As much as Mother Nature interfered with the venue of Hockey Day in Minnesota, her efforts did not impede the second match up between the Skippers and the Hopkins Royals.  Facing each other for the second time this year and the game being televised compounded each team to bring their best game to the indoor ice.

The first few minutes of the game the Skippers didn’t seem to adhere to each other but a win by Kelsey Crow in a skirmish on the side boards kept the puck in the Royals zone and allowed Kira von Steinbergs to put it past Erin O’Neil for the Skippers first goal at 13:05.  Hopkins first line came back less than 2 minutes later with Corbin Boyd found herself face to face with Sydney Rossman with a great pass from Jilliane DeYoung and the other assist going to Mari Mankey; she tied the game 1-1.  It was at this point the spectators acknowledged this game may turn into a concrete battle.   The play went back and forth as each team attempted to strike again at each other’s net, however, with just 1:17 left in the first period, the combination of Sidney Morin, Amy Petersen, and Diana Draayer scored Tonka’s second goal with the beautifully executed textbook off the stick “toe” tip in.   As the buzzer went off shortly afterwards, the Skippers had the lead 2-1 but the shots on net were tied 6-6.

As the new rules governing appropriate play conditions is enforced, the second period was the “penalty period” as both Hopkins and Tonka’s penalty kill and power play units had their opportunities to showcase their skills.  Neither team was able to score on the advantage but Laura Bowman picked up her first goal of the game, even-strength at 9:34 on the clock.  Amy Petersen grabbed another assist of the season as the formidable pair bonded once again to given the Skippers a two goal margin.   Minnetonka and Hopkins retreated to their locker rooms with the Skippers leading 3-1 and also had 3 more shots on net than the Royals, 11-8.

The third period was Sydney Rossman’s showcase of skill and head’s up goal tending.  The Skippers had a penalty kill as a result of Kira von Steinberg’s penalty and Rossman had 3 saves in one offensive scrum in front of the net.  She finally had the opportunity to cover the puck and receive such much deserved kudos from her teammates.  Her head’s up play shut down the Royals as they made attempt after attempt on net.   Finally during the same effort, Laura Bowman was able to intercept an off pass by the Hopkins players and score her second shorthanded goal of the season at 10:14 of the period.  At this point in time it was becoming clear that Tonka’s experience, size, and skill were dominating the game.  Hopkins continued to test our goal efforts and again Syd Rossman didn’t disappoint, she continued to thwart off shot after shot.  As with the boys’ game, a hat trick was also part of the menu for the girls’ game.  Laura Bowman off a shot by Sydney Baldwin scored her third goal of the game and sealed Tonka’s victory of 5-1 over Hopkins. 

It was another conference victory for the Skippers and a great hockey day in Minnetonka, Minnesota as both boys and girls Varsity teams ended the weekend triumphant.  Unfortunately, in the earlier JV matchup Minnetonka fell to Hopkins 3-1. Many thanks to the 14UAs for providing the tunnel for the girls and kicking off the festivities for the program!

Next up, the Skippers host the Wayzata Trojans at the Pagel Activity Center on Tuesday, January 24. JV action starts at 5pm, while the varsity plays at 7pm.

Minnetonka faced the Eden Prairie Eagles Saturday night and came away with a 3-2 victory over the fellow Lake Conference opponent.  Playing at home, the Eagles made the game no Peaceful Easy Feeling for Minnetonka, with solid defense and tenacious forechecking.  Minnetonka’s offense was not at its playmaking best, but the Skippers’ speed and depth of talent proved enough in the end.  Shots on goal for the game were Minnetonka with 26, and Eden Prairie 21.

The first period saw few scoring chances for either team, with the exception of a breakaway opportunity for the Eagles that was shut down by Minnetonka’s Hannah Ehresmann in goal.  Five minutes into the second period Laura Bowman put the Skippers on the board with a great individual effort.  After winning the face-off in the left offensive circle, she gathered in the puck, and fired off a quick shot over the shoulder of Eden Prairie goalie McKenzie Johnson.  The Eagles showed their talons five minutes later, when forward Charly Dahlquist shot on goal from close in and Ehresmann thought she had it covered.  Instead, the puck sat tantalizingly on the goal line behind her for several seconds.  Finally Angie Heppelmann was able to get to the puck first and poke it in.  Then less than a minute later, Eden Prairie’s Karissa Olsen put the Eagles up 2-1 with a great upper corner shot from a tough angle while rushing in the far right side of the zone.  It looked like Eden Prairie would enter the second intermission with the lead, but with a minute left in the period Hadley Cookson grabbed the puck, rushed down the left side, cut to the center entering the Eden Prairie zone, and sniped a shot like a Desperado into the left upper corner to tie it up 2-2.

The third period began with Eden Prairie’s Michelle Jamar receiving a tripping penalty early on, but the Skippers were unable to capitalize on it.  Then about six minutes into the period, Darby Flatley was called for an interference penalty.  After 30 seconds of controlling the puck in the Minnetonka zone, Eden Prairie fumbled the puck at the point.  Bowman pounced, poke checked it past the defense, and then it was Life in the Fast Lane.  As she flew in on the goal all alone, Bowman saw open net on the right side and she calmly shot it in.  This would prove to be the winning goal (the game was Already Gone), as neither team would find the net again, even with the Eagles pulling their goalie for an extra skater with one minute remaining.  As the final horn sounded, anxious Skippers fans could finally Take It Easy.

Minnetonka’s JV team also came away with a victory, beating Eden Prairie 3-2.

After a short hiatus for final exams, the Skippers will be back in action on Hockey Day Minnesota. To the disappointment of many, the outdoor venue has been changed to the Pagel Activity Center. Game time remains the same: Saturday at 4:30pm vs. Hopkins.