Eagan was routed by Bloomington Jefferson in last season's South St. Paul Premier Tournament title game, and earlier this year, the teams competed in a scrimmage that Wildcats coach Mike Taylor described as a Jaguars' “spanking.”   

Eagan finally showed Jefferson its claws as the Wildcats tore up the Jaguars 6-3 in the Premier Tournament championship game Tuesday night at Doug Woog Arena in St. Paul. 

Taylor said his team's intensity was critical to the victory.   

“Our kids knew that if we were going to have any chance tonight, we really had to play hard because (the Jaguars) are bigger and they are more skilled,” Taylor said.  

Eagan (8-3-1) was outworked early in the first period and conceded the game's first goal to Jefferson senior Ryan Graff. 

The Wildcats, however, responded with five straight goals. Junior forward Luke Schammel scored with 3:30 left in the second period, giving Eagan a 4-1 lead and chasing Jaguars junior goalie Karl Huther from the game. 

Senior Mike Vande Waa replaced Huther, but the switch didn't prove successful as by night’s end, nine Wildcats recorded at least one point and five finished with two.

Schammel tallied two goals and junior defender Gus Kluender recorded two assists. Junior defender Trevor Mikyla and Nate Oeltjenbruns each had a goal and an assist. 

Taylor said the balanced scoring was crucial to overpowering Jefferson.  

“If you’re going to beat a team like that, we have to have every single guy because we can’t put it on the back of one line or one defenseman," Taylor said. "We have to get contributions from everybody. That’s the only way we’re going to have success."     

Tuesday night Eagan got a goal from freshman Drew Wilson, who entered the game with just four goals and five assists on the season. 

Wilson said getting rebound opportunities and checking are keys to a well-rounded offense.

“We like to shoot low and get rebounds," Wilson said. "(Taylor) emphasizes playing the body and that’s what really gets a team off their game."

Senior caption Tony Juricko added a goal and an assist for Eagan.

Tuesday night also marked the seventh time the Wildcats won the Premier Tournament title. Their last championship came in 2013-14, which coincidentally was the last time they appeared in the state tournament. Unfortunately, Eagan lost 3-1 in the semifinals to eventual state champion Edina, but the Wildcats bounced back to take home the third-place trophy. 

Taylor considered the South St. Paul tournament this season's midpoint and said it provided the team with a good understanding of its strengths and weaknesses as it prepares for the section playoffs.

If Eagan wants to find success in the postseason, the Wildcats need to follow the familiar formula used Tuesday to defeat the Jaguars (6-7-0): spread the scoring around.

 

First Report

Two goals apiece from junior forward Luke Schammel and freshman forward Drew Wilson aided in Eagan’s 6-3 victory over Bloomington Jefferson Tuesday night in the South St. Paul Premier Tournament title game at Doug Woog Arena.

The Jaguars (6-7-0) were the defending tournament champions but struggled to gain tractions in Tuesday's game after the Wildcats (8-3-1) took control behind a big second period.

Jefferson senior forward Ryan Graff opened the scoring with a power-play goal with 10:22 left in the first period.

Wilson answered four minutes later, evening the game 1-1. It was a close as the Jaguars would be for the rest of the night.

The Wildcats exploded on offense in second period as junior defender Trevor Mikyla scored on the power play and senior forward Nate Oeltjenbruns and Schammel each tallied a goal to push the lead to 4-1. Junior defender Gus Kluender recorded assists on the first two goals of the period.   

In the third period, Wilson and Schammel added their second goals to seal the win.

Graff also tallied his second score in the period and senior forward Jay Johnson netted the Jaguars' final goal.  

Eagan senior goalie Eric Stebbing turned away 33 shots while junior Karl Huther and senior Mike Vande Waa combined to stop 31 for Jefferson. Huther started the game but was pulled following Schammel’s initial goal.

Both teams are back in action Jan. 7 as the Wildcats host reigning Class 2A champion Lakeville North and the Jaguars travel to Hopkins.

 

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