Class A Quarterfinal: #5 St. Cloud Apollo vs. #4 Breck

[karl(east)]

#5 ST. CLOUD APOLLO VS. #4 BRECK
-As usual, the last game of the day promises the best competition in the Class A quarterfinals. The storyline is a good one, as upstart Apollo collides with one of the giants of Class A hockey. As with the other matchups here, they haven’t met recently.

St. Cloud Apollo (22-4-2, #7, 4-seed in 6A)
State appearances: 3 (first since 2012; one in old 1-class Tournament)
Key section wins: 4-2 over #8 Alexandria, 4-2 over #12 St. Cloud Cathedral
-Apollo may have been a 4-seed, but they were right there with the other top teams in a crowded 6A, and played very well down the stretch; there’s no chance of a repeat of that 12-0 debacle against St. Thomas two years ago. Tanner Breidenbach (7), who led the team in scoring as a defenseman, is their top player, and Grady Ewing (14) has also produced a lot of points from the blue line. The offense lacks a real standout, but includes a kid with a familiar last name in Gino Lucia (17), plus Jason Omann (13) and Brandon Bissett (21). Goaltender Nick Althaus (32) is a veteran, quality netminder. If this team can score enough without exposing themselves in back, this team could make some noise.

Breck (21-7, #4, 1-seed in 2A)
State appearances: 11 (first since 2013)
Championships: 4 (2000, 2004, 2009, 2010)
Key section win: 3-2 (2OT) over #6 Delano
-Class A’s premier private school power returns to State after a one-year hiatus. As a fairly young squad, this is hardly their most dominant team, but they played well down the stretch and scraped past Delano to return to the X. Junior Chase Ellingson (8) is a front-end talent, and beyond him they have a decent collection of capable forwards, including Tyler Scott (17) and Will Blake (26). Dalton Weigel (25) is a prospect to watch on defense, while Tyler Lindstrom (27) is a veteran. Goaltender Stephen Headrick’s (39) gaudy stats earned him a surprise nod as one of two finalists for the Brimsek Award. They aren’t as deep as Hermantown or Mahtomedi, but they have enough talented players that they could have a serious shot.

[rainier]

Likely to be the closest QF

5-2 Mustangs

[Thumper 90]

Two corrections and a comment:

1. Eagles Record: 22-4-2.

2. Eagles 2013 State Tournament Quarterfinal game against Saint Thomas was a 12-0 "debacle" (not 16-0).

3. In 2013 - Saint Thomas followed up their 12-0 drubbing of the Eagles with an 11-0 thrashing of the Green Wave...

Let's see what 2015 will bring...

[shoot_the_puck]

Should be a close one. I have Apollo 3-1.

[pats12]

I thought sec 6 was the most over rated section in A all year. We'll find out soon.

[thestickler07]

Hell of a game by the Eagles!

Glad to see them get a W!

[rainier]

Wow! Great job, SCA!

[MNHockeyFan]

Breck had the better of the play possession-wise and handily won the SOG battle, but Apollo did a tremendous job of limiting quality scoring chances. Most of Breck's opportunities came from the outside as they couldn't seem to get guys open in close.

[hermantown2000]

Ding dong!! The private schools in Class A are going golfing!! Well Mr. Plante, You won't have to worry again this year about any private school menace!! What an effort by Apollo. Tbe hockey gods were on their side tonight(a couple of Breck shots just hit the upper cross bar.) If Apollos goaltender plays this well against Hermantown's Soviet Union type of scoring machine, there will be plenty of sweating and hearts pounding in Hawk Land on Friday.

[thestickler07]

Ding dong!! The private schools in Class A are going golfing!! Well Mr. Plante, You won't have to worry again this year about any private school menace!! What an effort by Apollo. Tbe hockey gods were on their side tonight(a couple of Breck shots just hit the upper cross bar.) If Apollos goaltender plays this well against Hermantown's Soviet Union type of scoring machine, there will be plenty of sweating and hearts pounding in Hawk Land on Friday.

Meh, I don't think Hermantown should be worried about Apollo.

Don't get me wrong, I was pulling for Apollo to win but Breck would've given Hermantown the better game.

Hawks will roll the Eagles.

[RRubberbeeskit]

Two corrections and a comment:

1. Eagles Record: 22-4-2.

2. Eagles 2013 State Tournament Quarterfinal game against Saint Thomas was a 12-0 "debacle" (not 16-0).

3. In 2013 - Saint Thomas followed up their 12-0 drubbing of the Eagles with an 11-0 thrashing of the Green Wave...

Let's see what 2015 will bring...

Thumper: I started a reply before the Breck vs Apollo game earlier stating that you were basically comparing apples to oranges when comparing the 2013 STA Daddies money boys and this Breck daddies money boys team. This Breck team would have been destroyed by that 2013 STA Team and this Apollo team would have done the same thing to the 2013 Apollo team as they are completely different however I erased my post and did not submit it.
I then after the exciting OT win by Apollo decided I must share my Opinion.

[Thumper 90]

RRubberbeeskit: Rereading my post - I don't find what you've read into it - in fact, even if you rearrange all the letters from my post you won't be able to find Breck (spoiler alert: there's no letter "k" to be found in my post).

More on point - I didn't/don't believe Breck is a 2013 St. Thomas caliber team - didn't write it, don't think it.

My point was a simple one – The Eagles are, and have been, tired of hearing about the 2013 Quarterfinals game - ready to turn the page to 2015.

Even in your creative misinterpretation of my post you find a way to denigrate the 2013 team (which, as I'm confident you recall, took out your Otters 7-3 in the 2013 Section semifinals). I suppose I'm to be grateful for the backhanded 2015 Eagles compliment that you include with your 2013 potshot? (To save you the time pondering that one - I'm not...)

Enjoy the tournament AND...best wishes to your Otters.

[defense]

Apollo now has won 10 straight including 5 in a row against top 20 teams. And two cake teams ...[/code]

[Mite-dad]

Congrats to the Eagles! Please! Please! Win your next game!