David La Vaque has covered all but one state hockey tournament game since 2009 and has worked as a Star Tribune high school sports reporter since 2004. His favorite tournament experiences include cheering for alma mater St. Paul Johnson in 1991 and staying for most of the Apple Valley/Duluth East marathon semifinal game in 1996. Loren Nelson has covered every state tournament for the MN Hockey Hub since 2009. He attended many, many other Tourney games as a high schooler from the far northern reaches of Minnesota making the annual pilgrimage south to the old St. Paul Civic Center in the 1980s.
Lakeville South senior Cade Ahrenholz scored twice in the third period to boost the Cougars past Wayzata. Photo by Leila Navidi, Star Tribune
The third installment of our daily 2021 All-Tournament Team, as selected by Loren Nelson and David La Vaque.
FORWARDS
Brody Lamb
Dodge County | Senior
Another game, another hat trick for the Wildcats’ scoring wizard. Lamb, the state scoring leader, has nine goals in two tournament games. “Just” six more and he ties Eveleth legend John Mayasich’s tourney record of 15.
Cater Batchelder
Eden Prairie | Senior
Was repeatedly robbed by Maple Grove’s Jack Wieneke in the early going but forged on undeterred and completed his hat trick in overtime to propel the Eagles to their third straight title game.
Cade Ahrenholz
Lakeville South | Senior
The big man twice found himself with the puck in scoring position in the third period. Goal and goal. His clutch scoring sparked the second third-period comeback in as many games for the Cardiac Cougars.
DEFENSEMEN
Trey Ausmus
East Grand Forks | Junior
The North Dakota commit scored twice on long-range blasts, the second coming on a “knuckle-puck” that should, at the very least, earn him an audition for the next Mighty Ducks movie.
George Moore
Little Falls | Junior
Scored his third goal in as many postseason games after notching all of one in the regular season. Also played serviceable defense against Dodge County speedster Brody Lamb.
GOALTENDER
Alex Timmons
Gentry Academy | Senior
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Frank Brimsek Award finalist made 27 saves — his second highest total of the season — as the Stars prevailed in their tightest, most nerve-wracking game this season.