Section 2A Week #13 Scores
Tuesday (2/13/24)
#7 Delano 4 Southwest Christian/Richfield 1
Minneapolis 3 #13 Monticello 4 OT
Breck 6 Rochester Lourdes 3
Hutchinson 5 Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 2
Thursday (2/15/24)
#6 Orono 4 Bloomington Jefferson 1
Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 1 #20 New Ulm 5
Mound Westonka 3 Simley 6
Providence Academy 7 Chisago Lakes 4
Hutchinson 1 Princeton 5
Saturday (2/17/24)
#6 Orono 7 Chaska 1
#7 Delano 2 #8 Northfield 1 OT
Mound Westonka 3 Rochester Lourdes 4
Section 2A 23-24
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Re: Section 2A 23-24
Section 2A Playoff Preview- Section 2A annually has given us the best Sectional Quarterfinal games; as it has routinely been one of the deepest sections in Class A. Last year did not disappoint as the #8 seed took the #1 seed to overtime and the # 7 seed pulled the biggest stunner of the Class A playoffs first round. This year though with section realignment 2A does not feel as deep as normal but it does feel like anyone of the Top 5 teams could make a run to the X. Orono & Delano come in as the favorites as they both have had very nice years and have beaten the rest in 2A. However, you can never count out Minneapolis who as always seem to be playing their best hockey this time of year. Add in both Breck & Providence Academy showing signs of being contenders all year and this again should be a great sectional to watch play out.
Section 2A
QF 2/21 High Seed
SF 2/24 St Louis Park Rec Center
F 2/28 St Louis Park Rec Center
Section 2A Seeds
1- Orono (17-8-0)
2- Delano (16-8-1)
3- Minneapolis (10-15-0)
4- Providence Academy (10-15-0)
5- Breck (14-10-1)
6- Mound Westonka (12-12-1)
7- Hutchinson (7-16-2)
8- Litchfield Dassel-Cokato (4-20-1)
The Favorite- Orono the defending 2A champion comes into the sectional as the favorite to defend their title. A big Senior class has helped carry the Spartans all year, though injuries have had an impact on them, they appear to be getting healthy late in the year. They have actually been led up front by a pair of Sophomores Jackson Knight & Rory Kvern, who lead the team in goals, and they along with Seniors Easton Sankey, Tommy Lewin, Cayden Effertz and Junior Trey Landa have led the offense for a team that struggles at times putting the puck in the net. Their strength lies in their back end as their defensive core when healthy is as good as you will see in Class A anchored by Seniors John Engebretson, Joey Mugaas, Rylan Schultz & Sophomore Luca DeCubellis. In the net, Goaltender Senior Peyton Anderson appears to be the main guy as he took charge late in the year and Orono will look to make a return trip to state.
The Challengers- The two main challengers to the Spartans' repeat attempt are familiar opponents who play vastly different styles. Delano is a young team that has gotten progressively better as the year has gone on and that is not surprising knowing their coaching staff. The Tigers appear to be primed for a playoff run like always playing their tight lock down structure built for playoff success. Senior Teague Collings and Juniors Mason Hargarten, Joseph McCabe & Bryce Peterson have led the way front and they have been great mentors to a really good core of growing Sophomores Daniel Halonen, Andrew Bruett, Brody Geislinger & Jacob Parlich. The Tigers are always strong in their own end and Seniors Brayden Coppin & Vinny Cappelleri along with Junior Aaron Halonen have been the leaders on the blueline. A midseason injury to Senior Ethan Engelmann has opened the door to Sophomore Evan Geyen becoming the guy in net. This is a scary team that can definitely make a run.
Minneapolis is the other contender that has really struggled with consistency all year and the record shows that season long hardship. However, the strength of the 612 crew is upfront as they have some serious scoring power as Seniors Ozzie Snodgrass & John Bebler and Juniors Nick Anderson & Johan Krasean and Sophomore Eli Milinkovich can all put the puck in the net. The issue for this team has been on the blueline and keeping the puck out of their own net. They will need to defend better but they have shown late in the year a better commitment to their own end and if they are willing to play defense they have the scoring prowess to cause issues and make a serious section run.
The Dark Horses- As noted earlier the winner of the 4 vs 5 game definitely can make a run and win this section as a dark horse pick. Providence Academy has one of the state's most lethal scorers in Senior Louie Wehmann and he and linemate Senior Sammy Lewis can cause problems for their opponents. However, for the Lions to make a run they will need to defend better in their own end as they often try to outscore teams which against 2A’s best won't get the job done. Breck is the other darkhorse at play in 2A as the Mustangs have shown all year they can play with just about anyone. Seniors Nate Miller & Paddy Greene along with Junior Ben Amato & Sophomore Garrett Trench have all had really good years offensively. This is a team with a big senior core and they have shown at times this season the pieces needed to make a section run.
Section Scary- Section 2A had the biggest quarterfinal upset of the year last year in Class A and if there was going to be one this year Mound Westonka appears to be the best bet. The Whitehawks have been one Class A’s most improved teams and Sophomores Liam Grant & Collin Hagen along with Junior Blake Decker lead a very young team that could be a scary 6 seed for the 612 team to face in the Section Quartinals.
The Rest- It been a disappointing year for Hutchinson as they never really captured the momentum built off last year and returning their core of Juniors Manny Pearce, Emmett Reiter, Toren Miller & Nathan Thode who have all had nice years but the depth just hasn’t been there to compete with the sections best and now they will have third go around with Delano who has beaten them twice this year. Litchfield Dassel Cokato came into the year knowing it was going to be a large rebuilding effort and that is exactly how the season has played out. Junior Kasey Melquist along with Sophomore Anton Haataja have been some of the bright spots for this young team that has spent the year learning varsity hockey and should be better for it next season
Section 2A
QF 2/21 High Seed
SF 2/24 St Louis Park Rec Center
F 2/28 St Louis Park Rec Center
Section 2A Seeds
1- Orono (17-8-0)
2- Delano (16-8-1)
3- Minneapolis (10-15-0)
4- Providence Academy (10-15-0)
5- Breck (14-10-1)
6- Mound Westonka (12-12-1)
7- Hutchinson (7-16-2)
8- Litchfield Dassel-Cokato (4-20-1)
The Favorite- Orono the defending 2A champion comes into the sectional as the favorite to defend their title. A big Senior class has helped carry the Spartans all year, though injuries have had an impact on them, they appear to be getting healthy late in the year. They have actually been led up front by a pair of Sophomores Jackson Knight & Rory Kvern, who lead the team in goals, and they along with Seniors Easton Sankey, Tommy Lewin, Cayden Effertz and Junior Trey Landa have led the offense for a team that struggles at times putting the puck in the net. Their strength lies in their back end as their defensive core when healthy is as good as you will see in Class A anchored by Seniors John Engebretson, Joey Mugaas, Rylan Schultz & Sophomore Luca DeCubellis. In the net, Goaltender Senior Peyton Anderson appears to be the main guy as he took charge late in the year and Orono will look to make a return trip to state.
The Challengers- The two main challengers to the Spartans' repeat attempt are familiar opponents who play vastly different styles. Delano is a young team that has gotten progressively better as the year has gone on and that is not surprising knowing their coaching staff. The Tigers appear to be primed for a playoff run like always playing their tight lock down structure built for playoff success. Senior Teague Collings and Juniors Mason Hargarten, Joseph McCabe & Bryce Peterson have led the way front and they have been great mentors to a really good core of growing Sophomores Daniel Halonen, Andrew Bruett, Brody Geislinger & Jacob Parlich. The Tigers are always strong in their own end and Seniors Brayden Coppin & Vinny Cappelleri along with Junior Aaron Halonen have been the leaders on the blueline. A midseason injury to Senior Ethan Engelmann has opened the door to Sophomore Evan Geyen becoming the guy in net. This is a scary team that can definitely make a run.
Minneapolis is the other contender that has really struggled with consistency all year and the record shows that season long hardship. However, the strength of the 612 crew is upfront as they have some serious scoring power as Seniors Ozzie Snodgrass & John Bebler and Juniors Nick Anderson & Johan Krasean and Sophomore Eli Milinkovich can all put the puck in the net. The issue for this team has been on the blueline and keeping the puck out of their own net. They will need to defend better but they have shown late in the year a better commitment to their own end and if they are willing to play defense they have the scoring prowess to cause issues and make a serious section run.
The Dark Horses- As noted earlier the winner of the 4 vs 5 game definitely can make a run and win this section as a dark horse pick. Providence Academy has one of the state's most lethal scorers in Senior Louie Wehmann and he and linemate Senior Sammy Lewis can cause problems for their opponents. However, for the Lions to make a run they will need to defend better in their own end as they often try to outscore teams which against 2A’s best won't get the job done. Breck is the other darkhorse at play in 2A as the Mustangs have shown all year they can play with just about anyone. Seniors Nate Miller & Paddy Greene along with Junior Ben Amato & Sophomore Garrett Trench have all had really good years offensively. This is a team with a big senior core and they have shown at times this season the pieces needed to make a section run.
Section Scary- Section 2A had the biggest quarterfinal upset of the year last year in Class A and if there was going to be one this year Mound Westonka appears to be the best bet. The Whitehawks have been one Class A’s most improved teams and Sophomores Liam Grant & Collin Hagen along with Junior Blake Decker lead a very young team that could be a scary 6 seed for the 612 team to face in the Section Quartinals.
The Rest- It been a disappointing year for Hutchinson as they never really captured the momentum built off last year and returning their core of Juniors Manny Pearce, Emmett Reiter, Toren Miller & Nathan Thode who have all had nice years but the depth just hasn’t been there to compete with the sections best and now they will have third go around with Delano who has beaten them twice this year. Litchfield Dassel Cokato came into the year knowing it was going to be a large rebuilding effort and that is exactly how the season has played out. Junior Kasey Melquist along with Sophomore Anton Haataja have been some of the bright spots for this young team that has spent the year learning varsity hockey and should be better for it next season
Re: Section 2A 23-24
Section 2A QF Games
#1 Orono 9 #8 Litchfield/Dassel Cokato 0
#4 Providence Academy 5 #5 Breck 4
#3 Minneapolis 6 #6 Mound Westonka 1
#2 Delano 5 #7 Hutchinson 2
Section 2A SF Games @ SLP Rec Center
#1 Orono 4 #4 Providence Academy 1
#3 Minneapolis 6 #2 Delano 3
#1 Orono 9 #8 Litchfield/Dassel Cokato 0
#4 Providence Academy 5 #5 Breck 4
#3 Minneapolis 6 #6 Mound Westonka 1
#2 Delano 5 #7 Hutchinson 2
Section 2A SF Games @ SLP Rec Center
#1 Orono 4 #4 Providence Academy 1
#3 Minneapolis 6 #2 Delano 3