Minnetonka goalie Jacob Berger prepared himself as a Wayzata skater on a breakaway zoomed head-on toward the Skippers’ goal with 30 seconds to play in a Class 2A, Section 6 semifinal game Saturday night at Bloomington Ice Garden.

The Trojans were in the midst of a rally and had just trimmed their deficit to one goal.

“[I’m thinking] I just gotta stop (the puck),” Berger said. “I gotta do whatever I can to not let it go in.”

Berger made the save - the biggest of his night - stopping the shot between his legs and boosting second-seeded Minnetonka to a 3-2 win over third-seeded Wayzata. 

“It was hectic, I was just trying to stop it,” Berger said. “I was kind of lucky I guess, but I guess sometimes you have to be lucky.”

Whether due to good fortune or something else, Berger was the catalyst for his squad throughout the game. His performance helped the Skippers secure an opportunity play in the section championship and earn a berth in the state tournament.

Berger was not only big at the end of the contest but also at the start, keeping Minnetonka alive in the first period while Wayzata outplayed the Skippers to create more than a few quality scoring opportunities. The Trojans finished the first period with a 6-4 edge in shots.

“This group battles hard. When you have a good group of seniors, a senior goalie, this is what you can expect. It was like they were drinking out of the fire hose. That game could have easily been 3-0 after the first period if it weren’t for that kid over there,” Minnetonka coach Brian Urick said, pointing to Berger outside the ice at Bloomington Ice Garden. 

Minnetonka entered the bout with a 1-6-1 record in its final eight regular-season games, raising questions by some about the Skippers’ ability to advance in the postseason. 

Urick said that his team’s doubters put a chip on Minnetonka’s shoulders and is the motivation the Skippers used to play their best hockey of the season. 

Berger said facing low expectations is causing the team jell as a cohesive unit and also helps him play the mentally strenuous position of goalie to the best of his abilities. 

“There’s no pressure on us,” Berger said of his team’s mental state. “Everyone thought we were going to lose this game. I didn’t doubt us, I knew we had it. We have solid defensemen and good forwards, so I didn’t doubt us.”

Berger and Minnetonka found themselves in a precarious situation when Wayzata scored two goals within 3 minutes toward the end of the game. Wayzata had the game-winning goal on the end of its stick, but Berger stopped it, and the rest is history for the Minnetonka hockey team. 

Gavin Payne agreed with his teammates and coach when it comes to being surrounded by lowered expectations. 

The Skippers senior forward said he hopes to continue being slated as an underdog, because it causes Minnetonka to rise to the challenge.

“I think it’s just confidence, and coming out from the start with the mentality we can beat anyone in the state, because I know we can when we play like that,” said Payne, who had a goal against Wayzata.

Minnetonka was lucky its Class 2A, Section 6 semifinal game against Wayzata was a scoreless tie after the first period. The Skippers seemed to play the entire frame in their zone and benefitted from a Trojans’ goal getting waved off. 

Second-seeded Minnetonka, however, planted itself firmly in the driver’s seat after a big second period and head to the section championship game after defeating third-seeded Wayzata 3-2 at the Bloomington Ice Garden on Saturday night.

The Skippers put the Trojans in their place with two second-period goals and rode the momentum into third period. 

The first goal came when Mario Bertogliat redirected John Schuldt's slapper from the blue line. Bertogliat had a successful screen on Wayzata goaltender Alex Schilling and tipped the puck in for the 1-0 lead. 

Jack Bowman got the second goal on a textbook one-timer pass from Brendan Skarda. 

Minnetonka took a 3-0 lead with a goal off a coast-to-coast effort from Gavin Payne midway through the third period. 

Wayzata scored with 4 minutes left in the game. The Trojans peppered the Minnetonka net, and Luke Patterson was able to sneak one in. 

Wayzata’s Max Zimmer scored with 49 seconds left to make things interesting, but Minnetonka held on to win. 

The Skippers play top-seeded Eden Prairie in the Section 6 championship game at Mariucci Arena on Feb. 25 at 8:30 p.m.

Spotlight Game Coverage