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#5 TOTINO-GRACE VS. #4 ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL
-The only two private schools in this year’s tournament collide in the Class A nightcap. Despite being outshot 28-18, Cathedral won a 5-4 meeting between these two in January, with Will Hammer scoring 4 goals.

Totino-Grace (17-10-1, #8, 1-seed in 4A)
State appearances: 4 (first since 2005)
State championships: 1 (2002)
Key section win: 5-4 over #9 Mahtomedi
-Eagles coach Mark Loahr, who joined the select 500-win club this season, brings a well-balanced and battle-tested squad to the Tourney. The team’s top player is defenseman Jason Krych (17), and Kai Barber (22) and Nick Tandeski (21) are their biggest goal-scorers. They have above average depth for a Class A team, which will help against a thin Cathedral team. The tight regular season game points to a good battle here, though the second round could be a tougher task for the Eagles, who were shut out 4-0 by East Grand Forks early in the season.

St. Cloud Cathedral (19-7-1, #10, 1-seed in 6A)
State appearances: 6 (first since 2009)
Key section win: 2-1 over #19 Alexandria
-The Crusaders are back in St. Paul after fighting their way through a very open Section 6A. They have one of the more dynamic players in the A tourney in Will Hammer (17); Matt Fritz (28) and Logan Neu (2) round out a potent top line, while Dan Bailey (4) is a high-scoring defenseman. There isn’t a whole lot of depth here, though, and to have a chance against Totino, their lower lines will have to hold their own. Special teams are a strength for this squad, which could prove crucial in a tight game.

SCC 3-1

The private school quarterfinal will be the closest game of the day. I say this one goes OT with TG winning 4-3.

SCC wins this one

Puck76 wrote:SCC wins this one

I would say the only way SCC has a chance is if their goaltender comes up big and Will Hammer has a big game. Their lack of secondary scoring could lead them to go 0-2 at state

I would say the only way SCC has a chance is if their goaltender comes up big and Will Hammer has a big game. Their lack of secondary scoring could lead them to go 0-2 at state

It has already happened once. What, lightning can't strike twice?

Les Averman wrote:

I would say the only way SCC has a chance is if their goaltender comes up big and Will Hammer has a big game. Their lack of secondary scoring could lead them to go 0-2 at state

It has already happened once. What, lightning can't strike twice?

Yes true.. But I was at the game and fritz had a great game in net, and Will Hammer racked up 4 goals

hockey9011 wrote:

Les Averman wrote:

I would say the only way SCC has a chance is if their goaltender comes up big and Will Hammer has a big game. Their lack of secondary scoring could lead them to go 0-2 at state

It has already happened once. What, lightning can't strike twice?

Yes true.. But I was at the game and fritz had a great game in net, and Will Hammer racked up 4 goals

To be fair...that's how this team has won games all year.

Solid goaltending out of Fritz and heavy contributions from Hammer are kind of this teams MO...and from what I've seen of TG they rely a little bit extra on their top line as well.

But you're right. Absolutely no secondary scoring from Cathedral this year. None. And if they go 0-2, that will definitely be why.

BobSaget wrote:

hockey9011 wrote:

Les Averman wrote:
It has already happened once. What, lightning can't strike twice?

Yes true.. But I was at the game and fritz had a great game in net, and Will Hammer racked up 4 goals

To be fair...that's how this team has won games all year.

Solid goaltending out of Fritz and heavy contributions from Hammer are kind of this teams MO...and from what I've seen of TG they rely a little bit extra on their top line as well.

But you're right. Absolutely no secondary scoring from Cathedral this year. None. And if they go 0-2, that will definitely be why.

Yes you are absolutely right. I wasn't saying that it wasn't a good enough gameplan to win some games. Fritz has been outstanding and Hammer is dangerous whenever he touches the puck. He has got to be one of the top couple players in the class A tourney right? But whenever their 2nd and 3rd lines get out there, it seems like they just try and get rid of the puck long enough that the first line will come back out

TG rolls 3 lines and all 3 lines score goals. They have moved a few players around and have a balanced line up with above average defense.

nobody commenting on the game?

TTpuckster wrote:nobody commenting on the game?

Ugliest uniform contest in this one

TTpuckster wrote:nobody commenting on the game?

I'm watching if that counts

1-1 game. All tied up. Nice play off the rebound.

good game though

score tied 1 - 1

2-1 TG. Nice shot

Totinos pizza up 2 to 1

BlueLineSpecial wrote:

TTpuckster wrote:nobody commenting on the game?

Ugliest uniform contest in this one

Agreed. We've had 3 pretty awful ones today, and while New Prague's weren't ugly, they were about as bland as it gets.

As expected, SCC's top line is scary, but T-G's 2nd and 3rd lines are pretty clearly superior to anything SCC has.

And T-G has scored twice as I write this post.

Pizza up 3 to 1

SCC is playing zone defense

Put a body on a kid

BlueLineSpecial wrote:

TTpuckster wrote:nobody commenting on the game?

Ugliest uniform contest in this one

We were saying the same thing! Clymer commented that it was the "Swedish National team" against the "Sabres"...

Wow. Totino going up 3-1... Thought game was pretty even until last 6-7 minutes!

Looks like the Totino's pizzas have "cooked up" a winning "combination!"

Why is the Totino team wearing their practice socks?

With the way Cathedral's defense can't hold onto the puck it looks like their bright jersey's are blinding them.

Roy01 wrote:Looks like the Totino's pizzas have "cooked up" a winning "combination!"

Maybe TG could ask General Mills for a sponsorship deal. They could buy better uniforms. The shoulders could have little pizza slice patches on them

Useless fact for you: the pizza roll was invented by Jeno Paulucci, a Duluthian. He's also the guy responsible for certain "Chinese" foods, all the Grandmas restaurants in Duluth, and Canal Park. He sold the rights, though, and General Mills gave it the Totino's tag.