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Year of the Cats

By Tim Kolehmainen, Breakdown Sports USA, 02/20/13, 2:45PM CST

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Section 3AA preview: Top-seeded Eagan assembles winning mix of veterans, newcomers


Eagan goaltender Andrew Lindgren pokes the puck away from a Hibbing/Chisholm forward during a Hockey Day Minnesota game in Grand Rapids. The Wildcats are the top seed in the Section 3AA playoffs. Photo by Adam Crane


Eagan's Andrew Lindgren. Photo by Adam Crane

This was supposed to be the year that Eagan came back to the pack in Section 3AA. It was, wasn’t it? At least that’s what most observers thought.

Reality has been oh, so much different.

To be fair, the two-time defending section champions had ridden the Class of 2012 through the most successful stretch in school history. Eagan’s senior class included two Mr. Hockey finalists in Will Merchant and all-time leading scorer Michael Zajac, as well as 55-point scorer Nick Kuchera, highly-regarded defensemen Sam Wolfe, Eli May and Derick Kuchera and regular goaltender Christian Butler.

A pretty good case could be made that roster of graduates could have comprised its own line on the All-State team. With every one of them graduating last spring, Eagan coach Mike Taylor sure seemed to have a rebuilding effort on his hands.

Instead, the Wildcats have ripped off another impressive season and should challenge last year’s 25 victories. Eagan (21-3-1) earned the top seed in the section again and is on an 11-game winning streak. The section leaderboards are peppered with Wildcats players, including the top four scorers.

Seniors Zach Glienke (30-30--60) and Cullen Willox (28-26--54) played more complementary roles on last year’s senior-laden team, but the pair has become the go-to guys this winter. Glienke has been drawing plenty of college interest and was recently named one of the Mr. Hockey finalists. He’s a towering forward with good hands, while Willox is physical and strong on the puck. With the transfer of junior Jack Jenson (16-25--41) from St. Thomas Academy and the emergence of freshman sensation Jesse Gabrielle (15-28--43), the Wildcats can run two top lines that are tough to match up against.

Taylor shored up his defensive corps by moving Will Peterson (7-17--24) back to the blue line to join rising juniors Tommy Muck (3-25--28) and Nick Wolff (4-18--22). Sophomore goaltender Andrew Lindgren (21-3-1, 2.38, .901) has also proven to be ready for the full-time job, as well, playing nearly every minute of every game. Last year, he spelled Butler and won all nine of his decisions.

With that type of depth and balance, it appears as if Taylor didn’t rebuild, he simply reloaded.

The reality for the rest of Section 3AA? It’s going to be tough to knock off Eagan.


Cretin-Derham Hall's Trent Jancze. Photo by Adam Crane

After some early-season struggles, Cretin-Derham Hall (16-8-1) surged over the past six weeks to earn the No. 2 seed. The Raiders entered the new year with a mediocre record (5-5-1) and then ripped off an 11-3-0 closing stretch that included big victories over White Bear Lake, Mounds View and Stillwater. Even one of the losses certainly drew attention, as the Raiders suffered a 4-3 loss to Edina in which they led 3-0 in the second period.

Cretin-Derham Hall doesn’t have the offensive firepower of Eagan, although Jim Buckingham (24-15--39), Patrick Cullen (16-13--29), Bret Huebner (13-15--28) and Kendall Bolen-Porter (8-18--26) have had good seasons.

Coach Jim O’Neill has also picked up contributions from a strong sophomore corps that includes forwards Nick Reis (11-14--25) and Joe Dekker (6-15--21) and defenseman Max Jackson (2-8--10), who has given the Raiders big minutes on the blue line with junior Derek Olmschenk (4-14--18).

But where the Raiders have improved most is in their own zone. Since the new year, Cretin-Derham Hall has been stingy defensively, which also coincides with the emergence of sophomore goaltender Trent Jancze (13-2-0, 1.68, .934). He’s made 13 of his 15 starts since Jan. 3 and allowed more than two goals just twice in that span. He’ll be a big key to the Raiders’ upset hopes.

Third-seeded Eastview (15-9-1) has its own brick wall in goal in sophomore Zach Driscoll (12-4-1, 1.87, .938), as Eagan discovered back on Jan. 12. Driscoll stopped an amazing 64 of 66 shots as the Lightning earned a 4-2 upset victory – and handed the Wildcats their only section loss of the season. Driscoll has made stopping pucks a regular occurrence, as he has the third-best save percentage in the state. He’s allowed more than three goals just once all season, but that high point was seven in a Feb. 12 rematch with Eagan.

As good as Lightning leading scorer Ryan McNamara (21-14--35) has been this year, he’s even better on the lacrosse field. He was named the state’s player of the year and led the program to the state championship last spring.

Fourth-seeded East Ridge (13-10-2) was also on a roll entering the final week of the regular season, having won five straight until falling 5-3 to Forest Lake in the season finale on Valentine’s Day. The Raptors weren’t blowing anybody out during that stretch, as three of the wins were decided by a single goal, but they are playing their best hockey at the right time. Derek Hammer (15-10--25), Ian Penvose (13-11--24) and Jack Greeley (8-15--23) lead the Raptors in scoring.


Hastings' Matt Flynn. Photo by Tim Kolehmainen

Fifth-seeded Hastings (13-11-1) has already lost twice to East Ridge, the team it will face in the quarterfinals, although both were close games. Back on Dec. 13, the Raiders fell 4-3 at home and then lost 5-4 at East Ridge on Jan. 26. Leading scorer Mark Huneke (22-14--36) tallied three goals in those two games and will again be a key figure, as will Zach Mellick (14-22--36) and Andrew Bussey (12-23--35). Senior defenseman Matt Koch (6-17--23) anchors the blue line and recently committed to the Air Force Academy.

No. 6 Rosemount (10-15-0) is paced by sophomore Lukas Gillett (19-16--35), the team’s only double-digit goal scorer. Keeping the score low will be key for the Irish. No. 7 Apple Valley (5-20-0) has had a tough year, losing 16 of its last 18 games and suffering through an offensive power outage. The Eagles are scoring just 1.76 goals per game and have one player, Mason Preston (12-11--23) with double-digit goals.

Eighth-seeded Park (4-20-1) and No. 9 Woodbury (6-16-3) played Tuesday night for a quarterfinal round shot at Eagan. Park advanced with a 6-2 victory as Cody Newton (4-14--18) and Eric Stoffel (9-13--22) each scored two goals, while goaltender Matthew Palmquist (1-10-1, 4.03, .871) made 27 saves. Christopher Peterson (13-10--23) leads the Wolfpack in scoring.

Hub Prediction

So much for rebuilding. Despite graduating the best senior class in school history last spring, Eagan is right back on top of the Section 3AA heap thanks to big seasons from some of last year's role players. The additions of junior Jack Jenson as a transfer from St. Thomas Academy and super freshman Jesse Gabrielle haven't hurt either.

Bracket Buster

Let's be honest. Eagan is the overwhelming favorite to get to state for the third straight year, but the Wildcats aren't invincible. Third-seeded Eastview proved that with a regular season victory in which goaltender Zach Driscoll stood on his head. He could do it again and lead the Lightning to the promised land.

Past Champions

2012 – Eagan
2011 – Eagan

2010 – Apple Valley
2009 – Cretin-Derham Hall
2008 – Woodbury
2007 – Hill-Murray
2006 – Hill-Murray
2005 – White Bear Lake
2004 – Centennial
2003 – White Bear Lake
2002 – Hill-Murray
2001 – White Bear Lake
2000 – Hill-Murray
1999 – Hill-Murray
1998 – White Bear Lake
1997 – Hill-Murray
1996 – White Bear Lake
1995 – White Bear Lake
1994 – White Bear Lake

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