Minnetonka senior Phil Katopodis celebrates his second-period goal against Stillwater. Photo by Helen Nelson
Stay away from the catching glove. Create traffic in front of the goal. Jump on those rebounds.
Minnetonka's Max Coatta, left, tries to steal the puck from Stillwater defenseman Zac Eder-Zdelchik. Photo by Helen Nelson
“They have been really responsible in their own end, but tonight they started to get a couple of bounces and they really got the forecheck going,” Minnetonka coach Brian Urick said about the forward unit. “It was good because they have worked so hard, for them to get some recognition and some points on the board, I’m really proud of them.”
Junior Vinni Lettieri scored three goals, and No. 2-ranked Minnetonka got a goal from each member of its third line as it overpowered Stillwater 8-1 on Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Pagel Activity Center in Minnetonka.
Vinni Lettieri
1. Vinni Lettieri, Minnetonka
The junior forward set up the Skippers’ first goal by one-timing a pass from behind the net from Max Coatta through the crease to Connor Thie, who needed only to deposit the puck into an empty net. Lettieri, who has committed to play at the University of Minnesota, went from playmaker to playfinisher the rest of the way, registering three goals -- including one on a breakaway -- to give him a team-best 10 this season.