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Schwan Cup- Green Division

Round One

Chisago Lakes 4

Tri-City 1

Everything around them was new. New tournament, new arena, new opponents. The situation has been known to be an old formula for disaster.

For example, when the Chisago Lakes girls hockey team faced off with Tri-City in the first round of the Schwan Cup (Green division), both teams had no idea what to expect. After all, how well can you prepare for a team you’ve never seen before?

“We just tried to get the girls pumped up and ready to go based on their (Tri-City) record,” remembered Al Magnuson, Chisago Lakes girls hockey head coach. “They had two girls in the top 15-20 in the state in scoring so we knew they could put the puck in the net, we knew we had to be ready.”

The Wildcats were, dominating the game from start to finish. Nicole Grossmann got things rolling early in the first with the first goal of the game, just minutes before she added her second, putting Chisago in front 2-0 after one.

“We wanted to open it up,” explained Magnuson. “With the teams we have coming up, with Centennial and Irondale on the way, we wanted to start fast and set the tone and keep on playing that way so we could build some momentum as a team.”

The momentum grew in the second with two more Wildcat goals. The first came from Lexi Medellin less than four minutes into the second. Kelly Magnuson then followed with the fourth goal of the game, giving Chisago a 4-0 lead. Tri-City added a goal late in the second period to make the score 4-1. Both teams were held scoreless in the third.

“The girls had to work hard because the puck wasn’t going in the net,” stated Magnuson. “We shot a lot of pucks but we’re having some trouble finishing right now. You never know, all your opponent needs is a fluke here and there to make it a game, so the girls had to keep on working until the very end to prevent that from happening.”

Although the final game box score said otherwise, the Wildcats dramatically outshot Tri-City. Grossmann and Amanda Rammer each finished with two points each. In all, seven Wildcats registered a point.

Chisago Lakes 4

Tri-City 1

1 2 3 F

Spring Lake Park -- 1 -- 1

Chisago Lakes 2 2 -- 4

Scoring:

First Period-

1) CL- Grossmann (Rammer); 2) CL- Grossmann (Fredrickson, Rammer).

Second Period-

3) CL- L. Medellin (Baumgard); 4) CL- Magnuson (Parenteau); TC- Tyra (Fuchs, Perez).

Third Period-

No Scoring

Saves-

Weiden- 11

Schwan Cup- Green Division

Semifinals

Chisago Lakes 3

Prior Lake 0

If their round one performance was dominating, their semifinals clinic versus Prior Lake was undescribable.

Versus the Lakers, the Wildcats spent almost the entire game in Prior Lake’s zone, peppering the Lakers with shot after shot. Although the final game box score said 30, fans in the stands swear they counted more than 50 shots on net.

“Territorially, we had the puck down in their zone 85 percent of the time,” said Magnuson. “Their goalie was fantastic. She was really solid, keeping them in the game the best she could. I have a tremendous amount of respect for her and how well she played. The girls were really putting the puck on net, they were moving it up ice pretty well, we just weren’t finishing.

To be honest, the only player who was finishing was Grossmann who once again skated out of the first period with two goals. Still, after two, despite smothering the Lakers in every part of the game, Chisago’s lead was two, something that worried Magnuson and his staff.

“I have seen too many games where a little blooper can change the momentum of the game,” said Magnuson. “All they needed was a fluke to get back into it so when we got that third goal, it was huge. That third goal really took the edge off.”

Skating to the rescue, delivering that decisive third goal less than seven minutes into the third was Grossmann, who else? The tally was her third of the game and her fifth of the tournament. From there, Weiden and company did the rest, closing the door on the Lakers the rest of the way en route to a 3-0 win.

The victory advanced the Wildcats to the championship game versus Bismarck (N.D.)

Chisago Lakes 3

Prior Lake 0

1 2 3 F

Prior Lake -- -- -- 0

Chisago Lakes 2 -- 1 3

Scoring:

First Period-

1) CL- Grossmann (Parenteau, L. Medellin); 2) CL- Grossmann (Parenteau).

Second Period-

No scoring

Third Period-

3) CL- Grossmann (Rammer)

Saves-

Weiden- 15

Schwan Cup- Green Division

Championship

Chisago Lakes 3

Bismarck (N.D.) 1

Going into their championship game versus Bismarck, the Wildcats knew two things about the Demons. One, Bismarck took second at the North Dakota girls state hockey tournament last season, and two, Bismarck took second at the North Dakota girls state hockey tournament last season. In other words, no letdowns, no overconfidence.

Chisago Lakes, searching for a weakness, found one right away by exposing the Demons depth, or lack there of. Bismarck only had 11 skaters and a goalie.

“We were skating three lines and you could see that they were wearing down as the game progressed,” mentioned Magnuson. “We kept the pressure on them and tired them out.”

Rhiannon Sauter broke open the scoring four minutes into the game, her first point of the tournament, putting the ‘Cats in front 1-0 after one.

Grossmann then added to the Wildcat lead midway through the second with an unassisted goal, her sixth goal of the tournament, making it 2-0 after two.

“It was just like the Prior Lake game, we were confident up two goals but we also knew a blooper could get them right back in it,” said Magnuson. “Their first goal was a blooper so the girls knew it could happen. That third goal was big for us.”

For the second straight game, Chisago got that important third goal in the third, and for the second straight game, Grossmann gave it to them. With six tournament goals already under her belt, the junior tallied her seventh goal of the tourney and her second of the game five minutes into the third, giving the ‘Cats that much needed breathing room. Chisago overwhelmed Bismarck down the stretch, putting a final exclamation point on a 3-1 win and a Green division championship.

“We would have liked to be in a harder bracket but we’ll take it,” remarked Magnuson. “The girls played well, we still have a long way to go, but it’s always fun to win a tournament and I think it’s going to give us some added momentum heading into a tough stretch of games coming up.”

Tough might not do it justice. This week alone, the Wildcats host Centennial and Irondale. Centennial is undefeated in conference and Irondale handed the Wildcats their first, and only conference loss earlier this season.

“It will be fun. A lot of the girls know some of the girls on Centennial, they have played with them, and their goalie is really playing well right now,” replied Magnuson. “We’re going to have to shoot a lot of pucks. I know the girls will be ready for both games. Irondale is going to be a totally different game this time around, our girls are really hungry for that game. We’ll be ready, I can guarantee that.”

With three tournament wins wrapped up, the ‘Cats will skate into this weekend with a 10-3 overall record, 6-0 in conference.

Chisago Lakes 3

Bismarck (N.D.) 1

1 2 3 F

Bismarck -- -- 1 1

Chisago Lakes 1 1 1 3

Scoring:

First Period-

1) CL- Sauter (Fredrickson, Novak).

Second Period-

2) CL- Grossmann (unassisted)

Third Period-

3) Bis- Leftwich (unassisted); 4) CL- Grossmann (unassisted).

Saves-

Weiden- 29

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