Andover's Harrison VanderMey fires the puck past Rosemount goalie Will Tollefson for the winning goal in Thursday's matchup at the St. Louis Park Rec Center. Photo by Loren Nelson, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com
A close-range shot by Andover's Luke Kron is stopped by Rosemount goaltender Will Tollefson during Thursday's game at the St. Louis Park Rec Center. Photo by Loren Nelson, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com
Harrison VanderMey is hockey’s version of an all-weather radial tire. Good in any weather, but especially handy when the conditions get a bit dicey.
Such was the case Thursday afternoon, when Andover (7-1-0, 3-0) surrendered a third-period lead against Rosemount (8-2-0, 4-1-0), rallied to tie, and was grinding for a potential winning goal in the closing minutes of the opening-round Tradition in the Park holiday tournament matchup.
“The thing about guys like VanderMey, their game doesn’t take a vacation,” Andover coach Mark Manney said after the senior forward’s goal with 1:34 remaining lifted the Huskies to a 5-4 victory at the St. Louis Park Rec Center. “His game is power, and moving his feet and getting to the greasy areas. Even when he doesn’t have his really good stuff he’s very effective.”
The 6-foot-1, 181-pound VanderMey has four goals this season after scoring six in 28 games in the 2018-19 season. He’s the epitome of a power forward, a big body who likes to bang in the corners. Which isn’t to say there isn’t some skill hidden in that package, too.
“He’s got the best shot on our team among the forwards, and it’s not even close,” Manney said. “He shoots it hard and accurate.”
Photo Gallery: Andover vs. Rosemount
On his winning goal, VanderMey, who was stationed in front of the net, one-timed a pass from Nate Bauer in the corner past the outstretched glove hand of Rosemount goaltender Will Tollefson.
“Bauer hit me from the corner,” VanderMey said. “And I just redirected it under his glove.”
VanderMey hones his shot by blasting pucks against a tarp draped in front of the garage door at his home. He admits that not every puck hits the mark.
“Oh yeah, there are some dings in the sheetrock, for sure,” he said.
Andover’s victory was far from a smooth ride. The Huskies, ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, surrendered a goal in the opening minute, then gave away their 3-2 lead in the third period when No. 5-2A Rosemount surged to a 4-3 advantage.
“We know if we go down early, it’s just a little block in the road,” said Huskies senior forward Luke Kron, who scored a first-period power-play goal. “We know we just have keep playing our game.”
Added Manney: “There was no negative talk on the bench. It was very upbeat. Just be patient and do things the right way, that’s what we were talking about.”
The game, played at a frenetic pace from the start, showcased two teams that are favored to come out of their respective sections (Andover is in Section 7; Rosemount in Section 3). Andover has never reached the state tourney. Rosemount placed second in Tier II in 1992 — its only appearance.
"There was a lot of talent on the ice," Rosemount coach Ricky Saintey Jr. said.
Late in the third, in a matchup of standout players, Rosemount goal-scoring standout Luke Levandowski outraced Andover defenseman and Mr. Hockey candidate Wyatt Kaiser for a semi-breakaway. Levandowski’s deke and low shot beat Huskies goaltender Will Larson between his leg pads, but the puck skidded through the crease and wide left.
“That was definitely two of the fastest teams in the state,” Kron said. “That was an awesome game to play in — super fun.”
Rosemount's Luke Levandowski got past Andover defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, left, but couldn't get the puck past Huskies goaltender Will Larson. Photo by Loren Nelson, LegacyHockeyPhotography.com
First Report
Senior forward Harrison VanderMey scored with 1:34 left in the third period to lift Andover past Rosemount 5-4 on Thursday afternoon in a matchup of two top-six ranked Class 2A teams squaring off in the opening round of the Tradition in the Park tournament at the St. Louis Park Rec Center.
The lead was swapped four times, with VanderMey’s one-timer off a feed from the corner from senior Nate Bauer boosting the Huskies, ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, past the No. 5-2A Irish.
Andover’s Tommy Nowacki scored with 3:09 left on a power play to tie the score at 4. Rosemount, which trailed through parts of the first and third periods and all of the second, rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the third on goals by Jake Ratzlaff and Connor Kenefick.
Rosemount’s Broten Sabo scored 1 minute into the first period to give the Irish the early lead. Andover’s Luke Kron and Hunter Jones scored power-play goals late in the first as the Huskies (7-1-0, 3-0-0) surged to a 3-2 advantge. Andover went 3-for-4 on the power play. Rosemount (8-2-0, 4-1-0) was 0 of 1.
Andover’s Michael Clough and Rosemount’s Charlie Stramel also scored in the first period.
Andover goaltender Will Larson finished with 14 saves. Rosemount’s Will Tollefson had 25 saves.
The MN Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.
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