Class A QF: Minnesota River vs. #3 East Grand Forks

[karl(east)]

MINNESOTA RIVER VS. #3 EAST GRAND FORKS
1:00 Wednesday
-As in the first game of the day, a Tourney debutant collides with a regular. These two have no history.

Minnesota River (20-4, #17, 2-seed in 1A)
First State appearance
Key section wins: 6-2 over 3-seed Albert Lea, 5-3 over 4-seed Rochester Lourdes
-The Bulldogs, who formerly went by LSHSPTCUC—the acronym for co-op constituents LeSueur, Henderson, St. Peter, Tri-City United, and Cleveland, and now including Belle Plaine—make their debut at the Xcel Center after a strong season. Hunter Wilmes (8) is their clear leading scorer, and Tyson Sowder (9) isn’t far behind him in goals scored, with Charlie Weick (3) rounding out their offensive headlines. They have respectable depth for an unseeded Class A team, as their top eight forwards all registered over 15 points in the regular season. They did lose to the other two unseeded teams in the Tourney this season, and will be facing an entirely new level of competition in this one, but otherwise had a very strong year.

East Grand Forks (20-8, #6, 1-seed in 8A)
State appearances: 12 (3 one-class, 9 in Class A; last in 2017)
State championships: 2 (2014, 2015)
Key section win: 5-1 over 3-seed Warroad
-The Green Wave are back in the Tourney after a one-year absence, and are the only team with a Class A title in this year’s field; coach Tyler Palmscino, who was behind the bench for their two titles, is also back this season. As usual, they have a tough group of players, with Tanner Mack (19) being their leading scorer and Carter Beck (7) and Jake Hjelle (8) next in line. Sophomore forward Landon Parker (10) and freshman defenseman Trey Ausmus (9) give them some serious young talent; their depth is better than most of the teams behind them, but not quite on the level of Cathedral or Mahtomedi. They lost 7-2 to Cathedral early in the season, so barring a surprise upset, we’ll see if they’ve come along enough to give the Crusaders a game on Friday.

[elliott70]

EGF is practically in my back yard so I have to cheer for the Green Wave and I expect them to do well but have been quietly cheering for the alphabet team all year.

[TTpuckster]

EGF has been getting a lot of shots in every game but not scoring a lot. If the MR goalie has a good game.....well, who knows..

[Puckguy19]

This should be over by the end of 2.

[blueblood]

Maybe earlier than that.....

[goldy313]

Minnesota River can get bottled up by tight checking teams but in Wilmes they got a kid who can get behind you quick and has the talent to score. The Bulldogs skating wore down their last 2 section opponents, EGF is no 1A team....but this is the rare 1A team that can throw 2 good lines at you.

[bardown27]

I’d argue that the Mankato east team from last year could throw 2 1/2-3 good lines at you

[TTpuckster]

Minnesota River can get bottled up by tight checking teams but in Wilmes they got a kid who can get behind you quick and has the talent to score. The Bulldogs skating wore down their last 2 section opponents, EGF is no 1A team....but this is the rare 1A team that can throw 2 good lines at you.

Hmmmmmm,

I have seen EGF play 3 times, and I would say that a strength is tight and incessant forechecking. This is why the usually get a lot of shots on net. Not scoring a lot since some time in January, but, a lot of shots.
How is the MR goalie?

[bardown27]

Minnesota River can get bottled up by tight checking teams but in Wilmes they got a kid who can get behind you quick and has the talent to score. The Bulldogs skating wore down their last 2 section opponents, EGF is no 1A team....but this is the rare 1A team that can throw 2 good lines at you.

Hmmmmmm,

I have seen EGF play 3 times, and I would say that a strength is tight and incessant forechecking. This is why the usually get a lot of shots on net. Not scoring a lot since some time in January, but, a lot of shots.
How is the MR goalie?

Average

[blueblood]

TPalm will have the wave rolling. This one's going running time.

[TTpuckster]

TPalm will have the wave rolling. This one's going running time.

He is a darn good coach.
I am amazed at his ability to motivate.

[TheNightman]

EGF is flying under the radar, could definitely see them winning it all this weekend.

[Green and White Fan]

I have seen EGF play a few times this winter. If they play the way they did in Roseau earlier this year, they will have a great chance at being state champs. Not sure if they have played that complete of a game since though.

[TTpuckster]

Nice article from the Grand Forks Herald about a couple of Green Wave players:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports ... n-poolmans

[Stang5280]

For those not watching, EGF is up 2-0 after one. Shots are 18-5 in favor of Green Wave.

MR didn’t look terrible, but the difference in speed and size is obvious, and both goals came on rebounds that MR couldn’t clear.

[goldy313]

EGF is clearly the better team but they also got a little lucky with their penalty being a minor for a trip instead of a major for kneeing and the first goal bounced off two Bulldog skates before settling on a EGF stick in the slot.

[BSUBeaver]

Hmm, 3-2 EGF in the second..........

[TTpuckster]

Hmm, 3-2 EGF in the second..........

Like I said, they get a lot of shots, but not a lot of goals. That has been their mantra since the beginning of this year.

[That guy for that thing]

5-2 Final EGF
Shots 43-21 EGF

Man parts of this game were not a 5-2 loss, and then others were far one-sided for EGF. There were numerous big hits by EGF and MR seemed to be a bit afraid of finishing checks although I did see 1 or 2. Tanner Mack had an amazing snipe from the top of the slot. Minnesota River definitely gave EGF a run for their money. The 2 goals at the beginning of the 3rd period by Landon Parker for EGF, especially the shorty, killed the Minnesota River momentum from the 2nd period. Andrew Regner played amazing the whole game. Hard to keep the score low with 43 shots on net and quite a few rebounds just laying in the slot, but MR came back, momentum-wise a bit but just couldn't get back into the scoring aspect. Great Experience for the MR kids, will be looking for next year to see if they can get back. Congrats EGF on the win and go get SCC.

[Stang5280]

5-2 Final EGF
Shots 43-21 EGF

Man parts of this game were not a 5-2 loss, and then others were far one-sided for EGF. There were numerous big hits by EGF and MR seemed to be a bit afraid of finishing checks although I did see 1 or 2. Tanner Mack had an amazing snipe from the top of the slot. Minnesota River definitely gave EGF a run for their money. The 2 goals at the beginning of the 3rd period by Landon Parker for EGF, especially the shorty, killed the Minnesota River momentum from the 2nd period. Andrew Regner played amazing the whole game. Hard to keep the score low with 43 shots on net and quite a few rebounds just laying in the slot, but MR came back, momentum-wise a bit but just couldn't get back into the scoring aspect. Great Experience for the MR kids, will be looking for next year to see if they can get back. Congrats EGF on the win and go get SCC.

Great summary. Minnesota River really showed fortitude in the second period, turning it into a tight game after going down 3-0 early in the period. They certainly represented 1A well. Unfortunately it looks like MR will be graduating most of their top players, but hopefully they can use this as a building block for the program.

Oh, and goldy is right about that penalty call. That was pretty much textbook kneeing, and EGF caught a lucky break.

[TTpuckster]

5-2 Final EGF
Shots 43-21 EGF

Man parts of this game were not a 5-2 loss, and then others were far one-sided for EGF. There were numerous big hits by EGF and MR seemed to be a bit afraid of finishing checks although I did see 1 or 2. Tanner Mack had an amazing snipe from the top of the slot. Minnesota River definitely gave EGF a run for their money. The 2 goals at the beginning of the 3rd period by Landon Parker for EGF, especially the shorty, killed the Minnesota River momentum from the 2nd period. Andrew Regner played amazing the whole game. Hard to keep the score low with 43 shots on net and quite a few rebounds just laying in the slot, but MR came back, momentum-wise a bit but just couldn't get back into the scoring aspect. Great Experience for the MR kids, will be looking for next year to see if they can get back. Congrats EGF on the win and go get SCC.

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice game MR.
EGF, you can do better than that......I think.

[goldy313]

If MN River could only take back a harmless shorthanded dump in by EGF to start the 3rd that the Bulldogs misplayed so badly as a group......ugh!

Wilmes got his leg dinged up in their game against Lourdes, he was also the player kneed early in the first period, he just didn’t seem to have his normal jump. EGF May have something to do with that as well. The second line came through though.

EGF will have to clean up play in front of their own net to bear SCC, both Bulldog goals had multiple players behind the EGF defense. A couple of other times the EGF goalie made some nice saves with no defensemen in front of him. EGF is good, they will have to better to beat SCC.

Good luck to both teams in their next game.