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LAKEVILLE SOUTH VS. #2 ST. THOMAS ACADEMY
11:00 Thursday
Two teams from the south metro meet to start off the AA Tournament.

Lakeville South (18-8-1, #18, 2-seed in 1AA)
State appearances: 3 (first since 2012)
Key section win: 3-1 over #8 Lakeville North
-It all builds from the back for the Cougars, who are back in the Tourney for the first time since their 2012 first-round stunner over Duluth East. Sam Malinski (21) and Wisconsin recruit Josh Ess (10), both defensemen, are two of their top three scorers, while Bradley Golant (3) and Cory Checco (19) lead the forward corps. They have a strong goaltender in Isaiah DiLaura (35). This isn’t a high-scoring team, but with respectable depth and their strength in back, they can control the pace of games. They’re probably getting the least hype of anyone in this tournament, but as long as they can sneak a few in, they could be a quiet upset threat.

St. Thomas Academy (23-4-1, #6, 1-seed in 3AA)
State appearances: 2 in AA (first since 2015); 8 in Class A
State championships: 5, all in Class A (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Key section wins: 7-0 over 6-seed Bloomington Jefferson
-The well-balanced Cadets make their second AA State appearance. Senior Willie Reim (23) leads the team in scoring, but much of their forward talent is younger, including the Christy brothers Ray (15) and Rob (11), plus Payton Matsui (14). Two-way defenseman Robbie Stucker (2) will make an impression in the offensive zone, and they have good depth around him, too. They have strong goaltending in Atticus Kelly (30). The pieces are all there; the question with the Cadets, as is often the case, is whether they can hang in there against a physical opponent that doesn’t make any glaring mistakes.

I wanted to play the Cougs least of the unseeded teams - I don't love our system matchup versus theirs.

Who has been playing well for them up front?

I've seen both of these teams play a couple of times this year, I think we could be headed for overtime to start out the class AA tournament.

Defense typically wins games at State. I'm going with Lakeville South.

One thing I've always loved about STA is how hard they work away from the puck. They constantly sell out to block shots and back check extremely hard. They seem to be very well coached and play their systems well. Outside of stucker they don't really have a ton of really high end talent but they are very deep. The biggest thing for them will be to get over the mental hurdle of not having much success yet in AA (Burnsville last year and Duluth east the year before).

I don't know much about Lakeville south but it's an interesting matchup considering that STA got much of their success by poaching some of Lakeville's best players in the past.

I'll take STA 3-1 but should be a good game.

STAA 5
LS 2

thestickler07 wrote:I wanted to play the Cougs least of the unseeded teams - I don't love our system matchup versus theirs.

Who has been playing well for them up front?

The memories of the East game still have not faded.. The talent to get over the line is there, but if it's close heading into the last 10 minutes I don't like the academy's odds... Still think we pull this out, 4-1 Cadets

Cadets win one at the big boy tournament. But just one.

boblee wrote:Cadets win one at the big boy tournament. But just one.

charitable of you bob!

stickler how are you feeling about this?

SFA1992 wrote:stickler how are you feeling about this?

Not a fan of the physical matchups with South, but we are a solid favorite.

Ever since the Mahtomedi loss the team's form convinced me STA could beat any team on a given day/night, and one of those is tomorrow at 11am.

I'm confident all three will be played at the X.

Lets get it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's up with the LS uniforms? White Helmets with what is clearly their 3rd jerseys? Weird look

Turnover after turnover after turnover for Stucker.

LS goalie keeping it close

1-1

STA controlled play absent the last flurry by South.

Cougars doing what they need to do - they haven't had many chances but they're quality.

Is the Checco kid related to Nick Checco?Son?Nephew?

Quick 3-1 South!

Great game so far - PP a good way to start the 3rd on the right foot.

a quick one early would be lovely

SFA1992 wrote:a quick one early would be lovely

Yes, it would be nice to see South score again.

MAML could win AA.

Hats off to Lakeville South - capitalized very well on the opportunities they had and won convincingly.

That blue line save was a great play.

congrats to South. well played. this team can ball.

disappointment for STA again. we've been here before!

How about when the kid passes it to you on the 2 on 0 for the EN you go celebrate with him not run around like you sniped it.