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Upperclassmen lead the way as Totino-Grace upsets Little Falls

By Drew Herron, SportsEngine, 02/12/22, 1:45PM CST

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Eagles take advantage on the powerplay, use stingy defense to slow down high-flying Little Falls


Totino-Grace celebrates one of three goals in the second period as the Eagles took control, en route to a 5-2 victory over Little Falls. The Eagles have won three straight, after snapping a seven-game losing skid. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

“It was exciting,” senior forward Landon Adams said. “It was senior night, and four of the seniors got goals. The mood of the entire game was tremendous, and we weren’t going to let that energy go down.”

Delayed a short time for the ceremony and pictures, Little Falls, ranked No. 7-1A in the February 9 coaches poll, paced at the east end of the arena and watched a rowdy Totino-Grace squad hug their folks and pump up their friends in the student sections before returning to their dressing room. The ice was resurfaced, and the puck was dropped 35 minutes later. 

From the jump, Totino-Grace (9-15-1) came ready, and it was the generally quiet seniors driving the bus. Scoreless after one period but having outshot their opponent 12-8 in the period, the Eagles ripped it open the second period with a pair of powerplay goals, as well as an even-strength in between. 

Senior defenseman Johnny Thrasher opened the scoring with the man advantage four minutes, 47 seconds into the second period. About 44 seconds later, senior Will DeLaForest added a second with a helper from senior Rudy Mihelich. In the closing minutes, freshman Tre Peck added another on the powerplay, and when Mihelich scored early in the third to give the Eagles a four-goal lead, things began to steamroll. Meanwhile, Little Falls was flustered and had yet to find its way on the score sheet despite averaging greater than six goals per game.

Senior Howie Moore scored a goal and an assist, as did defensive pairing mate Thrasher. 

Moore whose brother Oliver left Totino-Grace as a sophomore after earning a spot on the US National U18 team, turned down opportunities in juniors himself to return to Totino-Grace. Parkos says he’s has been a tremendously intricate part of what they hope to be building at Totino-Grace.

“He’s a leader who slows things down,” head coach Tim Parkos said of Moore. “And Thrasher is a mobile passer with a great shot. They both mean a lot to our team.”

Totino-Grace uses nine sophomores and two freshmen regularly. Against Little Falls, seven seniors suited up, and more than half of them scored goals as the regular season enters its final week before sections. 

Parkos says the program’s best days are right in front of them. Maybe even in full view. However it moves forward, he’s crediting the seniors for charting the course.

“Here at (Totino-Grace), we really pride ourselves on the family aspect,” Parkos says. “Our seniors take a lot of pride in the development of our younger players and showing them the right way. Whether it’s on the ice, or with school work, we’ve got a great group of seniors.”


Little Falls forward Hayden Johnson fights at the edge of the crease as Totino-Grace goalier Wes Johnson covers the puck during the first period Saturday evening. Johnson finished with 26 saves, and Johnson with one goal. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngin

First Report

Totino-Grace converted on half of its power-play chances and kept a lid on one of the state’s top-scoring threats to earn a 5-2 upset victory over Little Falls Saturday afternoon at the Brooklyn Park Community Center. 

Relying on a talented core of underclassmen for most of the year, its was the senior class that carried the load on senior day, as four of the five goals came from seniors.

Top defensive pairing Howie Moore and Johnny Thrasher each finished with a goal and an assist, while forward line mates Rudy Mihelich and Will DeLaForest added one apiece to help the Eagles (9-15-1) complete off the upset.

Little Falls, ranked No. 7-1A in the Feb. 9 coaches’ poll, was slowed by penalties, and it never generated the scoring chances that had been fueling a Flyer’s offense all season that is averaging greater than six goals per game. Junior forward Matt Filipi, who is amongst the top goals scorers in the state with 34 goals and 70 points through 23 games, was held off the scoresheet, and he was held in check without many, if any Grade-A scoring chances for the Flyers (19-4-0).

Little Falls got its scoring from Carter Natvig and Collin Kray, both coming in the third period. 

Junior goaltender Wes Johnson earned the victory between the pipes for Totino-Grace by stopping 26 of 28 shots. His counterpart, DJ Kicker, made 33 saves on 38 shots for Little Falls. 


Totino-Grace freshman Tre Peck scores on a low-angle shot during the second period Saturday evening. The Eagles defeated Little Falls 5-2. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

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