows what might of happened...well i'll count him as something... Go Monty!!

slapshooter · Post by **slapshooter** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 12:22 am

Montgomery hands Centennial the Class AA STATE TITLE and it doesn't bother jr one bit that the kid gets ignored by these so called experts! Figures! Moorhead will be back next year on fire and you're all gonna feel the heat! Montgomery should be first team! That kid's been under rated all year! Must be the hair. S<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> S

jr · Post by jr » Thu Mar 18, 2004 5:34 am

There is NO I in TEAM slapshooter. It really doesn't matter one bit who makes mythical all-state teams. Sure it's a nice gesture but this TEAM played to win and they beat the best over and over again. 8-0 vs. teams ranked #2-#5 giving up a grand total of 10 goals in those 8 games! OUCH!!!

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Pioneer Press All State Team

Pioneer Press All State Team

Kramer

All-State Team

Brian Lee

Re: Brian Lee

Say it is so ... Joe ... he's a 'hell' of a player

Re: Say it is so ... Joe ... he's a 'hell' of a player

subtle and demeaning...............by SS

list

issues

Re: issues

thanks joe

Stutz Shutout

Pioneer Press

8 Centennial kids!

Jordan Fulton, sr., Breck

yeah

a few problems

Re: Pioneer Press All State Team

Figures..................by SS

TEAM