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AA Quarterfinal: #5 Centennial vs. #4 Wayzata

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:09 pm
by karl(east)
#5 CENTENNIAL VS. #4 WAYZATA
8:00 Thursday
-Both of these suburban schools are relative newcomers to the Tourney, and have not earned berths since 2004. Centennial beat Wayzata 3-0 en route to the 2004 crown, but Wayzata leads this series 3-1 since, including two wins in 2010-2011. With two defense-first teams on the ice, scoring chances will be at a premium.

Cetnennial (22-4-2, #11, 2-seed in 5AA)
State appearances: 2 (first since 2004)
Championships: 1 (2004)
Key section wins: 4-1 over #19 Maple Grove, 4-2 over Champlin Park
-In Centennial’s only other Tournament appearance, they rode great goaltending and a forward named Gorowsky to a state title. This time around, the formula is very similar, as brothers Hans (16) and Ryner (20) Gorowsky lead a high-scoring top line, and goaltender Patrick Munson (33) has put this team on his back at times this season. None of their defensemen are very involved offensively, and the play of their decent second line led by Andrew Bertrand (5) will be key against a deep Wayzata squad. While the road to a state title looks difficult, they are certainly capable of knocking off anyone.

Wayzata (21-7, #8, 3-seed in 6AA)
State appearances: 3 (first since 2004)
Key section wins: 5-1 over #5 Minnetonka, 5-2 over #2 Benilde-St. Margaret’s
-The Trojans came out of the 6AA meat-grinder in impressive fashion, scoring five goals in wins over Minnetonka and defending State champion Benilde. While they are short on high-end upper-class talent, senior goaltender Aaron Dingmann (30) was a star in both victories, as the Trojans were outshot in both. Beyond that, they boast three relatively even lines, a steady defensive corps, and a strong commitment to smart positional defense and shot-blocking. Sophomore Matthew Freytag (15) and freshman Max Zimmer (6) both have very bright futures on this relatively young team led by Pat O’Leary, who is perhaps the frontrunner for coach of the year. If they can generate enough offense, they are a serious threat to win it all.

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 6:14 pm
by Bonehead
I'd say that '04 beast that shut out the field (including Wayzata) was a whole different animal. Don't recall who Centennial lost to that year but 30-1 is a nice season!

Wayzata gets revenge for the '04 shutout in this one. 4-1

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 6:20 pm
by Nostalgic Nerd
Bonehead wrote:I'd say that '04 beast that shut out the field (including Wayzata) was a whole different animal. Don't recall who Centennial lost to that year but 30-1 is a nice season!

Wayzata gets revenge for the '04 shutout in this one. 4-1
Centennial lost to Edina that year.

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 7:58 pm
by WayOutWest
Wins over Minnetonka and BSM to get here? Wayzata is tested, and prepared. Centennial's program has always been strong, but just not a premier one. Thanks for stopping in, Centennial. Enjoy the stay, while you're still here.

Wayzata 3-1

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 8:20 pm
by WarmUpTheBus
WayOutWest wrote:Wins over Minnetonka and BSM to get here? Wayzata is tested, and prepared. Centennial's program has always been strong, but just not a premier one. Thanks for stopping in, Centennial. Enjoy the stay, while you're still here.

Wayzata 3-1
I agree with your analysis however the way thing have played out for Centennial I would be surprised by a Cougar win.

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:11 am
by joris016
WayOutWest wrote:Wins over Minnetonka and BSM to get here? Wayzata is tested, and prepared. Centennial's program has always been strong, but just not a premier one. Thanks for stopping in, Centennial. Enjoy the stay, while you're still here.

Wayzata 3-1
Not a premier program huh? 1 state title vs the 0 that Wayzata has would suggest they are a better program than the Trojans. But anyway, Cougars pull off the huge upset in this one.

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 1:11 pm
by alcloseshaver
Centennial is clearly a premier program, they have one of the largest youth hockey programs in the state and a state title.

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 1:20 pm
by LCHockey
No question Centennial is a premier program. Got out and watched both teams play this winter and Centennial can play some real good puck but I think the battle tested Trojans will be taking this one.

Going through that section the way they did says a lot about them and can bring some great momentum to a locker room.

4-2 Trojans

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:31 pm
by WayOutWest
joris016 wrote:
Not a premier program huh? 1 state title vs the 0 that Wayzata has would suggest they are a better program than the Trojans. But anyway, Cougars pull off the huge upset in this one.
http://letsplayhockey.com/latest-rankings/youth.html

Wayzata leads Centennial in High School, Junior Gold, Bantams, Pee Wee's and Girls 14U.
This is typical in a comparison of the programs.

A Centennial win would certainly be a significant upset. That said, it could happen.

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:16 pm
by Doc Holliday
joris016 wrote:
WayOutWest wrote:
Not a premier program huh? 1 state title vs the 0 that Wayzata has would suggest they are a better program than the Trojans. But anyway, Cougars pull off the huge upset in this one.
Wayzata has state titles, the trophies just happen to be kept in the trophy case at Breck & Benilde. :lol:

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:04 pm
by WayOutWest
Doc Holliday wrote: Wayzata has state titles, the trophies just happen to be kept in the trophy case at Breck & Benilde. :lol:
Very good point........lol. :)

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:38 pm
by East Side Pioneer Guy
Doc Holliday wrote:
joris016 wrote:
WayOutWest wrote:
Not a premier program huh? 1 state title vs the 0 that Wayzata has would suggest they are a better program than the Trojans. But anyway, Cougars pull off the huge upset in this one.
Wayzata has state titles, the trophies just happen to be kept in the trophy case at Breck & Benilde. :lol:
Good to see another program has moved up to AA. Heh heh.

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:36 pm
by gitter
Centennial 3
Wayzata 2

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:23 pm
by Sats81
Should be a good game. Don't underestimate Centennial. 4-3 Wayzata

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:42 pm
by Doc Holliday
Wayzata 4-2 (ENG).

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:44 pm
by GOPHERFAN119
If Wayzata plays like they did in the Section 6AA games, I believe the game will be 4 to 1, 5 to 2 Wayzata.

Wayzata does have great depth, rock solid goaltending and as of late more balanced scoring. They block a ton of shots.

At the beginning of the year, Freytag and Zimmer carried the load. What has contributed to their recent success, other players have stepped up and scored goals like Wahl, Machut, Olson, Haller, and Heising.

Good luck Trojans !!!

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:18 pm
by karl(east)
I think there's an awful lot to like about this Wayzata squad. But I've picked all the favorites so far, and I had to censor the picture I had lined up for the Trojans.

So I'll go with some Cougars instead.

Image

216 is going to have a field day with this one.

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:35 pm
by starmvp
karl(east) wrote:I think there's an awful lot to like about this Wayzata squad. But I've picked all the favorites so far, and I had to censor the picture I had lined up for the Trojans.

So I'll go with some Cougars instead.

Image

216 is going to have a field day with this one.
Let's hope 216 shows up these year.... As for me, I'll be pulling for the trojans 5-3

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:43 pm
by D3Referee
Wayzata 5-1

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:21 pm
by BlueLineSpecial
Wide open first 10 minutes of this game. Wow. Really fun back and forth. Lot of energy. This is why I love good high school hockey in MN

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:33 pm
by karl(east)
Through one period, this already looks to be the best game of the day. Solid effort by both teams, with Wayzata doing its signature shot-blocks, Munson making a couple big saves for Centennial, the Trojans showing their depth, and that Cougar top line creating some good chances with some impressive puck-handling. Lots of sharp little plays out there.

Goalie Patrick Munson, Centennial

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:44 pm
by Tornadoes 2003StateChamps
Is that Cateye cage he's wearing HECC certified? I thought those were illegal in MN High School hockey. He might get a penalty for illegal equipment and the rules say he cant play with it if caught with illegal equipment.

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:49 pm
by karl(east)
...and after I gush about the gameplay in the first, the second opens with one of the uglier goals you'll ever see. We'll see if that changes the tenor of this one.

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:50 pm
by BlueLineSpecial
:lol: Dingmann goes to play the puck and ends up doing the backstroke while Centennial punches it in. :lol:

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:55 pm
by almostashappy
BlueLineSpecial wrote::lol: Dingmann goes to play the puck and ends up doing the backstroke while Centennial punches it in. :lol:
And then Dingmann gets a sharp elbow to the helmet that bounces his head against the crossbar (btw if they aren't going to call that a 5min major for head contact on that play, they should just chuck the rule altogether).

Lou Nanne had a nice quip about Dingmann wishing that he could go back to the locker room and start the period all over again. :lol: